आदरादलोपः ॥ ४० ॥
ādarādalopaḥ || 40 ||
ādarāt—On account of the respect shown; alopaḥ—there can be no omission.
40. On account of the respect shown (to the Pranagnihotra by the Sruti) there can be no omission (of this act).
This Sutra gives the view of the opponent.
In the Vaisvanara Vidya of the Chhandogya the Upasaka, before he takes his meals is asked first to offer food to each of the Pranas, saying, “To Prana, I offer this.” The Sruti attaches such importance to this Pranagnihotra that it enjoins food to be offered to the Pranas even before entertaining guests, whom all Hindus are supposed to attend before they take any food. The question is whether this Pranagnihotra is to be observed even on days of fasting. This Sutra says that there should be no omission of it, and so it must be observed even on fast days by sipping at least a few drops of water, since the Sruti attaches such importance to it.