History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c94.206

v7.c94.206

²³²³ तपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि क्रियायोगः । समाधिभावनार्थः क्लेशतनूकरणार्थश्च । अविद्यास्मितारागद्वेषाभिनिवेशाः क्लेशाः। यो सू II. 1–3. Various definitions of *tapas* occur in the Dharmaśāstra and other works The word *tapas* occurs in the Rgveda over a dozen times Vide Rg. VI. 5 4, VIII 59 6, VIII. 60 16, X. 16 4, X. 87 14 in all of which it is possible to take *tapas* in the sense of heat But in Rg X 109 4, X. 154 2, 4 (pitrntapasvatah), 5 (rṣin tapasvatah), X. 183 1, X. 190. 1 tapas means 'austerities, asceticism or bodily mortification ' तपसा येऽनाधृष्यास्तपसा ये स्वर्ययुः। तपो ये चक्रिरे महस्तांश्चिदेवापि गच्छतात्॥ ऋ X. 154 2 (this is addressed to the soul of the deceased person) 'join them that are unassailable owing to tapas, that went to heaven by tapas and that performed great tapas'. The emphasis on asceticism (or tapas) appeared among Indians earlier than among any other known people. In Rg X. 190 1 it is stated that right and truth and the sun and the moon and the universe are born of tapas. In Rg X 109. 4 the seven sages are said to have sat down for tapas In Rg. X 136. 2 sages (*munis*) having long hair and wearing dirty yellowish clothes are said to roam over paths. In the Śat Br. VI 1 1. 13 and Ait. Br XI 6. 4 it is indicated that *tapas* like Yajña would give everything. The Upanisads (e g. Tai Up III 5 'tapasā brahma vijijñāsasva', Br. Up IV. 4. 22) emphasize that tapas is one of the means of realizing brahma Chān. Up II. 23 postulates tapas as the 2nd of three *dharmaskandhas*. The Āp Dh. S. I. 2 5. 1 holds that the strict observances laid down for a Vedic student are called tapas (नियमेषु तपःशब्द.), Gautama Dh. S 19. 15 provides that sexual purity, truthfulness, bathing three times in the day, wearing a wet garment, sleeping on the sacrificial ground and fast are austerities. Manu X 70 provides that even three prānāyāmas are the highest tapas for all brāhmanas provided they are performed according to prescribed rules and are accompanied by the seven *vyāhrtis* and *pranava* Manu (XI. 234–244) contains a grand eulogy of tapas, verse 238 states 'everything can be *(Continued from last page)* accomplished by tapas, since tapas has invincible power.' Yāj. also (I. 198-202) emphasizes the great importance of tapas Jaimini (in PMS III. 8. 9) employs the word tapas for 'fast' Frequent eulogies of tapas are found in the Mahābhārata as in Vanaparva 259. 13. 17, Śānti, chap 5 and 12 'Gods and sages secured their position by tapas', Anuśāsana 122. 5-11) Śāntiparva 79 18 explains अहिंसा सत्यवचनमानृशंस्यं दमो घृणा। एतत्तपो विदुर्धीरा न शरीरस्य शोषणम्॥ All passages of the Mahābhārata are taken from Chitraśālā Press edition in this note Yogins are said to repeat the Ajapā japa i e while they breathe inwards there is सोह and when they breathe out there is हंसः and the combined words सोहं हंसः mean 'I am that *haṃsa*' (the eternal Spirit)' Compare बृहद्योगिया. II 115. 'हंसं तुर्ये परं ब्रह्म'