The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c11.7

c11.7

From the start there is the idea of retribution. To Yama's blissful seat only they who have done good may aspire. We remember the belief that the things sacrificed and given the priests (the *ishṭāpūrta*) await in highest heaven the faithful as a sort of twin guardian angels, securing for them bliss. On the other hand, the oppressors of the Brahmans, "they who spit upon the Brāhmana sit in the middle of a pool of blood chewing hair." . . . "The tears which did roll from the eyes of the oppressed, lamenting Brāhmana, these very ones, O oppressor of Brahmans, the gods did assign to thee as thy share of water."¹ In an early version of hell the sage Bhrigu observes some yelling men who are being cut up and devoured by other men who also yell: "So they have done to us in yonder world, so we do to them in return in this world."²