Childish and foolish people are attached to materialistic, fruitive activities, although the actual goal of life is to become free from such activities. Therefore, the Vedic injunctions indirectly lead one to the path of ultimate liberation by first prescribing fruitive religious activities, just as a father promises his child candy so that the child will take his medicine.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
परोक्षवादो वेदोऽयं बालानामनुशासनम् । कर्ममोक्षाय कर्माणि विधत्ते ह्यगदं यथा
parokṣavādo vedo'yaṃ bālānāmanuśāsanam | karmamokṣāya karmāṇi vidhatte hyagadaṃ yathā
SB 11.3.44