Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c15.s2.61

c15.s2.61

² *Cf.* *Āpastamba Dharmasūtra*, II. 7. 16. 1: "Formerly men and gods lived together in this world. Then the gods in reward of their sacrifices went to heaven, but men were left behind. Those men who perform sacrifices in the same manner as the gods did, dwell with the gods and Brahma in heaven." My attention was first drawn to this passage by Dr. D. R. Bhandarkar. *Cf.* also *Harivaṁśa* (III. 32. 1): "*Devatānāṁ manushyāṇāṁ sahavāsobhavattadā;*" and *SBE*, XXXIV, p. 222-3 (Śaṅkara's Com. on the *Vedāntasūtras*): "The men of ancient times, in consequence of their eminent religious merit, conversed with the gods face to face. *Smṛiti* also declares that 'from the reading of the Veda there results intercourse with the favourite divinity.'"