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502
LAWS OF MANU.
XII, 87.
ated above, the performance of) the acts taught in the Veda must ever be held to be most efficacious for ensuring happiness in this world and the next.
87. For in the performance of the acts prescribed by the Veda all those (others) are fully comprised, (each) in its turn in the several rules for the rites.
88. The acts prescribed by the Veda are of two kinds, such as procure an increase of happiness and
sense of an ablative, and according to him the translation would be, 'The acts taught in the Veda must ever be held to be more efficacious for ensuring happiness in this world and in the next than all those six (kinds of) actions (enumerated above). He proposes two explanations for karma vaidikam. The acts taught in the Veda' may either be 'the Srauta rites, such as the Gyotish/oma,' or 'those called further on, in verses 88–89, nivritta,' i. e. rites performed as a matter of duty, without a desire for rewards.' Nand. accepts the first explanation, and so does Gov., who, however, takes the genitive in its usual sense, among those six. Når. adopts Medh.'s second explanation, and says, 'acts, taught in the Veda,' i.e. 'sacrifices and so forth, performed without the intention of (gaining) rewards, and construes the genitives like Gov. The same construction is adopted by Kull., who explains karma vaidikam by the knowledge of the Supreme Soul.' Medhi's second explanation seems to be the best, on account of verses 89 and go, where 'knowledge,' i. e. 'the knowledge of the Supreme Soul' (see verse 85) and the performance of the nivrittam karma are said to effect final liberation. The explanation of the genitives shannam eteshâm by among those six' may perhaps be defended, if vaidikam karma is taken to correspond to vedâbhyâsah, studying the Veda (and obeying its rules),' in verse 83. But Medh.'s explanation of the construction is quite possible.
87. Kull. alters his explanation of vaidikam karma slightly, and interprets it by the worship of the Supreme Soul' (paramâtmopasana), and quotes Brihadâranyaka-upanishad IV, 4, 22 in support of his view. The other commentators find no difficulty in showing that both 'the Srauta sacrifices' and 'the nivrittâkhyam karma' include all the six points mentioned above, verse 83. I read in the first line with K. hi instead of tu (Medh., Gov., Kull., Nand.).
88. Kull. again changes his explanation of the expression acts
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