न तृतीये, तथोपलब्धेः ॥ १८ ॥
na tṛtīye, tathopalabdheḥ || 18 ||
na—not; tṛtīye—in the third; tathā—so; upalabdheḥ—it being seen.
18. (The specification about five oblations does) not (apply) to the third (place), for so it is seen (from the scriptures).
It has been said in Chh. 5. 3. 3, which is quoted in the first Sutra of this section, that the Jiva attains a new birth after five oblations. So at least for getting a new body the evil-doer will have to go to the moon, to complete the five oblations that cause the new birth. This Sutra says that the rule about the five oblations does not apply in the case of evil-doers, for they are born irrespective of the oblations, because the Sruti says, “‘Be born and die.’ This is the third place.” That rule applies only to the performers of sacrifices etc.