The ultimate goal of all created beings in the entire universe, ranging from Brahma to any small creature is freedom from birth. This is known as liberation and is described as a state of permanent and eternal bliss unlike what is considered as happiness in worldly terms. Then why is it that the Vedas mention in detail the sacrifices and the fruits to be obtained through the performance of these sacrifices? One has to read between the lines and understand that the aim of the Vedas is to motivate us to understand the difference between temporal and permanent goals, pointed out Sri K. Srinivasan in a discourse.
They make it clear that all human beings are in debt and that all karmas have their effects. The most important of our obligations are to the celestial beings, the rishis, the departed souls, to living beings and animals. The debt to the celestials is to be paid through sacrifices or yagas and yagnas; to the sages with feelings of admiration and devotion; to departed spirits with prayers in their behalf; to living men with love and kindness; to animals with food and drink. It is the duty of every human being to apportion a share of whatever nourishment is partaken to all these with suitable prayers and mantras.
No moral merit accrues from the due discharge of these debts. Failure to comply with this obligation will lead to lose the advantage of one’s status as a human being. These duties must be performed with no thought of self or selfish ends but simply because they are for a righteous man duties and because they purify the heart. The teaching is to refrain from striving to fulfil the desires for happiness in worldly comforts which, even after possession can never give wholesome joy.
