________________
540
HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA.
obscure : Kuhn and Ludwig incline to its construction as a proper noun, and that may be correct. Sayana, ('the plant) that suppresses the characteristics of ill-luck.' Our rendering is etymological, and equally guess-work.
Stanza 3.
2. Most of Shankar Pandit's MSS. read samushpalá for samushyala. Sâyana also, samushpalâ samyak uptaphala satî. The Pet. Lexs. derive the word (a &t. dey.) from a root ush=us, the weak form of vas, arousing love ;' Ludwig, doubtfully, 'procuress. We, with Weber (* zusammen uns brennend'), derive the word from ush, 'burn.' Everything is uncertain.
Stanza 5. The hostility of the ichneumon and the serpent is known in Hindu literature from earliest to latest times? The putting together of the serpent by the ichneumon refers perhaps to the cat-like antics of the animal over his prey. It is a lame comparison at the best.
VI, 140. COMMENTARY TO PACE 110. When the upper two teeth come before the lower, then there is danger of death to the parents, and the following expiatory rite is prescribed,' says Kesava at Kaus. 46, 43-46. The performance consists in scattering or offering (rice, barley, or sesame: cf. Kaus. 7, 5); in making the child bite some of the kinds of grain indicated in the mantra (st. 2); in giving him some of the same grain cooked in holy water' (Kaus. 9, 8 ff.) to eat; finally, in making the parents eat of the same dish.
The hymn has been rendered by Zimmer, Altindisches Leben, p. 321; Grill?, pp. 49, 176 ff. (cf. also Weber, Indische Studien, V, 224; Ludwig, Der Rigveda, III, 343). These interpreters construe the hymn as a charm for avert
· Cf. Vâg. S. XXIV, 26, 32; Tait. S. V, 5, 12, 21.
Digized by Google
