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## Chapter Seventeen
**255**
This consideration of the Vedic meaning is not accessible to anyone other than you. For the tradition of others is now broken on this earth. ||95|| Therefore, in your presence, let these learned men decide. Let there be a just victory and defeat. ||96|| When this debate is settled by reason, in accordance with the Vedas, there will be an unambiguous course of action, beneficial to all beings. ||97||
Thus, urged by the elders, King Vasu presented the opposing argument to the mountain. The mountain, filled with pride due to his companions, accepted the argument. ||98||
He said, "The scripture states that those desiring heaven should perform a sacrifice with goats. And here, goats are clearly defined as four-legged animals. ||99||
The word 'aja' is not only used for animals in the Vedas, but also in the world. It is used for animals from young to old, including females. ||100||
"This man smells like a goat kid," and "This is goat's milk," etc. The meaning of the word 'aja' in these contexts cannot be refuted even by the gods. ||101||
If the established relationship between a word and its meaning is obstructed, then there will be a breakdown of all transactions, and this world will become like blind owls. ||102||
When a word is used without obstruction, it conveys its proper meaning. Both scriptural and worldly usage are clear in this regard. ||103||
Just as in the scripture, "Let one who desires heaven perform the Agnihotra," the well-known meaning of words like 'agni' (fire) is accepted, similarly, in the scripture, "Let those who desire heaven sacrifice with goats," the meaning of 'aja' as an animal is clear. And the meaning of words like 'yaga' (sacrifice) is undoubtedly related to animals. ||104-105||
Therefore, the performance of rituals involving the killing of goat kids should be accepted without doubt. There is no doubt in the statement, "One should sacrifice with goats." ||106||
There should be no fear that the animal suffers during the killing, because the power of the mantras brings about a painless death. The animal does not experience even a little suffering. ||107||
At the end of the initiation, the chanting of mantras provides the animal with a blissful place, directly...