Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.12
intermediate
तमेतं वेदानुवचनेन ब्राह्मणा विविदिषन्ति। यज्ञेन दानेन तपसाऽनाशकेन। एतमेव विदित्वा मुनिर्भवति। एतमेव प्रव्राजिनो लोकमिच्छन्तः प्रव्रजन्ति॥
tametaṃ vedānuvacanena brāhmaṇā vividyṣanti | yajñena dānena tapasā\'nāśakena | etameva viditvā munirbhavati | etameva pravrājino lokamicchantaḥ pravrajanti ||
"The Brahmins seek to know this Self through Vedic study, sacrifice, charity, austerity, and fasting. Knowing this alone, one becomes a sage. It is this world that the renunciates desire when they leave home."
What This Means:
People seek the Self through study, rituals, charity, austerity, and fasting. Knowing the Self, one becomes a sage. Renunciates leave home seeking this.
Going Deeper:
Various means (study, yajna, dana, tapas) all aim at Self-knowledge. Sannyasa is for those who directly pursue this goal.
How To Apply This:
All spiritual practices aim at knowing the Self. Know this, and you become a sage.
#means to Self-knowledge#study#yajna#tapas#sannyasa