There is an injunction in the Vedas that penances are higher than sacrifices. I shall now describe penances to you. O learned prince listen to me.
तपो यज्ञादपि श्रेष्ठमित्येषा परमा श्रुतिः। तत् ते वपः प्रवक्ष्यामि विद्वंस्तदपि मे शृणु॥