Grihya Sutras

SR No.: 007685
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hermann Oldenberg
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1886
Total Pages: 2642
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 49 MB

Page 1097

40
VEDIC HYMNS.
She is yoked as the drawer of the chariots. Probably, however, váhnih should here be changed into váhnî.
The passages in which váhni is applied to Soma in the ninth and tenth Mandalas throw little light on the subject. (IX, 9, 6; 20, 5; 6; 36, 2; 64, 19; 89, 1; X, 101, 10.)
Instead of visẩm vispátik, lord of men (VII, 7, 4), we find IX, 108, 10. visẩm váhnih ná vispátih. One feels inclined to translate here váhnih by leader, but it is more likely that váhni is here again the common name of Soma, and that it is inserted between visẩm ná vispátih, which is meant to form one phrase.
In IX, 97, 34, tisráh vẩkah irayati prá váhnih, we may take váhni as the common appellation of Soma. But it may also mean minister or priest, as in the passages which we have now to examine. Cf. X, 11, 6.
For besides these passages in which váhni clearly means vector, carrier, drawer, horse, there is a large class of verses in which it can only be translated by minister, i. e. officiating minister, and, as it would seem, chiefly singer or reciter.
The verb vah was used in Sanskrit in the sense of carrying out (ud-vah, ausführen), or performing a rite, particularly as applied to the reciting of hymns. Hence such compounds as ukthá-vâhas or stóma-vâhas, offering hymns of praise, and yagñá-vâhas. Thus we read:
V, 79, 4. abhí yé två vibhâ-vari stómaih grinánti váhnayah.
The ministers who praise thee, splendid Dawn, with hymns.
I, 48, 11. yé två grinánti váhnayah.
The ministers who praise thee.
VII, 75, 5. ushah ukkhati váhni-bhih grinânẩ. The dawn lights up, praised by the ministers. VI, 39, 1. mandrásya kavéh divyásya váhneh. Of the sweet poet, of the heavenly priest
VII, 82, 4. yuvẩm ít yut-sú prítanâsu váhnayah yuvẩm kshémasya pra-savé mitá-gñavah, îsâna vásvah ubháyasya kârávah índrâvarunâ su-hává havâmahe.
See Taitt. Brâhm. I, 1, 6, 10. vahnir vâ anadvân, vahnir adhvaryuh.
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