n ancient story of a discourse
between an Adhwaryu and a Yati. Do thou hear it, O glorious lady.
Beholding an animal sprinkled with water at a sacrificial ceremony, a
Yati said unto the Adhwaryu seated there these words in censure,--"This is
destruction of life!" unto him the Adhwaryu said in reply,--"This goat will
not be destroyed. The animal (sacrificed) meets with great good, if the
Vedic declaration on this subject be true. That part of this animal which
is of earth will go to earth. That part of this one which is born of
water, will enter into water. His eye will enter the sun; his ear will
enter the different points of the horizon; his life-winds will enter the
sky. I who adhere to the scriptures incur no fault (by assisting at the
killing of this animal)."

"'"'The Yati said, "If thou beholdest such good to the goat in this
dissociation with (his) life-winds, then this sacrifice is for the goat.
What need hast thou for it? Let the brother, father, mother, and friend
(of this goat) give thee their approval in this. Taking him (to them) do
thou consult them. This goat is especially dependent. It behoveth thee to
see them who can give their consent in this. After hearing their consent,
the matter will become fit for consideration. The life-winds of this goat
have been made to return to their respective sources. Only the inanimate
body remains behind. This is what I think. Of those who wish to enjoy
felicity by means of the inanimate body (of an animal) which is
comparable with fuel, the fuel (of sacrifice) is after all the animal
himself. Abstention from cruelty is the foremost of all duties. Even
this is the teaching of the elders. We know this is the proposition,
viz.,--No slaughter (of living creatures).--If I say anything further,
(it will then appear that) diverse kinds of faulty actions are capable of
being done by thee. Always abstaining from cruelty to all creatures is
what meets with our approbation. We establish this from what is directly
perceptible. We do not rely on what is beyond direct perception."

"'"'The Adhwaryu said, "Thou enjoyest the properties of smell which belong
to the earth. Thou drinkest the tastes which appertain to water. Thou
seest colours which belong to lighted bodies. Thou touchest the
properties which have their origin in wind. Thou hearest the sounds
which have their origin in space (or ether). Thou thinkest thoughts with
the mind. All these entities, thou art of opinion, have li