Zend Avesta Part 03

SR No.: 007673
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: L H Mills
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1887
Total Pages: 2618
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 49 MB

Page 619

NOTES. I, 6, 1..
25
Having thus explained the different meanings of arusha and árushi in the Rig-veda, I feel it incumbent, at least for once, to explain the reasons why I differ from the classification of Vedic passages as given in the Dictionary published by Boehtlingk and Roth. Here, too, the passages in which arusha is used as an adjective are very properly separated from those in which it appears as a substantive. To begin with the first, it is said that arusha means ruddy, the colour of Agni and his horses; he (Agni) himself appears as a red-horse.' In support of this, the following passages are quoted :
III, 1, 4. ávardhayan su-bhágam saptá yahvih svetám gagnânám arushám mahi-två, sísum ná gåtám abhí aruh ásváh. Here, however, it is only said that Agni was born brilliant-white", and grew red, that the horses came to him as they come to a new-born foal. Agni himself is not called a red-horse.
III, 7, 5. Here, again, vrishnah arushásya is no doubt meant for Agni. But vrlshan by itself does not mean borse, though it is added to different names of horses to qualify them as male horses; cf. VII, 69, 1, å vám ráthah vrishabhih yatu ásvaih, may your chariot come near with powerful horses, i. e. with stallions. See note to I, 85, 12. We are therefore not justified in translating arusha vrlshan by red-horse, but only by the red male, or the red hero.
In III, 31, 3, agníh gagãe guhvã régamânah maháh putrân arushásya pra-yákshe, I do not venture to say who is meant by the mahah putrán arushásya, whether Ådityas or Maruts, but hardly the sons of Agni, as Agni himself is mentioned as only born. But, even if it were so, the father of these sons (putra) could hardly be intended here for a horse.
IV, 6, 9. tava tyé agne harstah ghrita-snáh róhitåsah rigu-ánkah su-ánkah, arushấsah vrishanah rigu-mushkih. Here, so far from Agni being represented as a red-horse, his different horses, the Harits or bays, the Rohitas or
• See V, 1, 4. svetáh vågt gâyate ágre áhnâm. X, 1, 6. arushah gåtah padé flâyâh.
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