Vedic Mythology c9.s3.1

c9.s3.1

The most distinct and prominent references to the future life are in the ninth and tenth books of the RV., but it is also sometimes referred to in the first. Heaven is regarded as the reward of those who practise rigorous penance (*tapas*), of heroes who risk their lives in battle (10, 154²⁻⁵), but above all of those who bestow liberal sacrificial gifts (ib.³; 1, 125⁵; 10, 107²). The AV. is full of references to the blessings accruing to the latter.