The fact that Viswamitra could not have peace of mind suggests that only those who restrain their senses can succeed in penance.
Manu: ‘After the senses are brought under control one can practise yoga, day and night. Only the self-restrained can control the subjects. By not doing the enjoined karma, doing the censured one and getting entangled in objects of enjoyment a person is ruined’.
The Gita: ‘O son of Kunti, even when the wise try hard the rebellious senses forcibly pull their minds away. Only his mind is steady who has controlled the senses. If mind follows the dictates of the senses, the intellect too, is carried away and wanders like a boat driven by wind on water. Therefore, O mighty-armed one, only his intellect is steady who has withdrawn his senses from the objects of enjoyment’.
Manu: ‘A person with a polluted mind can never succeed in learning the Vedas, in self-sacrifice, in performing sacrifices, penance or vows. He who neither rejoices nor grieves even after hearing, touching, seeing, eating and smelling is the one who has controlled the senses. No doubt he errs due to the (natural) addiction of senses to their objects but he can succeed only by controlling them. Even if a single sense of enjoyment among all (five) goes astray it pulls away intellect off the track along with it, the same as water drains out of the opening from a leather bag holding water.
The Mahabharata says: ‘Senses set free make one sad. The same brought under control makes one happy.
Conquering Anger 1.64-17
Spiritual practices succeed only in the case of those who conquer their anger.
Manu: ‘Anger indeed destroys the religious merit of ascetics acquired with immense endeavour. In Vanaparvan Yudhisthira says to Draupadi, “Know it for certain, O intelligent one, that it (anger) is the root cause of adversity (when let loose) and prosperity (if curbed). Which is the sin that an angry person cannot commit”?
Viswamitra conquered anger and acquired control over his senses.
Importance of Self-control: 1.64.15-16
The fact that Viswamitra could not have peace of mind suggests that only those who restrain their senses can succeed in penance.
Manu: ‘After the senses are brought under control one can practise yoga, day and night. Only the self-restrained can control the subjects. By not doing the enjoined karma, doing the censured one and getting entangled in objects of enjoyment a person is ruined’.
The Gita: ‘O son of Kunti, even when the wise try hard the rebellious senses forcibly pull their minds away. Only his mind is steady who has controlled the senses. If mind follows the dictates of the senses, the intellect too, is carried away and wanders like a boat driven by wind on water. Therefore, O mighty-armed one, only his intellect is steady who has withdrawn his senses from the objects of enjoyment’.
Manu: ‘A person with a polluted mind can never succeed in learning the Vedas, in self-sacrifice, in performing sacrifices, penance or vows. He who neither rejoices nor grieves even after hearing, touching, seeing, eating and smelling is the one who has controlled the senses. No doubt he errs due to the (natural) addiction of senses to their objects but he can succeed only by controlling them. Even if a single sense of enjoyment among all (five) goes astray it pulls away intellect off the track along with it, the same as water drains out of the opening from a leather bag holding water.
The Mahabharata says: ‘Senses set free make one sad. The same brought under control makes one happy.
Conquering Anger 1.64-17
Spiritual practices succeed only in the case of those who conquer their anger.
Manu: ‘Anger indeed destroys the religious merit of ascetics acquired with immense endeavour. In Vanaparvan Yudhisthira says to Draupadi, “Know it for certain, O intelligent one, that it (anger) is the root cause of adversity (when let loose) and prosperity (if curbed). Which is the sin that an angry person cannot commit”?
Viswamitra conquered anger and acquired control over his senses.