सर्वापेक्षा च यज्ञादिश्रुतेः, अश्ववत् ॥ २६ ॥
sarvāpekṣā ca yajñādiśruteḥ, aśvavat || 26 ||
sarvāpekṣā—There is the necessity of all works; ca—and; yajñādi-śruteḥ—for the scriptures prescribe sacrifices etc. (as means to Knowledge); aśvavat—even as the horse.
26. And there is the necessity of all works, for the scriptures prescribe sacrifices etc. (as means to the attainment of Knowledge, though they are unnecessary for the attainment of its results, viz. Liberation), even as the horse (is used to draw a chariot and not for ploughing).
From the previous Sutra, we may conclude that works are altogether useless. This Sutra says that all these works are useful, and that even the scriptures prescribe them, since they serve as a means to Knowledge. But they have no part in producing the result of this Knowledge, viz. Liberation. It comes only from Knowledge and not from work. Work purifies the mind, and the knowledge of the Self is manifested in such a pure mind. So works have a place as a means to Knowledge, though an indirect one.