Chapter III · Śloka 10
सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः |
अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक् ||
अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक् ||
saha-yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā purovāca prajāpatiḥ |
anena prasaviṣyadhvam eṣa vo 'stv iṣṭa-kāma-dhuk ||
anena prasaviṣyadhvam eṣa vo 'stv iṣṭa-kāma-dhuk ||
Having created mankind together with sacrifice, the Lord of creatures said in the beginning: 'By this shall you prosper; let this be the cow of plenty that fulfills your desires.'
Creation itself is structured around mutual gifting — the cosmic order (ṛta) is one of reciprocal offering between humans and the divine. Sacrifice is not an imposition but the very principle by which life sustains and multiplies itself.