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अज्ञानकष्टाश्रिततापसादयो यत्कर्म निघ्नन्ति हि वर्षकोटिभिः ।। ज्ञानी क्षणेनैव निहन्ति तद् द्रुतं, ज्ञानं ततो निर्जरणार्थमर्जय ॥७२।।
Meaning :- The ignorant and unwise ascetics who undertake the performance of penances only in an unwise manner for crores of years such as fasting for months together at a stretch, heating the naked body by the heat of the sun, undertaking a month's fast fresh after having broken the previous month's fast by taking so little food as can be accommodated on only the tip of the blade of the Kusa grass, are not able to uproot, in course of their such practices for crores of years, the Karmic accumulations which are consumed in so short a time as a moment by the wise and really literate persons through their mere strength of right knowledge. This has been made abundantly and unambiguously clear in the scriptures. Therefore, Oh! good-nat]red, innocent person ! be after getting and storing up such spiritual knowledge as is capable of washing out the Karmic filth. This only will properly entitle you to securing permanent release from this nasty worldly existence. (72)
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