The Rishis, the gods, human beings, beasts, birds, and all other creatures, mobile or immobile, practise penances, and whatever success they acquire is won through penance. It was through penance that the gods acquired their superiority.
ऋषयः पितरो देवा मनुष्या मृगपक्षिणः। यानि चान्यानि भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च॥ तपः परायणाः सर्वे सिद्ध्यन्ति तपसा च ते। इत्येवं तपसा देवा महत्त्वं प्रतिपेदिरे॥