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 1098

NOTES. 1, 6, 5.
We, as ministers, invoke you only in fights and battles; we, as suppliants, (invoke) you for the granting of treasure; we, as poets, (invoke) you, the lords of twofold wealth, you, Indra and Varuna, who listen to our call.
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VI, 32, 3. sáh váhni-bhih rikva-bhih góshu sásvat mitágñu-bhih puru-kritvå gigâya.
He (Indra) was victorious often among the cows, always with celebrating and suppliant ministers.
I have placed these two passages together because they seem to me to illustrate each other, and to show that although in the second passage the celebrating and suppliant ministers may be intended for the Maruts, yet no argument could be drawn from this verse in favour of váhni by itself meaning the Maruts. See also VIII, 6, 2; 12, 15; X, 114, 2.
IV, 21, 6. hótâ yáh nah mahan sam-váraneshu váhnik. The Hotar who is our great priest in the sanctuaries. I, 128, 4. váhnih vedhah ágâyata.
Because the wise priest (Agni) was born.
The same name which in these passages is applied to Agni, is in others, and, as it will be seen, in the same sense, applied to Indra.
II, 21, 2. tuvi-grȧye váhnaye.
To the strong-voiced priest or leader.
The fact that váhni is followed in several passages by ukthaíh would seem to show that the office of the váhni was chiefly that of recitation or of addressing prayers to the gods.
III, 20, 1. agním ushásam asvínâ dadhi-krẩm ví-ushtishu havate váhnih ukthash.
The priest at the break of day calls with his hymns Agni, Ushas, the Asvins, and Dadhikrâ.
I, 184, 1. ta vâm adyá taú aparám huvema ukkhántyâm ushási váhnik ukthaíh.
Let us invoke the two Asvins to-day and to-morrow, the priest with his hymns is there when the dawn appears.
In a similar sense, it would seem, as váhnih ukthaíh, the Vedic poets frequently use the words váhnih âsa. This âsa is the instrumental singular of âs, mouth, and it is used
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