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XI, 249.
PENANCES; AUSTERITY ; SECRET SINS.
479
242. Whatever sin men commit by thoughts, words, or deeds, that they speedily burn away by penance, if they keep penance as their only riches.
243. The gods accept the offerings of that Brâhmana alone who has purified himself by austerities, and grant to him all he desires.
244. The lord, Pragapati, created these Institutes (of the sacred law) by his austerities alone; the sages likewise obtained (the revelation of) the Vedas through their austerities.
245. The gods, discerning that the holy origin of this whole (world) is from austerity, have thus proclaimed the incomparable power of austerity.
246. The daily study of the Veda, the performance of the great sacrifices according to one's ability, (and) patience in suffering) quickly destroy all guilt, even that caused by mortal sins.
247. As a fire in one moment consumes with its bright flame the fuel that has been placed on it, even so he who knows the Veda destroys all guilt by the fire of knowledge.
248. The penances for sins (made public) have been thus declared according to the law; learn next the penances for secret (sins).
249. Sixteen suppressions of the breath (Prânàyâma) accompanied by the recitation of) the Vyâhritis
245. I read with all the commentators and K. at the end of the verse, udbhavam, instead of uttamam (editions).
246. Vas. XXVII, 7; Yâgñ. III, 311. 247. Vas. XXVII, 1-2.
248. Kull. and Râgh. state that Gov. omits this verse, while Medh. gives it. The accessible MS. of Gov., however, shows it, but without a commentary. Medh. says only that some' read it. Når. and Nand. omit it.
249. Vas. XXVI, 4; Vi. LV, 5; Baudh. IV, 1, 29. The best
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