Manava Dharmashastra 2.189.3

2.189.3

atra vadanti | siddhā hyatra pitṛprītiḥ | ātmanāmavināśitvāt pitaraḥ siddhāsteṣāṃ ca śarīrasambandhaḥ kriyate karmabhyaḥ | tadbhojanaṃ hyatra pradhānam | tasya hi phalaṃ śrutam—'bhojayanpuṣkala' phalamāpnoti |' tacca phalaṃ pitṝṇāṃ tasya tṛptiḥ syāditi | tṛptiśca prītimātram, na manuṣyāṇāmiva bhujikriyāphalaṃ sauhityalakṣaṇamucyate | kācidvipatṛṣṇāṃ prītiḥ svakarmavaśataḥ yatra tatra jātāvutpannānām | prītimātravacano'yaṃ dhātuḥ, sauhityaṃ tu viśeṣaḥ | sa pramāṇāntarāvaseyaḥ | na cātraitacchaṅkanīyam—"putraḥ kartā, pitṛṣu kathaṃ kartṛgāmiphalam ? na hīmāni karmāṇi vaidikāni parasya phaladānīti nyāyavido vadanti |" yataḥ pitara evātrādhikāriṇaḥ kartāraśca | apatyotpādanenaiva sarvametatpitṛbhiḥ kṛtam | evamarthamevāsāvutpādito 'dṛṣṭādṛṣṭamupakāraṃ kariṣyatīti |' tataśca yathā sarvasvāre'bhāvādvauttarakālikeṣvaṃgeṣu 'brāhmaṇāḥ saṃsthāpayata me yajñamiti' praiṣya mṛtasya kartṛtvam | evamatrāpi draṣṭavyam | etāvānviśeṣaḥ | tatrādhikārāntaraprayuktā jīvikārthino bhṛtiparikrītā ṛtvijaḥ 'kartāraḥ' | iha tu tadvidhiprayukta eva putraḥ | yathaivāpatyotpattividhiprayuktasya putrārtheṣu pituḥ saṃskāreṣu adhikāro'nuśāsanaparyantatvāttasya vidheḥ, evaṃ pitrarthe śrāddhādau putrasya | tathaiva jīvitaḥ pituḥ "vṛddhau tu mātāpitarau", ityavaśyaṃ kartavyam | evaṃ diṣṭaṃ gataṃ tasyāpi |

If there were such a Smṛti-rule, its meaning would be that ‘one should please the gods by feeding Brāhmaṇas.’ And it would not be right to assume such a meaning; as scriptural injunctions are aimed, not at pleasin the Gods, but at accomplishing what is prescribed by the injunctions. Then again, if such were the meaning of the Injunction, its connection with the Sun-god and others intended to be deities could not be based either upon an object, or upon a desired result; nor again could they be the purpose, as in the case of the act of piercing; nor are they desired for their own sake, like cattle and other desirable things, for the simple reason that they are not something to be enjoyed. If it were the satisfaction of the Sun-god that were desired,—that also, will need a proof for its own existence; and there is no such proof available. Such a thing as the ‘satisfaction of the Sun-god’ is not known by Perception or other means of knowledge,—in the way that cattle, etc., are,—whereby it could be desired and connected with the performance of sacrifices.