170 THE ARAB AL-BIRUNI ON HINDU RELIGION ber of hells, describing their qualities and their names, and for each kind of sin they have a special hell. The number of hells is eighty-eight thousand according to the Vishnu Purana. We quote what this book says on the subject:" The man who makes a false claim or bears false witness, he who helps these two, and he who ridi- cules people, come into the Raurava hell. He who sheds THE TORMENTS OP HELL. From an Indian edition of the Mahabharata. innocent blood, who robs others of their rights and plun- ders them, and who kills cows, comes into Rodha. Those also who strangle people come here. Whoso kills a Brahman, he who steals gold, princes who do not look after their subjects, and he who commits adultery with the family of his teacher, or who lies down with his mother-in-law, come into Taptakumbha. Whoso con- nives at the shame of his wife for greed, commits adul- tery with his sister or the wife of his son, sells his child, or is stingy toward himself with his property in order to save it, comes into Mahajvala. Whoso is disrespect-
