The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c11.12

c11.12

The central concept of the śruti is sacrifice (*yajña*). It is the primordial act of creation and establishes the order of the universe. In the enigmatically involute words of the *Ṛgveda*, which defy interpretation, it is said that "the gods sacrificed the sacrifice with the sacrifice, these were the primordial ordinances."¹¹ In this way, the text tells us, the gods found their place in heaven and thereby set the rules for men's activity. Starting from this mythic statement, one is tempted to view sacrifice as the organizing principle of the Hindu world order.¹² But it is exactly here that the problem stands out clearest.