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Chapter 17
Now, the question arises, why has he to suffer this burning sensation, when he is purged of those sins, which are obstacles to heavenly enjoyment (9/20). The answer is, that it is the fruit of his violence of animals, which he commits, while performing sacrifice.
Secondly, all actions performed with an interested motive, are tainted with some blemish, as fire is clouded by smoke[1]. When all action are clouded by defects, there should be many more defects; in the actions which are performed for their fruits. So, in the scriptures, it is mentioned that after performing a sacrifice, the person should express penitence. But through penitence, all the sins do not perish; their signs are left, in the same way, as dirt remains in the threads, even when a cloth is washed with soap. So, even the gods such as Indra, has to suffer, by facing unfavourable circumstances.
Actually, all defects perish, only when a person discharges his duty, without expecting any fruit and surrenders those actions, to God. When he realizes that he is only God's, all his sins of millions of ages immediately disappear.[2] Lord Rama in the Ramacaritamanasa declares, "As soon as, a being has an inclination for Me, his sins of millions of ages, disappear."
Thirdly, Arjuna asked Lord Krsna, "By what is a man, Their residence (of the three categories) in heaven is not permanent because they have to return to the world of mortals when their merits are exhausted[3] and they remain worried after thinking of it.
impelled to commit sin, as if by force, against his will?" Lord Krsna replied, "It is desire (craving), it is wrath, horn of the mode of passion"[4]. It means, that it is desire horn of the mode of passion, which forces a man, to commit, sins. So rajasika sacrifice, which is performed with a desire for its fmit, may involve sins. Persons, who perform rajasika and tamasika sacrifice, are of demoniac nature, while persons who perform sattvika sacrifice have divine nature. But if a person, is attached to traits of divine nature, this attachment too binds him[5].
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