Men possessed of scriptural lore
cannot obtain him by such lore. Nor can He be obtained by Penances, nor
by Sacrifices. The only means by which He can be attained is by
restraining the Senses. Nor that sacrifices are entirely useless towards
such an end. For one, by relying upon both external and internal acts,
and upon one's own mind, can purify (them) by one's own understanding. By
such means, one succeeds in enjoying infinity in the world.[1353] As a
goldsmith purifies the dross of his metal by repeatedly casting it into
the fire with very persistent efforts of his own, after the same manner
Jiva succeeds in cleaning himself by his course through hundreds of
births. Some one may be seen to purify himself in only one life by mighty
efforts. As one should with care wipe stains from off one's person before
they become thick, after the same manner one should, with vigorous
efforts, wash off one's faults.[1354] By mixing only a few flowers with
them, grains of sesame cannot be made to cast off their own odour (and
become at once fragrant). After the same manner, one cannot, by cleansing
one's heart only a little, succeed in beholding the Soul. When, however,
those grains are perfumed repeatedly with the aid of a large quantity of
flowers, it is then that they cast off their own odour and assume that of
the flowers with which they are mixed. After this manner, faults, in the
form of attachments to all our environments, are dispelled by the
understanding in course of many lives, with the aid of a large dose of
the attribute of the Sattwa, and by means of efforts born of
practice.
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