Vedic Mythology c9.s1.8

c9.s1.8

According to the ŚB., the ordinary belief is that the dead leaving this world pass between two fires, which burn the wicked but let the good go by⁴. The latter proceed, either by the path leading to the Fathers or by that leading to the sun (ŚB. 1, 9, 3², &c.)⁵. In the Upaniṣads there are two paths for those who know the Absolute, the one (as a consequence of complete knowledge) leading to Brahma, the other to the world of heaven, whence after the fruit of good works has been exhausted, the spirit returns to earth for rebirth. Those ignorant of the ‘Self’, on the other hand, go to the dark world of evil spirits or are reborn on earth like the wicked⁶.