12.155
Bhīṣma said.
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.
The Lord of creatures created all this through austerity; likewise, the sages attained the Vedas through austerity.
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.
Medicines, other things, diseases and the like, and the three refined knowledges are accomplished only through austerity; austerity is indeed the root means.
Whatever is difficult to obtain, explain, overcome, or endure—all of it can be accomplished through austerity, for austerity is truly insurmountable.
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.
Austerity takes many forms and proceeds by various means; however, the austerity of ceasing from present actions is not superior to that of fasting.
O great king, non-injury, truthfulness, charity, and control of the senses—these are superior to austerity obtained by fasting.
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.
Here, the senses protect wealth and grain. Therefore, in matters of wealth and righteousness, austerity is not superior to abstaining from food.
Seers, ancestors, gods, humans, the noblest of animals, and all other beings, both immobile and mobile, are included.
All those devoted to austerity attain success through austerity. In this way, the gods too attained greatness by austerity.
These portions of offerings and their fruits are always attainable through austerity. Through austerity and determination, even divinity can certainly be attained.
