The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c8.109

c8.109

The myth takes another, even more important turn in the Veda. Yama is the first mortal king who died and found for the race of men a heaven where they may rejoice in the company of the pious dead, especially those pious archpriests of mythical antiquity, the Angiras. He is the first of mortals who died and went forth to this heaven¹: "Where is Vivasvant's son, the king, where is heaven's firm abode, where are yonder flowing waters, there let me live immortal."² "He (Yama) went before and found a dwelling from which no power can shut us out. Our fathers of old have travelled the path: it leads every earth-born mortal thither. There, in the midst of the highest heaven, beams unfading light, and eternal waters flow; there every wish is fulfilled on the rich meadows of Yama." "These blessed have left behind them the decrepitude of their bodies; they are not lame nor crooked of limb."³