Chapter 17: Śraddhā-traya-vibhāga-yoga: / Verse 14

In front of anyone great and glorious one naturally feels humility and respect. Thus we have the highest sentiments towards devas (powers of Nature), whose kindness and grace mean a great deal to our safety and welfare.

Equally so we worship brāhmanas, who are devoted to a life of austerity and spiritual wisdom, meant to be a benediction to others.

The teacher imparting knowledge is equally worshippable. So also are the wise and the enlightened, from whom one gets guidance and looks for redress in crisis. All of them are equally adorable to an earnest seeker of good.

Any good human must inculcate the basic virtues of cleanliness, straightforwardness, celibacy and non-hurting, which constitute bodily austerity, meant to enrich our mind and intelligence, lifting us to a dimension commendable in every way.