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Riddles in Hinduism

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RIDDLES IN HINDUISM<br />

" Or, he may live accord<strong>in</strong>g to the rule of the lunar<br />

penance (Kandrayana), daily dim<strong>in</strong>ish<strong>in</strong>g the quality of<br />

his food <strong>in</strong> the bright (half of the month) and (<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g<br />

it <strong>in</strong> the dark (half); or he may eat on the last days of<br />

each fortnight once (a day only), boiled barley-gruel."<br />

VI-20.<br />

" Or, he may constantly subsist on flowers, roots, and<br />

fruit alone, which have been ripened by time and have<br />

fallen spontaneously follow<strong>in</strong>g the rule of the (Institutes)<br />

of Vikhanas " VI-21.<br />

** Let him either roll about on the ground, or stand<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g the day on tiptoe, (or) let him alternately stand<br />

and sit down; go<strong>in</strong>g at the Savanas (at sunrise, at<br />

midday, and at sunset) to water <strong>in</strong> the forest (<strong>in</strong> order to<br />

bathe)." VI-22.<br />

" In summer let him expose himself to the heat of five<br />

fires, dur<strong>in</strong>g the ra<strong>in</strong>y season live under the open sky,<br />

and <strong>in</strong> w<strong>in</strong>ter be dressed <strong>in</strong> wet clothes, (thus) gradually<br />

<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g (the rigour of) his austerities." VI-23.<br />

"When he bathes at the three Savanas (Sunrise,<br />

midday and Sunset), let him offer libations of water to<br />

the manes and the gods, and practis<strong>in</strong>g harsher and<br />

harsher austerities, let him dry up his bodily frame." VI-<br />

24.<br />

" Hav<strong>in</strong>g reposited the three sacred fires <strong>in</strong> himself,<br />

accord<strong>in</strong>g to the prescribed rule, let him live without a<br />

fire, without a house wholly silent, subsist<strong>in</strong>g on roots<br />

and fruit." VI-25.<br />

" Mak<strong>in</strong>g no effort (to procure) th<strong>in</strong>gs that give<br />

pleasure, chaste, sleep<strong>in</strong>g on the bare ground, not<br />

car<strong>in</strong>g for any shelter, dwell<strong>in</strong>g at the roots of trees. VI-<br />

26.<br />

"Let him disda<strong>in</strong> all (food) obta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> consequence<br />

of humble salutations, (for) even an ascetic who has<br />

atta<strong>in</strong>ed f<strong>in</strong>al liberation, is bound (with the fetters of the<br />

Samsara) by accept<strong>in</strong>g (food given) <strong>in</strong> consequence of<br />

humble salutations." Ch. VI-58.<br />

" By eat<strong>in</strong>g little, and by stand<strong>in</strong>g and sitt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />

solitude, let him restra<strong>in</strong> his senses, if they are<br />

attracted by sensual objects." Ch. VI-59.<br />

" By the restra<strong>in</strong>t of his senses, by the destruction of<br />

love and hatred, and by the abstention from <strong>in</strong>jur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the creatures, he becomes fit for immortality." Ch. VI-<br />

60.<br />

"When by the disposition (of his heart) he becomes<br />

<strong>in</strong>different to all objects, he obta<strong>in</strong>s eternal happ<strong>in</strong>ess<br />

both <strong>in</strong> this world and after death." Ch. VI-80.<br />

" He who has <strong>in</strong> this manner gradually given up all<br />

attachments and is freed from all the pairs (of<br />

opposites), reposes <strong>in</strong> Brahman alone." Ch. VI-81.<br />

"All that has been declared (above) depends on<br />

meditation; for he who is not proficient <strong>in</strong> the<br />

knowledge of that which refers to the Soul reaps not<br />

the full reward of the performance of rites." Ch. VI-82.<br />

" Let him constantly recite (those texts) of the Veda<br />

which refer to the sacrifice, (those) referr<strong>in</strong>g to the<br />

deities, and (those) which treat of the Soul and are<br />

conta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> the conclud<strong>in</strong>g portions of the Veda<br />

(Vedanta)." Ch. VI-83.<br />

205

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