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Hence, when the
word I yajna' Is used in connection with any reference to Manushya Yajnas, it should be
understood as meaning, help and service rendered to all beings. Similarly also in the case
of any reference to Bootha Yajna, the same meaning should be given to the word 'yajna'.
Manu enjoins this five-fold duty upon every Hindu. He gives both the restricted meaning as
well as the extended meaning to the word 'yajna' in the slokas 70 and 72
respectively of 3rd Adhyaya of his Smrithi." The great Tamil saint and author of the
immortal Kural have emphasized the extended meaning given in slokas 72 thus:
"This is the supreme virtue of the householder to fulfil his obligations to
forefathers, gods, guests, relatives and his own self." From these references it will
be clear that the Vedas very particularly emphasized the duties of charity,love and
service as religious duties.
In the Upanishads
An important part of the Vedas is the Upanishad, which is chiefly devoted to spiritual
knowledge.Even in the Upanishad, the necessity for charity and compassion has been duty
emphasized as part of the spiritual discipline for the attainment of spiritual knowledge.
In the Brahadara- nayaka Upanishad (which is one of the most important Upanishads)Chapter5
Section 11,there is the famous passage in which Prajapati, the Lord of all creatures is
said to have given a message to mankind.
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