They became intellectually debauched and altogether weakened in character.

Synchronous with this universal degradation and lack of fibre, is found the occasional substitution of barley and rice sacrifices for those of blood; and it may be that a sort of selfish charity was at work here, and the priest saved the beast to spare himself.

But there is no very early evidence of a humane view of sacrifice influencing the priests.
The Brahman is no Jain.

One must read far to hear a note of the approaching _ahims[=a]_ doctrine of 'non-injury.' At most one finds a contemptuous allusion, as in a pitying strain, to the poor plants and animals that follow after man in reaping some sacrificial benefit from a ceremony.[46] It does not seem to us that a recognized respect for animal life or kindness to dumb creatures lies at the root of proxy sacrifice, though it doubtless came in play.

But still less does it appear probable that, as is often said, aversion to beast-sacrifice is due to the doctrine of _karma_, and re-birth in animal form.