It has been said that sacrifices and other works are auxiliary to the
knowledge of Brahman. The doubt now arises whether those works are to be
performed by him also who merely wishes to fulfil the duties of his
âsrama, without aiming at final Release, or not. They are not, the
Pûrvapakshin holds, for that things auxiliary to knowledge should stand
in subordinate relation to a certain state of life would imply the
contradiction of permanent and non-permanent obligation.--Of this view
the Sûtra disposes, 'The works of the âsramas also.' The works belonging
to each âsrama have to be performed by those also who do not aim at more
than to live according to the âsrama; for they are specifically enjoined
by texts such as as long as life lasts he is to offer the Agnihotra';
this implies a permanent obligation dependent on life. And that the same
works are also to be performed as being auxiliary to knowledge appears
from the texts enjoining them in that aspect, 'Him they seek to know by
the study of the Veda' (Bri. Up. IV, 4, 22); this the next Sûtra
declares.