आचारदर्शनात् ॥ ३ ॥
ācāradarśanāt || 3 ||
ācāra-darśanāt—Because of the conduct found (from the scriptures).
3. Because we find (from the scriptures such) conduct (of men of realization).
“Janaka, emperor of Videha performed a sacrifice in which gifts were freely distributed” (Brih. 3. 1. 1); “I am going to perform a sacrifice, sirs” (Chh. 5. 11. 5). Now both Janaka and Asvapati were knowers of the Self. If by this knowledge of the Self they had attained Liberation, there was no need for them to perform sacrifices. But the two texts quoted show that they did perform sacrifices. This proves that it is through sacrificial acts alone that one attains Liberation, and not through the knowledge of the Self, as the Vedantins hold.