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 2015

496
HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA.
so-called samsthitahomåh, 'final oblations,' in the case of auspicious (sânta) performances, are undertaken while VII, 97 is being recited. Thus according to Kaus. 6, 3 (cf. also 3, 19, note). But in the case of abhikärika-practices, according to the Paribhasha-sūtra 47, 10, a sinister turn is given to the samsthitahomah by reciting the present hymn with them. The more special practice attached to this hymn is at Kaus. 48, 29-31. The sacrificial straw is spread with the thumb. Reed-grass (or an arrow, sara ?) is thrown upon it from baskets made of kadvindu? By means of a leaf of the red asvattha an oblation' (of ingida-oil; 47,3), dashed with poison, is offered. There is no special rapport between the hymn and the ceremony.
Previous translations by Ludwig, Der Rigveda, III, 373; Grill?, pp. 22, 165 ff. The Anukramani, mantroktadevatyam aindram sapatnakshayakamah. The entire hymn recurs with variants, and markedly different arrangement of the Pådas, at Åpast. Sr. III, 14, 2; cf. also Tait. S. V, 1, 10, 3 ff.
VI, 77. COMMENTARY TO PAGE 106. This charm is obviously a patchwork of mantras of various original values. The first hemistich of stanza i is identical with VI, 44, 1 a, b. The second hemistich of st. 3 is also formulaic (cf. Våg. S. XII, 8), and fits poorly into the present conception of the hymn. The second stanza (= RV. X, 19, 5) is clearly derived from a charm calculated to bring stray cattle home. As the hymn stands it would answer this purpose quite well, but the Kausika, 36, 5-9, as explained by the commentaries, treats it as a charm for capturing a runaway woman, or holding in check a woman
.
· The oblations in the latter case, implicitly, are not of ghee, but of ingida-oil ; cf. 47, 3.
Cf. 47, 1; Tait. S. II, 1, 5.7. Our rendering of the dr. dey. kadvindukoshthaih is conjectural.
* This is the nairbâdhyam havís (st. 1). For these especially pointed havís, see the note on VI, 39, 1.
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