[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930) › v6.c81.167 # History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.167 History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.167 - **Language:** English ### [v6.c81.167](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v6.c81.167) The keynote struck by the Matsya, Brahma and other Purāṇas is how to secure great rewards with little effort The Brahma-purāṇa remarks that by merely taking in Kaliyuga the name of Keśava a man obtains the same rewards that one got in \*kṛta-yuga\* by deep meditation, in Tretā by performing sacrifices and in Dvāpara by worship (of images) The Matsya says: The great sages do not commend sacrifices which involve killing (of animals); those whose wealth is \*tapas\* became firmly placed in heaven by making gifts, according to their means, of particles of grains (collected from fields &c), roots, fruits, vegetables and water vessels and that \*tapas\* is superior for (several) reasons to sacrifices The Padmapurāṇa reaches the peak of exaggeration when it says 'no one except Hari will be able to recount the merit of him who offers a lamp on the day of Hari in Kārtika with devotion' or 'Viṣṇuvrata is the highest, a hundred solemn Vedic sacrifices are not equal to it'. The Skandapurāṇa¹¹² (quoted by Hemādri on vrata vol. I. pp. 318–321) contains a long eulogy of vrata, one verse of which may be cited here 'Gods attained their position through restrictive observances (vratas); they shine forth as stars by virtue of the vratas (they performed)'. - [Previous: v6.c81.166](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v6.c81.166) - [Next: v6.c81.168](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v6.c81.168) - [Up: v6.c81](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v6.c81) ## Linked texts (4) - [Padmapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.padma) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Brahmapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.brahma) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Matsyapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.matsya) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Skandapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v6.c81.167](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v6.c81.167) · Pramāṇa