The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c28.s4.8

v1.c28.s4.8

The Brāhmaṇas and the ritual¹ give advice to the priest how to make use of the service for ends not openly expressed. If the ritual contain in a liturgy the word 'possessing heroic sons', he has but to think of the wife of the sacrificer, and he will bring it about that she has a strong son: the word 'embryo' if thought on will bring her fertility. But, on the other hand, the power can be used for evil as effectively: if the priest but think of the enemy whom he hates, when he takes up the pressing stone in his hand, he can overthrow the enemy: the pressing stone thus becomes a weapon to slay him.² Of these puerilities the Brāhmaṇas are never tired,³ and this attitude of mind must be accepted as a fundamental fact of their mental outlook.