12.155
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
सर्वमेतत्तपोमूलं कवयः परिचक्षते। न ह्यतप्ततपा मूढः क्रियाफलमवाप्यते ॥१२-१५५-१॥
The wise say that austerity is the foundation of everything. One who is deluded and has not practiced austerity does not attain the results of actions.
प्रजापतिरिदं सर्वं तपसैवासृजत्प्रभुः। तथैव वेदानृषयस्तपसा प्रतिपेदिरे ॥१२-१५५-२॥
The Lord of creatures created all this through austerity; likewise, the sages attained the Vedas through austerity.
तपसो ह्यानुपूर्व्येण फलमूलानिलाशनाः। त्रीँल्लोकांस्तपसा सिद्धाः पश्यन्ति सुसमाहिताः ॥१२-१५५-३॥
By practicing austerity in succession, subsisting on fruits, roots, and air, the perfected beings, with well-concentrated minds, behold the three worlds through their austerity.
औषधान्यगदादीनि तिस्रो विद्याश्च संस्कृताः। तपसैव हि सिध्यन्ति तपोमूलं हि साधनम् ॥१२-१५५-४॥
Medicines, other things, diseases and the like, and the three refined knowledges are accomplished only through austerity; austerity is indeed the root means.
यद्दुरापं दुराम्नायं दुराधर्षं दुरुत्सहम्। सर्वं तत्तपसा शक्यं तपो हि दुरतिक्रमम् ॥१२-१५५-५॥
Whatever is difficult to obtain, explain, overcome, or endure—all of it can be accomplished through austerity, for austerity is truly insurmountable.
सुरापोऽसंमतादायी भ्रूणहा गुरुतल्पगः। तपसैव सुतप्तेन नरः पापाद्विमुच्यते ॥१२-१५५-६॥
A person who drinks liquor, takes what is not approved, kills an embryo, or approaches the teacher's bed is freed from sin by performing proper austerity.
तपसो बहुरूपस्य तैस्तैर्द्वारैः प्रवर्ततः। निवृत्त्या वर्तमानस्य तपो नानशनात्परम् ॥१२-१५५-७॥
Austerity takes many forms and proceeds by various means; however, the austerity of ceasing from present actions is not superior to that of fasting.
अहिंसा सत्यवचनं दानमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः। एतेभ्यो हि महाराज तपो नानशनात्परम् ॥१२-१५५-८॥
O great king, non-injury, truthfulness, charity, and control of the senses—these are superior to austerity obtained by fasting.
न दुष्करतरं दानान्नातिमातरमाश्रमः। त्रैविद्येभ्यः परं नास्ति संन्यासः परमं तपः ॥१२-१५५-९॥
There is nothing more difficult than giving, no greater mother than the hermitage; nothing higher than the knowers of the three Vedas, and renunciation is the highest austerity.
इन्द्रियाणीह रक्षन्ति धनधान्याभिगुप्तये। तस्मादर्थे च धर्मे च तपो नानशनात्परम् ॥१२-१५५-१०॥
Here, the senses protect wealth and grain. Therefore, in matters of wealth and righteousness, austerity is not superior to abstaining from food.
ऋषयः पितरो देवा मनुष्या मृगसत्तमाः। यानि चान्यानि भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च ॥१२-१५५-११॥
Seers, ancestors, gods, humans, the noblest of animals, and all other beings, both immobile and mobile, are included.
तपःपरायणाः सर्वे सिध्यन्ति तपसा च ते। इत्येवं तपसा देवा महत्त्वं चाप्यवाप्नुवन् ॥१२-१५५-१२॥
All those devoted to austerity attain success through austerity. In this way, the gods too attained greatness by austerity.
इमानीष्टविभागानि फलानि तपसा सदा। तपसा शक्यते प्राप्तुं देवत्वमपि निश्चयात् ॥१२-१५५-१३॥
These portions of offerings and their fruits are always attainable through austerity. Through austerity and determination, even divinity can certainly be attained.
