History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.625.3

v5.c71.s1.625.3

3 8 3–4 it is declared ³⁸⁴ 'Yama is indeed Agni and this (earth and altar) is Yamī. When a sacrificer strews Oṣadhis on the Vedi it is indeed tantamount to taking up a debt from Yama If he (the sacrificer) were to go from this world without burning them they (Yama's men) might take him to the next world with fetters round his neck' In Rg X 14. 10³⁸⁵ the *pitṛs* are said to enjoy delights in the company of Yama In the Ait Br 385a (XII. 3) Mṛtyu is credited with having fetters (pāsas) and wooden maces (sthānu) for catching erring men. It has already been seen how Yama is said to have within his powers again and again foolish men who believe in the existence of this world alone and deny the existence of the next Thus, from being a beneficent ruler of the departed souls in the very early Vedic times, Yama came gradually to be looked upon as a dreadful punisher of men.³⁸⁶ The Purāṇas contain graphic descriptions of Yama's abode and of his assistants, chief among whom is Citragupta For example, the Varāhapurāṇa 386a chap 205 contains a dialogue between Yama and Citragupta, in which the latter recommends the fate that a dead person deserves for his actions The Agnipurāṇa chap. 371. 12 states that a sinner falls into horrible hells that are declared by Citragupta at the order of Yama.