Bhrigu said Hermits in order to acquire virtuc, sojourn to sacred waters and rivers and springs, and practises penances in solitary and secluded forest abounding with deer, buffalocs, boars, tigers and wild elephants. They forsake all sorts of raiments and food and enjoyments which people in society like. The live abstemiously upon wild herbs, fruits, roots and leaves of various kinds. The naked Earth is their seat. They lie down on the bare earth or rocks or pebbles or gravel or sand or ashes. They are clad in grass and animal skins and barks of tree. They never shave their heads and beards or pare their nails. They perform their ablutions at regular times. They pour unfailingly libations on the ground, and on the sacred fire at the proper time. They enjoy no rest till they have swept and cleansed (their sacrificial alters). They bear without any concern cold and heat and rain and rind, and, therefore, the skin of their bodies is cracked all over and for performing various kinds of rites vows and acts, their flesh, blood, skin and bones become greatly reduced. Gifted with great patience and calmness, they live, always practising the quality of Goodness.
भृगुरुवाच वानप्रस्थाः खल्वषि धर्ममनुसरन्तः पुण्यानि तीर्थानि नदीप्रस्र वणानि सुविविक्तेष्वरण्येषु मृगमहिषवराहशार्दूल वनगजाकार्णेषु तपस्यन्तोऽनुसंचरन्ति त्यक्तग्राम्यवस्त्राभ्यवहारोपभोगा वन्यौषधि-फलमूलपर्णपरिमितविचित्रनियताहाराः स्थानासनिनो भूमिपाषाणसिकताशर्करावालुकाभस्मशायिनः काशकुशचर्मवल्कलसंवृताङ्गाः केशश्मश्रुनखरोमधारिणो नियतकालोपस्पर्शना अस्कन्दितकालबलिहोमानुष्ठायिनः समित्कुशकुसुमापहारसम्मार्जनलब्धविश्रामाः शीतोष्णवर्षपवनविष्टम्भविभिन्नसर्वत्वचो विविधनियमोपयोगचर्यानुष्ठानविहितपरिशुष्कमांसशोणितत्वस्थिभूता धृतिपराः सत्त्वयोगाच्छरीराण्युद्वहन्ते।॥