The Death Sutras in Rigveda
2 min readNov 5, 2023
Translations from Rigveda Samhita 10.18. Based on my brief Readings and Interpretations from the oldest among the oldest, the greatest among the greatest.
If I were to imagine history and context as mentioned in these Sutras, I would imagine a Purohit reciting them as the body of the dead head of the family (Male) resides there, lifeless.
- Death, go in a different way, not the gods’ path. I speak to you with eyes and ears. Spare our children and sons.
- If you avoid death and follow the gods’ path for a better and longer life, may you, the sacrificers, be prosperous with children and wealth.
- May the living stay away from the dead. May our prayers to the gods succeed today. Let’s celebrate with dancing and joy, hoping for a longer and better life.
- I set up this stone circle to protect the living. May no others come near it. May they live a hundred years, doing holy deeds, and keep death away.
- Just as days and seasons follow each other, may you, Dhātā, support the lives of my family.
- Kinsmen of the dead, choose old age and strive for long life. May the creator Tvaṣṭā bless you, no matter how many of you there are.
- Let married women (others, not widows), anointed and adorned, enter first, without tears or sorrow.
- Woman (the widow), leave for the world of the living; the man you slept next to is dead. You enjoyed being his wife, and he chose you.
- Take the bow from the dead man’s hand to strengthen us. May we with male children overcome our enemies.
- Return to Mother Earth, the gentle and protective earth. She is like soft wool, and may she shield you from harm.
As you can understand, there’s remotely no mention of Sati (widow burning) in any of these. I wonder, from where did this practice engrossed in our culture. Was it the Islamic Invasions? Was it a way to show loyalty with the husband, even after the death? Or did Ram Mohan Roy and others blew up a sporadic practice, and labelled Sanatan Dharma with one other black patch? I wonder.
