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266
HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA.
bandhinyo rohinih rohinyah lohitavarnå gåvah santi tábhih ubhayavidhâbhir gobhih.
Stanza 4. b. ropanáka is glossed by Sayana at RV. I, 50, 12 by sårikå, 'thrush ;' Sayana on our hymn, twice, kâshthasuka (harit pakshỉ: the word is not in the lexicons). Dârila at Kaus. 26, 20. haridravarnas kitakâh (not in the lexicons; cf. kikkika, RV. X, 146, 2). Kesava, kashtha(mu)sukam (!), and kashthasu(sh)kakandana (! a kind of sandal). The commentators seem therefore to waver between a bird and a plant.
0. háridrava is glossed by Sayana at RV. VIII, 35, 7 by pakshin, but the same work at I, 50, 12, as also the scholiast at Tait. Br. III, 7, 6, 22, has haritâladrumeshu (a kind of tree!). Sâyana on our hymn, twice, gopitanakåkhyå haridvarnah pakshinah (gopîtanaka is not in the lexicons, but gopita is 'wagtail'); Dârila, ib., pitâs kitakah; Kesava, twice, gopîtilaka.
I, 23. COMMENTARY TO PAGE 16. The practices connected with this and the next hymn are defined by the commentators as a cure for white leprosy, svetakush thàpanodanaya (Sayana), svetakushthabhaishagyâni (Kesava). They are stated at Kaus. 26, 22– 24, as follows: 22. "While reciting AV. I, 23 and I, 24 (the priest) having rubbed dung (upon the sores) until they are red, smears upon them the substances, mentioned in the mantras. 23. He cuts off the white (scurf). 24. (The patient ?), having been covered, performs the rites to the Maruts. The latter, described at Kaus. 41, 1-7, are
Kesava and Sâyana mention bhringarâga (eclipta prostata ; note the pun between râga and ragani, &c. in I, 23, 1), haridra (yellow sandal, or yellow turmeric), indravâruni (colocynth), and nilika. Dârila has a somewhat different statement, too corrupt to be reported here.
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