Questions of King Milinda Part 01

SR No.: 007681
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1890
Total Pages: 2695
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 47 MB

Page 1852

111, 5. COMMENTARY.
333
X, 57,6; Våg. III, 56 ; Kaus. 89, 1; Tait. Br. II, 4, 2, 7. Nay, we have the passage with pipratah in another place in the
Tait. Br. (III, 7, 14, 3) itself, and it would seem, therefore, that pipratah (Pet. Lex. ' erhalten') has a meaning closely analogous to that of bibhratah.
Stansa 5. Both Weber and Sayana cite in illustration of the meaning "friend' for aryamán the passage Tait. S. II, 3, 4, 1, ‘he, verily, who gives, is a friend (aryamán).' Weber renders Pada d, über die gunst des freundes selbst,' a rendering which rather forces the meaning and position of utá.
Stangas 6, 7. The two stanzas prove conclusively that the hymn belongs to the sphere of practices connected with the consecration of a king, and the firm establishment of his royalty. The four classes of persons whose aid is regarded as desirable for the king belong to the so-called ratna, “jewels,' of the court, i. e. they are honoured and indispensable members of his household. Their number altogether is about a dozen, and according to Tait. Br. I, 7, 3, 1 ff., they are the 'givers and takers of royalty (rashtrasya pradâtârah, rashtrasyås pådåtårah). As a preliminary to the consecration of a king they must be conciliated, and an oblation is offered in the house of each. See for the entire subject Professor Weber's notes on the two stanzas, and his still more elaborate exposition of this interesting theme in his monograph, Über die Königsweihe, p. 19 ff.; cf. also Zimmer, Altindisches Leben, p. 252 ; Ludwig, Der Rigveda, III, 246, 249, 251.
7 a. Weber in the note on this passage, and Über die Königsweihe, p. 22 ff., presents serious evidence in favour of reading yé-rågano (árågano) for yé rágáno, 'they who make kings, though themselves not kings :' see Sat. Br. III, 4, 1, 7. 8; XIII, 2, 4, 18. Certainly this suits the character of the sûtá and grâmani better than the title rágå. Nevertheless minor potentates, influential in the choice of a greater king, may be alluded to here; cf. the expressions
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