of the regenerate classes
to accomplish all their acts in respect of both this and the other
world.[1242] In cremating his body (after death), in the matter of his
attainment of a second body, in that of his drink and food after such
attainment, in that of giving away kine and other animals for helping him
to cross the river that divides the region of life from that of Yama, in
that of sinking funeral cakes in water--Vedic mantras are necessary. Then
again the three classes of Pitris, viz., the Archishmats, the Varhishads,
and the Kravyads, approve of the necessity of mantras in the case of the
dead, and mantras are allowed to be efficient causes (for attainment of
the objects for which these ceremonies and rites have been directed to be
performed). When the Vedas say this so loudly and when again human beings
are said to owe debts to the Pitris, the Rishis, and the gods, how can
any one attain to Emancipation?[1243] This false doctrine (of incorporeal
existence called Emancipation), apparently dressed in colours of truth,
but subversive of the real purport of the declarations of the Vedas, has
been introduced by learned men reft of prosperity and eaten up by
idleness. That Brahmana who performs sacrifices according to the
declarations of the Vedas is never seduced by sin. Through sacrifices,
such a person attains to high regions of felicity along with the animals
he has slain in those sacrifices, and himself, gratified by the
acquisition of all his wishes succeeds in gratifying those animals by
fulfilling their wishes. By disregarding the Vedas, by guile, or by
deception, one never succeeds in attaining to the Supreme. On the other
hand, it is by practising the rites laid down in the Vedas that one
succeeds in attaining to Brahma.'

"'"Kapila said, '(If acts are obligatory, then) there are the Darsa, the
Paurnamasa, the Agnihotra, the Chaturmasya, and other acts for the man of
intelligence. In their performance is eternal merit. (Why then perform
acts involving cruelty)? Those that have betaken themselves to the
Sannyasa mode of life, that abstain from all acts, that are endued with
patience, that are cleansed (of wrath and every fault), and that are
conversant with Brahma, succeed by such knowledge of Brahma in paying off
the debts (thou speakest of) to the gods (the Rishis, and the Pitris)
represented to be so very fond of libations poured in sacrifices.[1244]
The very gods become stupefied in tracing the track of tha