Essay name: Atharvaveda ancillary literature (Study)
Author:
B. R. Modak
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Department of Sanskrit and Prakrit Languages
The essay studies the ancillary literature of the Atharva-Veda with special reference to the Parisistas. It does so by understanding the socio-cultural and philosophical aspects of ancient Indian life. The Atharvaveda addresses encompasses all practical aspects of life from health and prosperity to rituals and sorcery.
Chapter 2a - The nature of the Parisistas (of the Atharvaveda)
413 (of 459)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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washed off, according to some, by abandoning all such wealth
(2.6.4). It has been categorically stated that one should
never accept gifts from a king who is arrogant, cruel, haughty,
28 without faith, and who does not abide by the Sastras (2.6.2).
to
The sinners were supposed to go after death hell - the
place of Yama. There was on the way, a river named Vaitarani
which they had to cross. In the hell there were supposed to
be crows having iron-beaks and there were also fierce dogs
(no longer two as in the RV X.14.10-12). There were deserts
in the hell wherein the sinners had to suffer. The place was
frightful on account of trees having leaves sharp like swords
(9.4.1-3). After suffering in the hell, the sinners were
supposed to be born in low species such as dogs, pigs, jackals,
cocks and serpents 29 (41.3.4).
The greatest desire of man is to lead a rich, enjoy-
able and prosperous life here and to be happy in the life
30 hereafter.3 Various rites as well as sacrifices are performed
26. Cf. Kane, Hist. of Dharmasastra IV, p.549.
29. BA 6.1 (beginning) states that a person, who studies and
teaches the mantras in the proper way, goes to Brahma-
loka after death and thereafter he is born in the family
of excellent Brahmanas to enjoy great incomparable
pleasure. But he, who learns or teaches the mantras by
fraud, goes to the hell full of pitchy darkness and hav-
ing spent there as many years as there are letters in
the mantras (studied by him), he returns to this life as
an owl and then, after death, having resided in the hell,
he is born here as a person blind at birth (janmandha).
30.
Cf. AVP 10.1.21; 13.4.56; 20.7.11; 30.4.5; 31.10.3.
