Even the scriptures prescribe them as they serve an indirect means to the attainment of knowledge. When knowledge once is attained requires no help from external works for the production of this result namely, Liberation. The case is analogous to a horse, whose help is required until the place of destination is reached but it may be dispensed with after the journey has been accomplished. Just as a horse is not used to drag a plough but is used to drag a car, so the Ashrama Karmas are not needed for the fruition of Jnana but are needed for Jnana. The final emancipation results only from knowledge of Brahman and not from work.
Work purifies the mind and knowledge dawns in a pure mind.
Hence works are useful as they are an indirect means to knowledge. To this the author replies in the next Sutra. In this passage there is no word to indicate that sacrifice is enjoined on one who wants to know Brahman. So the Purvapakshin maintains that there is no necessity at all for work for one who aspires after knowledge. This present Sutra says that even should this be so.