Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/333

JOYS OF THE BLESSED DEAD 277 enjoy such beatitude that they wish none better, and even that each one deemeth his own place to be the best. But besides these seven, which are all comprised under the general name Dewendre-locon or Surgam (Sanskrit svarga, " heaven "), is Bramma-locon, that is, the place where Bramma (Brahma) is, which place seemeth to be nighest of all unto heaven. They who come thither may also return to this world after that a certain space of years is passed; but these, when they have come again to this world and have lived their time here, then win indubitably to heaven itself, where they abide for ever without returning again to this world. They that dwell in Surgam call themselves Dewetaes (Sanskrit devata, " divinity ") and are of two sorts. Some abide there for a time and may come again to this world to be reborn; and they believe concerning these that they enjoy all bliss and sleep with women, but without having children. And since that death may not be known in Surgam, therefore they do believe that these Dewetaes, when their time of biding there is lapsed, are thrust out of Surgam with soul and body, and that the soul then passeth into another body and leaveth that in which it was; but the Bramin wot not to say where that the body abode wherewith the Deweta was thrust out of Surgam. Moreover, there be also Dewetaes in Surgam who abide there eternally, since there be the sun, the moon, the stars, and the like. These also beget children who dwell in Surgam. They believe that no sin is done in Surgam, but that God