Forgiveness is a virtue, forgiveness is a sacrifice, forgiveness is the Vedas, forgiveness is the Shruti.
Sacrifice
Across spiritual traditions, sacrifice refers to the act of giving up something valued for a higher purpose. Many traditions converge on the idea that sacrifice is necessary for spiritual growth and selflessness. However, they diverge in their perspectives on the nature and extent of sacrifice, offering unique views on its role and significance.
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Quotes
The root cause of a person's suffering is their pride. Even if someone makes a sacrifice, they can still get caught up in their own pride. What is the point of such a sacrifice? It is pride, or ego, that should be sacrificed. That is where true happiness and bliss are found.
Acts of sacrifice, giving, and austerity should not be given up; they must indeed be performed. Sacrifice, giving, and austerity are purifiers of the wise.
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत् | यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम् ||१८-५||
This world is bound by action, except when action is done as sacrifice. Therefore, Kaunteya, perform action for that purpose, free from attachment.
यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः | तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर ||३-९||
With the utterance of "Tat," without aiming at reward, the various acts of sacrifice and austerity and the acts of giving are performed by those who seek liberation.
तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः | दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः ||१७-२५||
Therefore, with the utterance of "Om," the acts of sacrifice, giving, and austerity, as prescribed by injunction, are always begun by those who expound Brahman.
तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः | प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ||१७-२४||
Better than the sacrifice of material goods is the sacrifice of knowledge, scorcher of the foe. All action, without exception, culminates in knowledge, Arjuna.
श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप | सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते ||४-३३||
From food beings come into being; from rain food is produced; from sacrifice comes rain; and sacrifice is born of action.
अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः | यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः ||३-१४||
That world yonder, Gautama, is a sacrificial fire. The sun is its fuel, the rays its smoke, the day its flame, the moon its coals, the stars its sparks.
असौ वाव लोको गौतमाग्निस्तस्यादित्य एव समिद्रश्मयो धूमोऽहरर्चिश्चन्द्रमा अङ्गारा नक्षत्राणि विस्फुलिङ्गाः
Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and giving is also called "Sat"; and action for the sake of that is likewise designated "Sat."
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते | कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ||१७-२७||
But the sacrifice offered in expectation of reward, and also for the sake of display — know that to be rajasic, best of the Bharatas.
अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् | इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ||१७-१२||
The sacrifice offered according to scriptural injunction by those who desire no fruit, with the mind fixed on the conviction that it simply ought to be offered — that is sattvic.
अफलाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते | यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ||१७-११||
Know that action arises from Brahman, and Brahman springs from the Imperishable. Therefore the all-pervading Brahman is ever established in sacrifice.
कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम् | तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् ||३-१५||
The good, who eat what remains after the sacrifice, are freed from all sins; but the wicked, who cook only for their own sake, eat sin.
यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः | भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् ||३-१३||
Nourished by sacrifice, the gods will give you the enjoyments you desire. One who enjoys these gifts without offering anything to them in return is nothing but a thief.
इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः | तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ||३-१२||
By this nourish the gods, and may the gods nourish you; nourishing one another, you shall attain the highest good.
देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः | परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ ||३-११||
In the beginning, the Creator, having brought forth humankind together with sacrifice, said: By this shall you prosper; let this be the cow that grants your desires.
सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः | अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक् ||३-१०||
Offer one's body, senses, and vital breath to the true Guru. Offer everything — one's very self, one's closest relationships, all that one calls one's own — to the Guru.
शरीरमिन्द्रियं प्राणां सद्गुरुभ्यो निवेदयेत् । आत्मदारादिकं सर्वं सद्गुरुभ्यो निवेदयेत्
Without giving up worldly attachments, one can never achieve true happiness. Without renunciation, one can never attain their highest good or find peace.
The person who bathes at the confluence of the Ganga and the Saraswati earns the merit of the horse-sacrifice and also ascends to heaven.