History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c93.217

v7.c93.217

Śabara says the Veda does *not* say that the result of such sacrifices cannot be had in this very life. This the Tupṭīkā ¹⁹⁷¹ expands in an interesting note. The remedy declared by the Veda for securing desired objects (son's birth and the like) is bound to yield the result in this life or in the next. If a man has committed evil deeds in a previous life he has to undergo the effects of those sins and while he is undergoing the effects of sins the fruits of sacrifices are postponed. But if the effects of sins háve been extremely reduced he secures the fruits of *kāmya* rites in this very life The words of the Veda laying down an injunction state only so much that the fruit of the rite performed does come about but they dc not say that the fruit follows immediately (after the rite is performed). Therefore, there is no definiteness (about the time when the fruit will follow). But *svarga* is to be enjoyed only in another life (as a fruit of rites performed in this life). It (svarga) means unequalled happiness and is achieved in a degree proportionate to the actions, but it cannot be enjoyed in this life, since men experience in this world every moment both happiness and misery. Every happiness is not the fruit of Jyotiṣṭoma and every being does not perform Jyotiṣṭoma. But some happiness does come to a man. Therefore, it (happiness) is natural The existence, however, of another body has to be imagined for the experience of unequalled happiness, there being no other reasonable explanation. That unequalled happiness does not come to a man unless he dies; therefore svarga is to be enjoyed in another life.