History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c94.334

v7.c94.334

The highest value is attached to Yoga ²³⁹⁹ as an integral part of Vedānta by the Yājñavalkyasmṛti when it states that realization of the Self by means of Yoga is the highest Dharma. Then the same Smṛti provides ²⁴⁰⁰ 'study of the Veda, performance of sacrifices, brahmacarya (sexual purity), *tapas* and *dama* (restraint of senses), faith, fasting and freedom from attachment to worldly objects; these are the causes of securing knowledge of the Ātman.' It should be noticed that some of these fall under *yama*, *niyama* and *pratyāhāra*. The Dakṣasmṛti avers 'even the country, where a yogin, who has profound knowledge of yoga and who is given to *dhyāna*, becomes holy; what need is there to say about his relatives (i. e. they will certainly be pure).²⁴⁰¹