wind (Prana) to the downward vital wind (apana); and others, the downward vital wind to the upward vital wind; some, arresting the course of (both) the upward and the downward vital winds, are devoted to the restraint of the vital winds.  Others of restricted rations, offer the vital winds to the vital winds.[179] Even all these who are conversant with sacrifice, whose sins have been consumed by sacrifice, and who eat the remnants of sacrifice which are amrita, attain to the eternal Brahma. (Even) this world is not for him who doth not perform sacrifice.  Whence then the other, O best of Kuru’s race?  Thus diverse are the sacrifices occurring in the Vedas.  Know that all of them result from action, and knowing this thou wilt be emancipated.  The sacrifice of knowledge, O chastiser of foes, is superior to every sacrifice involving (the attainment of) fruits of action, for all action, O Partha, is wholly comprehended in knowledge.[180] Learn that (Knowledge) by prostration, enquiry, and service.  They who are possessed of knowledge and can see the truth, will teach thee that knowledge, knowing which, O son of Pandu, thou wilt not again come by such delusion, and by which thou wilt see the endless creatures (of the universe) in thyself (first) and then in me.  Even if thou be the greatest sinner among all that are sinful, thou shalt yet cross over all transgressions by the raft of knowledge.  As a blazing fire, O Arjuna, reduceth fuel to ashes, so doth the fire of knowledge reduce all actions to ashes.  For there is nothing here that is so cleansing as knowledge.  One who hath attained to success by devotion finds it without effort within his own self in time.  He obtaineth knowledge, who hath faith and is intent on it and who hath his senses under control; obtaining knowledge one findeth the highest tranquillity in no length of time.  One who hath no knowledge and no faith, and whose minds is full of doubt, is lost.  Neither this world, nor the next, nor happiness, is for him whose mind is full of doubt.  Actions do not fetter him, O Dhananjaya, who hath cast off action by devotion, whose doubts have been dispelled by knowledge, and who is self-restrained.  Therefore, destroying, by the sword of knowledge, this doubt of thine that is born of ignorance and that dwelleth in thy mind, betake to devotion, (and) arise, O son of Bharata.’

Section XXIX [(Bhagavad Gita Chapter V)]

“Arjuna said,—­’Thou applaudest, O Krishna, the abandonment of actions, and again the application (to them).  Tell me definitely which one of these two is superior.

“The Holy One said—­’Both abandonment of actions and application to actions lead to emancipation.  But of these, application to action is superior to abandonment.  He should always be known to be an ascetic who hath no aversion nor desire.  For, being free from pairs of opposites, O thou of mighty arms, he is easily released from the bonds (of action).  Fools say, but not those that are wise, that Sankhya