Even reputedknowers of Brahman, like Yajnavalkya, are subject to the influence ofimpure vaasanaa. Vasishtha says in Yogavaasishtha that Bhagiratha,though a knower of the Reality, could not get peace of mind whileengaged in ruling over his kingdom because of the impact of impurevaasanaas. He therefore renounced everything and only then attainedpeace. It therefore follows that we should carefully examine ourdefects caused by impure vaasanaas, with the same strictness with whichwe detect the defects of others, and apply the necessary remedies. Ithas been said in a smriti, "If a man of the world, who is adept atdetecting the defects of others, applies his skill to detect his ownfaults, he will certainly be liberated from the bonds of ignorance".
