A new approach to the Vedas : an essay in translation and exegesis

A NEW APPROACH TO THE VEDAS

the same as the “‘ Prophets ”’ (ysayah) of other texts, who together with the Patriarchs (pztarah) are desirous of progeny (prajakamya, Prasna Up., I, 9). The return (punar avytti) of Prophets and Patriarchs alike from the pitryana**’ course to corporeal (Savtraka) existence in a future aeon (yuga, kalpa) is determined by the unexpended force of former works, in other words the Prophets and Patriarchs are the bearers of heredity. The One Angel or Several Angels are the givers of Life: but it is Man, “ Adam,” ‘‘ Ayu,’ who bestows upon every existence its specific character. Brahma-Prajapati in relation to the world is himself a Patriarch in this sense, his “ Works ” (karma) or “ Sacrifice”’ (yajvia) 118 in any aeon determining his re-embodiment at the dawn of a succeeding cycle. In the Epic account of the Churning of the Ocean, we find instead of the Yatis, Angels and Asuras pulling in opposite directions. That by no means implies an equation of Yatis with Asuras, but rather a different imagery, in which the Yatis as bearers of heredity are replaced by Angels and Demons: the latter collectively representing the good and evil factors (dharmaddharmau) and all other pairs of opposites (dvandvau)1® which are essential to the existence of a perceptible universe, though they have no place, as such, in the “ invisible.”” As we have seen above, the Lord of Life (s@nah amytasya, Rg Veda, X, 90, 2), who bids us but be, acts as permissive, not as immediate cause of the operation of the conflicting principles!?° : these contending glories, the children and disciples of Prajapati (Brhadaranyaka Up., V, 2), are the immediate cause of idiosyncrasy in living beings. All that corresponds to what is called in Christianity “ original sin,’ Bohme’s “ turba’’: for it should not be overlooked that the consequence of “ original sin,” viz., the loss of innocence, is not especially the knowledge of evil, but precisely the ‘‘ knowledge of good and evil.” “Then brought ye to birth in the Sea the hidden Sun ”’ : that would be the same as Agni’s often mentioned birth in 66