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xx] Nature of Emancipation according to Venkațanātha 293 knowledge is also included in bhaktil. Bhakti is defined here as unceasing meditation (dhruvā-nusmrti), and this therefore has to be continually practised. The Sankarite view that emancipation can be attained by mere knowledge is false. In the Upanişads knowledge means unceasing meditation, and this has to be continued and only then can it be regarded as upāsanā, which is the same as bhakti”.
The performance of the prescribed duties is helpful to the production of knowledge in the sense of bhakti by counteracting the wrong influence of such karmas as are antagonistic to the rise of true knowledge. Thus the prescribed duties are not to be performed along with the practice of bhakti, and they are not both to be regarded as joint causes of emancipation; but the performance of duties is to be interpreted as helping the rise of bhakti only by removing the obstructive influences of other opposing karmas». The performance of scriptural duties including sacrifices is not incompatible with devotional exercises, for the gods referred to in the Vedic sacrifices may also be regarded as referring to Brahman, the only god of the Vaisnavas. The absolutely (nitya) and the conditionally (naimittika) obligatory duties should not be given up by the devotee, for mere cessation from one's duties has no meaning; the real significance of the cessation from duties is that these should be performed without any motive of gain or advantage. It is wrong to suppose that emancipation can be attained only by those who renounce the world and become ascetics, for a man of any caste (varna) and at any stage of life (āśrama) may attain it provided he follows his normal caste duties and is filled with unceasing bhakti towards God.
It is well to point out in this connection that duties are regarded as threefold. Those that are absolutely obligatory are called nitya. No special good or advantage comes out of their performance, but their non-performance is associated with evil effects. Those that are obligatory under certain circumstances are called naimittika. If these duties are not performed under those special circumstances, sin will accrue, but no special beneficial effects are produced by
i bhakti-sādhyam präpaka-jñānam api bhakti-lakşaņo-petam. Sarvārthasiddhi, p. 191.
*ekasminn eva visaye vedano-pāsana-sabdayoḥ vyatikareno'pakramo-pasamhāra-darsanāc ca vedanam eva upāsanatayā višesyate...sā mukti-sādhanatayo'ktā hi vittiḥ bhakti-rūpatva-paryanta-višeșana-višişțā. Ibid. pp. 191-192.
3 Ibid. pp. 194-195.
