yajñena yajñamayajanta devāstāni dharmāṇi prathamānyāsan | te ha nākaṃ mahimānaḥ sacanta yatra pūrve sādhyāḥ santi devāḥ ||
“With sacrifice the gods sacrificed to sacrifice. These were the first ordinances. These mighty ones attained the heights of heaven, where the ancient Sadhyas and gods dwell.”
What This Means:
The gods used sacrifice to worship sacrifice itself — the ritual creates the reality it celebrates. This established the first dharmas (cosmic laws, sacred duties). Those who understand this reach the highest heaven where primordial beings dwell.
Going Deeper:
"With sacrifice they sacrificed to sacrifice" is a profound statement about self-referential reality. The cosmos is built on reciprocity — giving creates the capacity to receive. This is the first law (dharma). Those who participate consciously in this exchange attain the highest states.
How To Apply This:
Life is a cycle of giving and receiving. Give to enable receiving; receive to enable giving. This is the first law. Live by it and you join the company of the awakened ones.
Key Sanskrit Terms: