Medicines and other remedies might bring on cessation of bodily pains ; opulence and dainties might secure us release from mental pains; study of the Ethics and moral independence might cure natural and extrinsic pains, and propitiatory ceremonies, spells and incantations might obviate pains due to superhuman agency, but experience sustains the truth that these visible means and remedies fail to guarantee us absolute cessation and non-recurrence of this threefold pain, because though this or that pain may be cured by this or that remedy, the arising of something belonging to the genus pain is seen again.
Seeing that our search for what is a sure remedy that uproots this pain once for all, has, so far, been a failure, let us now turn to the ordinances of our Scriptures and see if we can hit upon our goal with their help. The Vedas lay down Sakāma Karina (doing with selfishness) and Nishkāma Karma (doing without selfishness) as the means for attainment of eternal freedom from pain. Now if we look upon Sakāma Karma Upāya, we see that even though the performance of animal sacrifices etc. etc. promises us fulfilment of many a desire, for instance, the birth of a son, the kingdom of the world, or even a place in the Paradise, where this threefold pain is, as it is said, denied
