SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma
na tyājyaṁ kāryam eva tat
yajño dānaṁ tapaś caiva
pāvanāni manīṣiṇām
‘Work, —Yajña, Dāna and Tapas, should never be abandoned; it must of necessity be done; for Yajña, Dāna and Tapas sanctify the wise.’
Never, by the Moksha-aspirant, are Vaidika-acts such as Yajña, Dāna, Tapas and the rest, to be abdicated; but must be daily practised until the last day of death. Why?
Because those acts pertaining as they do to the several varṇas and āśramas[1. The four varṇas are Brāhmaṇa, Kshatriya, Vaiśya and Śūdra. The four aśramas are Brahmacharya (bachelor and student), Gārhastya (married life), Vānaprastha (retired forest life) and Sanyāsa (monastic or ascetic life).] (‘castes’ and ‘orders’ of life) do purify the wise (manishiṇah) = the thoughtful or reflecting persons.
The thoughtfulness or reflection here meant is upāsana or religious meditation, in which the Moksha-aspirant is supposed to be engaged till the last. And the practising of Yajña etc., destroy the past deeds (karma) which hinder progress of the aforesaid upāsana.
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