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Part I: On Virtue

Section I: Prologue

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Chapter 27: Austerity

Verse 268
An illumined yogi sits under a tree, filled with the light of his realizations. Seeing his peace, people and animals come for his blessings and darshan.

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Weaver's Wisdom

Verse 261

It is the nature of asceticism to patiently endure hardship
and to not harm living creatures.

Verse 262

Austerity belongs to the naturally austere.
Others may attempt it, but to no avail.

Verse 263

Is it because they must provide for renunciates
that others forget to perform penance?

Verse 264

Should he but wish it, an ascetic's austerities
will ruin his foes and reward his friends.

Verse 265

In this world men do austerities diligently,
assured of acquiring desires they desire.

Verse 266

Men who follow some austerity fulfill their karma.
All others, ensnared in desires, act in vain.

Verse 267

As the intense fire of the furnace refines gold to brilliance, so does
the burning suffering of austerity purify the soul to resplendence.

Verse 268

One who has realized by himself his soul's Self
will be worshiped by all other souls.

Verse 269

So potent is the power acquired through disciplined self-denial
that those who attain it may even delay the moment of death.

Verse 270

A few people fast and abstain, while most do not.
Due to this, many suffer deprivation.