History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.158
History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.158
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v7.c95.158
From the ancient popular idea of retribution for evil deeds probably arose the idea of the setting of good deeds against the evil deeds of a person and weighing them as if in a balance. The Śat Br. states²⁴⁹⁵ 'Now this one is the balance, viz. the right side of the vedi.²⁴⁹⁶ Let him sit down touching the right edge of the vedi, for indeed they place him on the balance in yonder world and whichever of two will rise he will follow, whether it be good or evil. And whosoever knows this mounts the balance even in this world and escapes being placed on the balance in yonder world, for it is good deed that rises and not his evil deed'.