Page:History of India Vol 1.djvu/103

 the king of the dead. Whatever the original conception of Yama may be, there is no doubt that in the Rig-Veda he is the king of the departed and the beneficent king of the happy world where the virtuous live and enjoy themselves in after-life. Clothed in a glorious body, they sit by the side of Yama in the realms of light and sparkling waters, they enjoy endless felicity there, and are adored here below under the name of Pitris, or fathers. In the Puranas, on the other hand, Yama, later called the child of the Sun, is the stern avenger of sin and the god of death and hell. The older conception of Yama, whom the Rig-Veda regards as the offspring of Vivasvat (the rising sun) and Saranyu (the dawn), may be illustrated by the stanzas:—

"Worship Yama, the son of Vivasvat, with offerings. All men go to him. He takes men of virtuous deeds to the realm of happiness. He clears the way for many.

"Yama first discovered the path for us. That path will not be destroyed again. All living beings will, according to their acts, follow by the path by which our forefathers have gone."

As a more complete allusion to the future life we may quote here another passage from a hymn to Soma, the juice of a plant made into wine and used as libation in sacrifices:—

"O flowing Soma! take me to that immortal and imperishable abode where light dwells eternal, and which is in heaven. Flow, Soma, for Indra.

"Take me where Yama is king, where there are