History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.608.1

v5.c71.s1.608.1

As regards the opposite idea of *svarga* (Heaven) the matter is much clearer In certain Ṛk verses there are said to be three heavens (e g Ṛg I 35 6, VIII. 5 8, VIII. 41 9, IX. 113. 9) The generous donor or worshipper is said to occupy heaven and to mix among gods; and gods like Mitra and Varuṇa are implored to give the worshipper immortality³⁶⁶ (Ṛg I. 125, 5, V. 63. 2, X 107 2 ) Life in heaven is full of joys and delights and the denizen of heaven has all his desires fulfilled (Ṛg. IX. 113 10-11).³⁶⁷ In Ṛg IX. 113 8 the poet prays 'make me immortal (in heaven) where dwells king Vaivasvata, where the sun is confined (i e. where it never sets) and where the divine waters flow' A person who neither offers sacrifices to gods, nor worships, and observes ordinances other than those of Indra is thrown down from Heaven³⁶⁸. A sage exultingly addresses Soma 'we have drunk soma, we have become immortal, we have reached Light (Heaven) and we have known the gods; what will an enemy or harmful person do to us who have been mortals so far?'³⁶⁹ The pious dead become united in Heaven with their *Iṣṭāpūrta* (merit due to sacrifices and charitable acts) and with their fore-fathers and become endowed with a refulgent body (Ṛg X 14 8). Those who practise *tapas* or those who perform sacrifices in which the fees run to thousands (of cows) reach Heaven (Ṛg X. 154. 1-3)³⁷⁰, and Soma, ghee and honey flow for them there.