The Upanishads - Mandhata Global

1
Chapter XVII
Man as a Sacrifice (II)
When a man hungers, thirsts and abstains from
pleasures- these are his initiatory rites.
2
When he eats, drinks and enjoys pleasures, he then
participates in Upasadas.
3
When a man laughs, eats and enjoys sexual intercoursethese
are Stuta and Sastra.
Austerity, almsgiving, uprightness, non-violence
and truthfulness-these are the gifts (dakshina) for
the priests.
5
Because the life of a man is a sacrifice therefore they
say that his mother will give birth (soshyati) to him, or
his mother has given birth (asoshta) to him. The same
words are used in the Soma-sacrifice and mean: "He
will pour out the Soma- juice" and "He has poured out
the Soma-juice." This is his birth. His death is the
Avabhritha.
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