[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.
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