Madhuvidya

Author(s): S D Laddu, T N Dharmadhikari, Madhvi Kolhatkar, Pratibha Pingle
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 84

SANSKRIT SAKHI
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stand on his right. The two would then kill the enemies: ásaś ca tvám daksivatáḥ sákhá me 'dhā vṛtráni janghanava bhári (8.100.2),17
Sometimes those who went in a chariot to the battle-field abandoned the chariot and fled back. This is what the gods did when they went with Indra to fight against Vṛtra. Indra is therefore advised by the Maruts to take them with him in the chariot so that he may win the war (nṛtrásya tva śvasáthad tṣamäna vísve devá ajahur yé sákhayaḥ marúdbhir indra sakhyámh te astv áthemá viśvāḥ pŕtana jayasi 8.96.7).18 In the light of this explanation of sákhi, RV 8.45.37 seems to have the following meaning: kó nú marya ámithitaḥ sákhä sákhāyam abravit jahá, kó asmád isate 'Which warrior (sákhä), if he is not provoked (by his charioteer), oh men, has said to the charioteer, 'he has left me.' Who runs away from us?"
Sürya, or the daughter of the sun, is often described in the Rgveda as going with Aśvinä in the same chariot. á yád vām sūry rátham tisthad raghusyádam sáda (5.73.5), tám vám rátham vayám adya huvema.... aśvinā.... yáḥ süryaṁ váhati (4.44.1). Sūryǎ has been identified with Usas by Hillebrandt. This identification gets support from the new interpretation of sákhi because Usas is called the sákhi of Aśvina, i.e. she goes with them riding in their chariot (sákhäbhüd aśvínor usdh 4.52.2 and utá sákhäsy aśvínoḥ 4.52.3). In 1.119.5 we are told about a yósa who chose Aśvinā for her husbands and went with them for a common ride (sakhyá) in their chariot: yuvór aśviná vápuse yuvayújam rátham váṇī yematur asya sárdhyamá vám patitvám sakhydya jagmúsi yósävṛnita jénya yuvám pát: "The two voices have guided, oh Aśvină, the chariot yoked by you for your beauty......20 The young woman to be won, who married you (patitvám jagmúşi) for a common ride (in your chariot) chose you two for her husbands". This connection between marriage and common ride in a chariot is also reflected in the dialogue between Yama and Yami. In 10.10.2 when Yama rejects the initial entreaty of Yami he says, ná te sákha sakhyáṁ vasty etát sálakṣma yád visurupa bhāvāti
17. Cf. the word savyasthṛ- (or savyesthr-), savyastha- (or savyestha-) 'warrior' (lit. standing on the left) in the Sat. Br. 5.4.3.18; also indraḥ savyasthás candrámah sárathiḥ AV 8.8.23 cited in BR. As mentioned in BR, the word savyeṣṭha, however, means a charioteer according to Patanjali on P. 8.3.97 and the Skt. lexicons (AK 2.8.60 and H. 760). [Some editions or commentaries give the reading savyeṣthṛ-].
18. But the Maruts also seem to have once abandoned Indra. cf. yád indram ájahatana / kó vah sakhitvá ohate (8.7.31) 'that you abandoned Indra. Who (now) is anxious to ride with you?'
19. Lüders (Varuna II. p. 370. f.n. 1). however, says that Usas is called the sákha i.e. the friend' of Asśvina because the latter appear early in the morning.
20. asya sárdhyam is 'quite unclear' according to Geldner. Sayana, asya rathasya yat sardhyam präpyam adityakhyam avadhibhütam lakṣyam. 21. Sayana identifies yósd with surya.
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