Chapter 263

“Jajali said, ‘This course of duty that thou, O holder of scales,preachest, closes the door of heaven against all creatures and puts astop to the very means of their subsistence. From agriculture comes food.That food offers subsistence even to thee. With the aid of animals and ofcrops and herbs, human beings, O trader, are enabled to support theirexistence. From animals and food sacrifices flow. Thy doctrines smack ofatheism. This world will come to an end if the means by which life issupported have to be abandoned.’

“Tuladhara said, ‘I shall now speak on the object of the means ofsustenance. I am not, O Brahmana, an atheist. I do not blame Sacrifices.The man, however, is very rare that is truly conversant with Sacrifice. Ibow to that Sacrifice which is ordained for Brahmanas. I bow also to themthat are conversant with that Sacrifice. Alas, the Brahmanas, havinggiven up the Sacrifice that is ordained for them, have betaken themselvesto the performance of Sacrifices that are for Kshatriyas.[1165] Manypersons of faith, O regenerate one, that are covetous and fond of wealth,without having understood the true meaning of the declarations of theSrutis, and proclaiming things that are really false but that have theshow of truth, have introduced many kinds of Sacrifices, saying, ‘Thisshould be given away in this Sacrifice. This other thing should be givenaway in this other Sacrifice. The first of this is very laudable.’ Theconsequence, however, of all this, O Jajali, is that theft and many evilacts spring up.[1166] It should be known that only that sacrificialoffering which was acquired by righteous means can gratify the gods.There are abundant indications in the scriptures that the worship of thedeities may be accomplished with vows, with libations poured on the fire,with recitations or chanting of the Vedas, and with plants and herbs.From their religious acts unrighteous persons get wicked offspring. Fromcovetous men are born children that are covetous, and from those that arecontented spring children that are contented. If the sacrificer and thepriest suffer themselves to be moved by desire of fruit (in respect ofthe Sacrifices they perform or assist in), their children take the stain.If, on the other hand, they do not yield to desire of fruit, the childrenborn to them become of the same kind. From Sacrifices spring progeny likeclear water from the firmament. The libations poured on the sacrificialfire rise up to the Sun. From the Sun springs rain. From rain springsfood. From food are born living creatures. In former days, menrighteously devoted to Sacrifices used to obtain therefrom the fruitionof all their wishes. The earth yielded crops without tillage. Theblessing uttered by the Rishis produced herbs and plants.[1167] The menof former times never performed Sacrifices from desire of fruits andnever regarded themselves as called upon to enjoy those fruits. Those whosomehow perform sacrifices, doubting the while their efficacy take birthin their next lives as dishonest, wily, and greedy men exceedinglycovetous of wealth. That man who by the aid of false reasoning holds upall the authoritative scriptures as fraught with evil, is certain to go,for such sinful act of his, into the regions of the sinful. Such a man iscertainly possessed of a sinful soul, O foremost of Brahmanas, and alwaysremains here, bereft of wisdom.[1168] That man who regards those actsobligatory which have been laid down in the Vedas and directed to beaccomplished every day, who is penetrated with fear if he fails toaccomplish them any day, who takes all the essentials of Sacrifice asidentical with Brahma, and who never regards himself as the actor, istruly a Brahmana.[1169] If the acts of such a person become incomplete,or if their completion be obstructed by all unclean animals, even thenthose acts are, as heard by us, of superior efficacy. If, however, thoseacts are done from desire of fruit (and their completion be obstructed bysuch impediments), then expiation would become necessary. They who covetthe acquisition of the highest object of life (viz., Emancipation), whoare bereft of cupidity in respect of all kinds of worldly wealth, whodiscard all provision for the future, and who are freed from envy, betakethemselves to practice of truth and self-restraint as theirSacrifice.[1170] They that are conversant with the distinction betweenbody and soul, that are devoted to Yoga, and that meditate on thePranava, always succeed in gratifying others.[1171] The universal Brahma(viz., Pranava), which is the soul of the deities, dwells in him who isconversant with Brahma. When, therefore, such a man eats and isgratified, all the deities, O Jajali, become gratified and arecontented.[1172] As one who is gratified with all kinds of taste feels nodesire for any particular taste, after the same manner one who isgratified with knowledge hath everlasting gratification which to him is asource of perfect bliss. Those wise men who are the refuge ofrighteousness and whose delight is in righteousness, are persons thathave certain knowledge of what is to be done and what should not be done.One possessed of such wisdom always regards all things in the universe tohave sprung from his own Self.[1173] Some that are endued with knowledge,that strive to reach the other shore (of this ocean of life), and thatare possessed of faith, succeed in attaining to the region of Brahman,which is productive of great blessings, highly sacred, and inhabited byrighteous persons,–a region which is freed from sorrow, whence there isno return, and where there is no kind of agitation or pain. Such men donot covet heaven. They do not adore Brahma in costly sacrifices. Theywalk along the path of the righteous. The Sacrifices they perform areperformed without injury to any creature.[1174] These men know trees andherbs and fruits and roots as the only sacrificial offerings. Covetouspriests, for they are desirous of wealth, never officiate at thesacrifices of these (poor) men. These regenerate men, although all theiracts have been completed, still perform sacrifices from desire of doinggood to all creatures and constituting their own selves as sacrificialofferings.[1175] For this reason, grasping priests officiate at theSacrifices of only those misguided persons who, without endeavouring toattain to Emancipation, seek for heaven. As regards those, however, thatare really good, they always seek, by accomplishing their own duties, tocause others to ascend to heaven. Looking at both these kinds ofbehaviour, O Jajali, I have (abstained from injuring any creature in theworld and have) come to regard all creatures with an equal heart.[1176]Endued with wisdom, many foremost of Brahmanas perform Sacrifices (whichwith respect to their fruits are of two kinds, for some of them lead toEmancipation whence there is no return, and others lead to regions ofbliss whence there is return). By performing those Sacrifices, theyproceed, O great ascetic, along paths trodden by the gods. Of one classof Sacrificers (viz., they who sacrifice from desire of fruit) there isreturn (from the region which they reach). Of those, however, that aretruly wise (viz., those who sacrifice without being urged thereto bydesire of fruit), there is no return. Although both classes ofsacrificers, O Jajali, proceed along the path trodden by the deities (inconsequence of the sacrifices they perform), yet such is the differencebetween their ultimate ends.[1177] In consequence of the success thatattends the purposes formed in the mind of such men, bulls, without beingforced thereto, willingly set their shoulders to the plough for assistingat tillage and to the yoke for dragging their cars, and kine pour forthmilk from udders untouched by human hands. Creating sacrificial stakes(and other necessaries of Sacrifice) by simple flats of the will, theyperform many kinds of Sacrifice well-completed with abundantpresents.[1178] One who is of such a cleansed soul may slaughter a cow(as an offering in Sacrifice).[1179] They, therefore, that are not ofthat kind should perform Sacrifices with herbs and plants (and notanimals). Since Renunciation hath such merit, it is for that reason thatI have kept it before my eyes in speaking to thee.[1180] The gods knowhim for a Brahmana who has given up all desire of fruit, who hath noexertion in respect of worldly acts, who never bows down his head untoany one, who never utters the praises of others, and who is endued withstrength though his acts have all been weakened.[1181] What, O Jajali,will be the end of him who doth not recite the Vedas, unto others, whodoth not perform Sacrifices (properly), who doth not make gifts unto(deserving) Brahmanas, and who followeth an avocation in which every kindof desire is indulged? By properly reverencing, however, the duties thatappertain to Renunciation, one is sure of attaining to Brahma.'[1182]

“Jajali said, ‘We had never before, O son of a trader, heard of theserecondite doctrines of ascetics that perform only mental Sacrifices.These doctrines are exceedingly difficult of comprehension. It is forthis reason that I ask thee (about them). The sages of olden days werenot followers of those doctrines of Yoga. Hence, the sages that havesucceeded them have not propounded them (for general acceptance).[1183]If thou sayest that only men of brutish minds fail to achieve sacrificesin the soil of the Soul, then, O son of a trader, by what acts would theysucceed in accomplishing their happiness? Tell me this, O thou of greatwisdom! Great is my faith in thy words.'[1184]

“Tuladhara said, ‘Sometimes sacrifices performed by some persons do notbecome sacrifices (in consequence of the absence of faith of those thatperform them). These men, it should be said, are not worthy of performingany sacrifice (internal or external). As regards the faithful, however,only one thing, viz., the cow, is fit for upholding all sacrifices bymeans of full libations of clarified butter, milk, and curds, the hair atend of her tail, her horns, and her hoofs.[1185] (The Vedas declare thatsacrifices cannot be performed by an unmarried man). In performingsacrifices, however, according to the mode I have pointed out (viz., byabstaining from slaughter of animals and dedicating only clarifiedbutter, etc.), one may make Faith one’s wedded wife, for dedicating such(innocent) offerings to the deities. By duly reverencing such sacrifices,one is sure to attain to Brahma.[1186] To the exclusion of all animals(which are certainly unclean as offering in sacrifices), the rice-ball isa worthy offering in sacrifices. All rivers are as sacred as theSaraswati, and all mountains are sacred. O Jajali, the Soul is itself aTirtha. Do not wander about on the earth for visiting sacred places. Aperson, by observing these duties (that I have spoken of and that do notinvolve injury to other creatures), and by seeking the acquisition ofmerit agreeably to his own ability, certainly succeeds in obtainingblessed regions hereafter.'[1187]

“Bhishma continued, ‘These are the duties, O Yudhishthira, whichTuladhara applauded,–duties that are consistent with reason, and thatare always observed by those that are good and wise.'”