Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Are pāpa and puṇya mentioned in Rig Veda?

 pāpa and puṇya were mentioned in Rig Veda, but with different meanings.

Rig Veda 10.71.9 mentions pāpa (evil). pāpa indicates evil. The consequence of doing pāpa was not mentioned as Naraka, as in Puranas.

ta ete vācam abhipadya pāpayā sirīs tantraṃ tanvate aprajajñayaḥ ||

——

puṇyam was mentioned in Rig Veda 2.43.2puṇya indicates auspiciousness, but not any good merit, the consequence of which, according to Puranas, is Heaven.

vṛṣeva vājī śiśumatīr apītyā sarvato naḥ śakune bhadram ā vada viśvato naḥ śakune puṇyam ā vada ||