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
