Yoga Vasishta

[Chandran, Nanda (NBC)]

Can somebody give me some background on this text? From Swami
Vishwarupananda's postings I can make out that the dialogues are between
Lord Rama and Sage Vasishta. So is it a part of Ramayana, like the Gita
is a part of the Mahabharatha? If so, Is it considered a Smriti?

Also, can someone suggest a good English translation of the text?

Another question : Is the Janaka whom we constantly refer to as a jnani
though a householder and Sita's father in Ramayana the same person?

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