erform sacrifices from desire of doing
good to all creatures and constituting their own selves as sacrificial
offerings.[1175] For this reason, grasping priests officiate at the
Sacrifices of only those misguided persons who, without endeavouring to
attain to Emancipation, seek for heaven. As regards those, however, that
are really good, they always seek, by accomplishing their own duties, to
cause others to ascend to heaven. Looking at both these kinds of
behaviour, O Jajali, I have (abstained from injuring any creature in the
world and have) come to regard all creatures with an equal heart.[1176]
Endued with wisdom, many foremost of Brahmanas perform Sacrifices (which
with respect to their fruits are of two kinds, for some of them lead to
Emancipation whence there is no return, and others lead to regions of
bliss whence there is return). By performing those Sacrifices, they
proceed, O great ascetic, along paths trodden by the gods. Of one class
of Sacrificers (viz., they who sacrifice from desire of fruit) there is
return (from the region which they reach). Of those, however, that are
truly wise (viz., those who sacrifice without being urged thereto by
desire of fruit), there is no return. Although both classes of
sacrificers, O Jajali, proceed along the path trodden by the deities (in
consequence of the sacrifices they perform), yet such is the difference
between their ultimate ends.[1177] In consequence of the success that
attends the purposes formed in the mind of such men, bulls, without being
forced thereto, willingly set their shoulders to the plough for assisting
at tillage and to the yoke for dragging their cars, and kine pour forth
milk from udders untouched by human hands. Creating sacrificial stakes
(and other necessaries of Sacrifice) by simple fiats of the will, they
perform many kinds of Sacrifice well-completed with abundant
presents.[1178] One who is of such a cleansed soul may slaughter a cow
(as an offering in Sacrifice).[1179] They, therefore, that are not of
that kind should perform Sacrifices with herbs and plants (and not
animals). Since Renunciation hath such merit, it is for that reason that
I have kept it before my eyes in speaking to thee.[1180] The gods know
him for a Brahmana who has given up all desire of fruit, who hath no
exertion in respect of worldly acts, who never bows down his head unto
any one, who never utters the praises of others, and who is endued with
strength though his acts ha