[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985) › c10.34 # The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c10.34 The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c10.34 - **Language:** English ### [c10.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c10.34) Significantly, the correction for this "error" is the same as the one prescribed when someone passes with his sacrificial fires through someone else's ritual enclosure. Apparently the two cases—crossing with a vehicle or with one's fires—are one and the same. Such a "mishap" can hardly be explained otherwise than in terms of agonistic procedures between two competing groups of sacrificers within the compass of the same sacrifice. It is then hardly surprising that a sacrificer's death in foreign parts requires the same expiatory rite.⁴² As we have seen, violent conflict and death were the essence of sacrifice. In this way, we can understand why the serene and harmless agnihotra can still be identified with a vajra hurled at the enemy. - [Previous: c10.33](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c10.33) - [Next: c10.35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c10.35) - [Up: c10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c10) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c10.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c10.34) · Pramāṇa