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CHAPTER IV ESCHATOLOGY
And now a few words about this way out of the Samsara, and first about the exoteric theory of it. In the ancient time of the hymns there was no idea of Samsara but only rewards in heaven and (somewhat later) punishments in a dark region (padam gabhîram), the precursor of the later hells. Then the deep theory of Samsara came up, teaching rewards and punishment in the form of a new birth on earth. The Vedânta combines both theories, and so it has a double expiation, first in heaven and hell, and then again in a new existence on the earth. This double expiation is different (1) for performers of good works, going the pitriyâna, (2) for worshippers of the sagunam brahma, going the devayâna, (3) for wicked deeds, leading to what is obscurely hinted at in the Upanishads as the tritîyam sthânam, the third place. (1) the pitriyâna leads through a succession of dark spheres to the moon, there to enjoy the fruit of the good works and, after their consumption, back to an earthly existence. (2) The devayâna leads through a set of brighter spheres to Brahman, without returning to the earth तेषां न पनरावत्तिः) But this Brahman is only sagunam brahma the object of worshipping, and its true worshippers, though entering into this sagunam brahma without returning, have to wait in it until they get moksha by obtaining samyagdarçanam, the full knowledge of the nirgunam
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