Shrimad Bhagavatam. Book 4. Book of Kings

In the immortal wisdom of the Vedas, one can draw truths that are not subject to time. This part of the conversation between King Parikshit and the sage Sukadeva speaks of the life paths of the powerful of this world... and spiritual quests.
The young prince, having achieved the favor of the Almighty through asceticism, laments: «I could have asked Him to heal my soul, but instead, I asked to heal my severed hand».
The stories of royal destinies — Dhruva, Prithu, Puranjana, presented in this book, vividly illustrate the yearning and wandering of the soul in the world of illusion.
 
In one of the conversations with the king, the Lord says: «Sometimes you think of yourself as a man, sometimes as a woman, sometimes as a ruler, sometimes as a beggar. All this is the imagery of your dream. But you and I are not a dream; we are merely separated by the wall of your sleep. You seek the Truth; I am the Truth itself. And I manifest before you when you awaken. I am the eternity in the ocean of transient images, and only with Me will you find the desired peace».