History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c93.193

v7.c93.193

When the Veda says 'one desirous of heaven should perform a sacrifice', three ākāṅkṣās (expectancies) arise. The first is 'what is to be brought about'; this is satisfied by the word *svarga*, stating the reward or the purpose. The 2nd is 'by what means' is the first to be brought about. That is satisfied by the meaning of the root '*yaj*' (i e by yāga), the third is 'what is the procedure or in what manner', that is satisfied by the establishment of the sacred fires and other rites that are described in the context of the passage 'svargakāmo yajeta'. It is learnt from this passage that the reward or purpose (svarga) springs from (is brought about by) yāga and not by the devatā.¹⁹⁶²