Book Title: Most Ancient Aryan Society
Author(s): Ram Chandra Jain
Publisher: Institute of Bharatalogical Research Sriganganagar Rajasthan

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Page 261
________________ 3. THE ECONOMIC BRAHMA The military activities of the Aryan Tribal collective, the Brahma, were mainly motivated by the insatiable desire Augmentation of for winning more lands, more cattle and more riches. Brahma-Wealth The principal military feat of Indra was to annihilate Vṛtra and all that which went with the name of Vṛtra, his whole economic and social organisation. Indra is 'brahmavāḥ;' the guide of Brahma. Brahma is food. The guide of Brahma slays Vṛtra for food; i. e., for material prosperity. Food is offered to Indra, the guide of Brahma.1 Food represents material might. Indra augmented the wealth of Brahma in cattle, progeny and food by loot and plunder of their adversaries. But he also needed, in return, his own augmentation for further efficient feats of loot and plunder. For that the whole might of Brahma; all the resources of the Brahma were at his disposal. Brahma is the source of augmentation of the strength and might of Indra. Sāyaṇa translates Brahma as Food' which may be equated with 'Material Might'. No mataphysical interpreation has been given to the word 'Brahma', here, even by the Brāhmaṇa High Priest. Indra is prayed to bring all that wealth comprising of cattle and horses to the Brahma, before it be known to others lest they may take it away and Indra people may remain devoid of them. The word Brahma, here, has been commented as Food by Sāyaṇa and translated by Wilson in the same sense. Both do not attach sufficient significance to the word 'pra' used before 'Brahma'. Word 'pra' is mostly used in connec Economic Power of Brahma Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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