12.155
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
sarvam etat tapo-mūlaṃ kavayaḥ paricakṣate। na hy atapta-tapā mūḍhaḥ kriyā-phalam avāpyate॥12-155-1॥
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.
prajāpatir idaṃ sarvaṃ tapasaivāsṛjat prabhuḥ। tathaiva vedān ṛṣayas tapasā pratipedire ॥12-155-2॥
The Lord of creatures created all this through austerity; likewise, the sages attained the Vedas through austerity.
tapasō hy anupūrvyeṇa phalamūlānilāśanāḥ। trīṁl lokāṁs tapasā siddhāḥ paśyanti susamāhitāḥ ॥12-155-3॥
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.
auṣadhānyagadādīni tisro vidyāś ca saṃskṛtāḥ। tapasaiva hi sidhyanti tapomūlaṃ hi sādhanam ॥12-155-4॥
Medicines, other things, diseases and the like, and the three refined knowledges are accomplished only through austerity; austerity is indeed the root means.
yad durāpaṃ durāmnāyaṃ durādharṣaṃ durutsaham। sarvaṃ tat tapasā śakyaṃ tapo hi duratikramam ॥12-155-5॥
Whatever is difficult to obtain, explain, overcome, or endure—all of it can be accomplished through austerity, for austerity is truly insurmountable.
surāpo'saṃmatādāyī bhrūṇahā gurutalpagah। tapasaiva sutaptena naraḥ pāpādvimucyate ॥12-155-6॥
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.
tapasō bahurūpasya taistairdvāraiḥ pravartataḥ। nivṛttyā vartamānasya tapō nānaśanātparam ॥12-155-7॥
Austerity takes many forms and proceeds by various means; however, the austerity of ceasing from present actions is not superior to that of fasting.
ahiṃsā satyavacanaṃ dānam indriyanigrahaḥ। etebhyo hi mahārāja tapo nānaśanāt param ॥12-155-8॥
O great king, non-injury, truthfulness, charity, and control of the senses—these are superior to austerity obtained by fasting.
na duṣkarataraṃ dānān nātimātaram āśramaḥ। traividyebhyaḥ paraṃ nāsti saṃnyāsaḥ paramaṃ tapaḥ ॥12-155-9॥
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.
indriyāṇīha rakṣanti dhanadhānyābhiguptaye। tasmādarthe ca dharme ca tapo nānaśanātparam ॥12-155-10॥
Here, the senses protect wealth and grain. Therefore, in matters of wealth and righteousness, austerity is not superior to abstaining from food.
ṛṣayaḥ pitaro devā manuṣyā mṛgasattamāḥ। yāni ca anyāni bhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca ॥12-155-11॥
Seers, ancestors, gods, humans, the noblest of animals, and all other beings, both immobile and mobile, are included.
tapaḥ-parāyaṇāḥ sarve sidhyanti tapasā ca te। ityevaṃ tapasā devā mahattvaṃ cāpyavāpnuvan ॥12-155-12॥
All those devoted to austerity attain success through austerity. In this way, the gods too attained greatness by austerity.
imānīṣṭavibhāgāni phalāni tapasā sadā। tapasā śakyate prāptuṃ devatvam api niścayāt ॥12-155-13॥
These portions of offerings and their fruits are always attainable through austerity. Through austerity and determination, even divinity can certainly be attained.
