As a piece of dirty cloth is whitened by being washed in water, similarly the righteous, purified by continuous exposure to the fire of fasts and penances at last acquire eternal happiness.
मलिनं हि यथा वस्त्रं पश्चाच्छुद्ध्यति वारिणा। उपवासैः प्रतप्तानां दीर्घं सुखमनन्तकम्॥