Sambodhi 1978 Vol 07

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

Page 56

54
Umesh Chandra Sharma
those on the north Jamadagni, with those above, Viśvakarman. He who knows thus the prosperity in these bricks prospers; he who knows thus their relationship becomes rich in relations; he who knows thus their ordering, things go orderly for him; he who knows thus their abode becomes possessed of an abode; he who knows their support becomes possessed of support."
At another place in this Samhita, there is a mention of the murder of Vasistha's sons by the Saudāsas. The text runs as follows: "Vasiṣṭha, his sons slain, desired, May I win offspring, and defeat the Saudāsas.' He saw. this rite of forty-nine nights; he grasped it, and sacrificed with it. Then indeed did he win offspring and defeated the Saudasas. Those who knowing thus perform the rite of forty-nine nights, win offspring and defeat their enemies." This reference also supports our hypothesis about VasisthaVisvamitra hostility. It seems that Visvamitra instigated the Saudäsas to kill the sons of Vasiṣṭha. To defeat the Saudāsas and avenge of sons' murder, Vasistha saw this rite of forty-nine nights. This is a well established fact in the Vedic literature that the sons of Vasistha were killed by Saudāsas on the instigation of Visvamitra. (See foot-note 5).
There is a reference to Vasistha Satyahavya in the TS. He is a teacher. No clue is given about his whereabouts.
The other Samhitas of the Yajurveda do not add much to the information regarding Vasistha. Even whatever there is, is not of much sociohistorical value. Vasistha is identified with Prana-Rathantara and East." It has been laid down at one place that that which is eaten by a non-Brahmana, is called the dropped down oblation (skanna ahuti); only Vasistha knew the expiation pertaining to that. There are other references also to Vasistha, but those are not of any particular value here. Same is the case with the SV verses. Being borrowals from the RV, they are not of any independent value.
In the AV, the name Vasistha occurs at ten places. Out of these at five places the word is used as an adjective. Remaining five are being examined.10 Among these also the three verses, i.e. AV XX.12.1; 6; 117.3;
4. TS V.2 10.5-6: KEITH. op. cit., pp. 415-16.
5. TS VII. 4.7.1; KEITH, op. cit., p. 606; Cf. also Vedic Index, Vol. II, p. 275; Sayana on RV VII. 32; Sarva p. 107: WEBER, Indische Studien I-119; KB VI. 8 and TMB IV.7.3.
6. TS VI.6.2.2; he is referred to in the MS III 3.9; IV. 8.7 and the KS XXXII.2.
7. MS II.7.19; KS XVI.19,
8. MS I.4.12; KS XXXII.2.
9. AV VI.21,2; 44.2; 119.1; VII.55.2; XVIII. 3.46.
10. AV IV. 9.3; XVIII. 3.16; XX 12.1.6; 117.3.