Sambodhi 1978 Vol 07

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 55

VASISTHA IN THE VEDIC SAMHITĀS
(Other than the Rgveda)
Umesh Chandra Sharma
Vasiştha is the famous seer of the Seventh Mandala of the RV. He is very prominent among the Rgvedic seers partly due to his involvement in the famous Dasarājña War. No doubt he is a famous historical personality, as depicted in the Rgvedic verses. In the later Samhitas Vasiştha figures practically in every text. Most of these texts are unimportant from the point of view of the socio-historical study of the Vasişthas. Only some references in these texts, which give account of Vasiştha's social and historical role in his times, are being examined below.
First of all the references in the TS should be considered. According to the TS III. 5.2.1, a Vāsitsha should be chosen as a Brahman priest. “The Rșis could not see Indra face to face; Vasiştha saw him face to face; he said, 'Holy lore shall I proclaim to you so that people will be propagated with thee as Purohita; therefore do thou proclaim me to the other Rşis.' To him he proclaimed these shares in the stoma, therefore people were propagated with Vasiştha as their Purohita: therefore a Vasiştha should be chosen as the Brahman priest; verily he is propagated.” The same story is repeated in the KS XXXVII. 17.
There is one reference to hostility between Vasistha and Viśyāmitra2 which proves that this rivalry has its roots in the remote vedic period. Viśvāmitra and Jamadagni had quarrel with Vasiştha. Jamadagni saw the Vihavya hymns and by means of it he appropriated the power and strength of Vasiştha.
: Vasistha is mentioned with other Rşis in connection with the five layers of bricks. Here Vasiştha is identified as Prāna, Bharadvāja as Manas, Viśvāmitra as Cakşus, Jamadagni as Srotra and Viśvakarman as vāc of the sacrifice. After the bricks are laid, the text says
"With those bricks put down on the east Vasiştha prospered, with those on the south Bharadvaja, with those on the west Višvāmitra, with 1. KEITH, Veda of Black Yajus School Translated, (HOS), Vol. 18, p. 279. 2. TS TIL.1.7.3; faxarar: afdalegar....
Cf. also KEITH, op. cit., p. 230. 3. RV X. 128, Because it contains the word vihava; Sarva, p. 43.