The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c11.21

c11.21

There is, then, a complete break between the social world and the world of the Vedic śruti. The bridge between this and yonder world that sacrifice was meant to be has been broken down. The ritual that took its place could only be transcendence itself—or nothing at all. Therefore it cannot be obligatory. It is left to the individual's choice whether he subjects himself to the ritual's transcendent law or not. If he does, it has no direct, visible bearing on his mundane life. Insofar as it has an impact, it is through the intermediary of an impersonal transcendent mechanism, namely the ritual's invisible or previously nonexistent faculty (*adṛṣṭa*, *apūrva*) that in an unknown way will bring about the intended result (say, wealth or progeny). This is not, however, a mystical or magical faculty but is simply inexplicable as the ritual itself, being transcendent, is inexplicable.