Sambodhi 2002 Vol 25

Author(s): Jitendra B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 61

"PRTHU VAINYA EPISODE -
AN ASTRONOMICAL INTERPRETATION"
Prof. D. G. VEDIA
"The Purana's have no originality. The Purana merely copies some chapters from some well-known authors, e.g. the Agnipurāņa borrows from an author called Puskara.' "So says, Dr. K. P. Jayaswal, on the value of the Puranas as a source of ancient Indian Polity. Many other Scholars also opine so. But one should not forget that Purānas represent some natural phenomena or knowledge of something in their own language. Moreover the purānas are not written by one hand. So it becomes very difficult for any scholar to find out the purport behind the myth represented. Dr. Hazra found it necessary to establish the chronological order, but as the puranas are not constructed at a particular period. Moreover a particular portion also can not be assigned to a particular period. Various portions of the Purāṇas are developed time to time. Same had been happened in the case of the myth. Pṛthu Vainya episode is the glaring example of such happening. In this paper it is proposed to examine the episode as the astronomical phenomena.
Pṛthu Vainya episode and his cow-milching is referred to in the Vedic Literature2, Mahabharata, the Puranas. Pṛthu is called Vainya, Son of Vena who is invoked in a single hymn of Rv. X. 123.1. Although this name occurs several other times in the Rv. in singular to qualify the Sun (1-83-5), Indra (1.61.4) and Bṛhaspati (1-139-10), and in Plural (1.56.2, IX-64-11, IX-73. 2 etc). It signifies brilliancy or beauty.
In the Vedas he is called a messenger of Varuna (X-123-6), having bright appearance (X-123-1). He has bright wings (X-123-6-7). He holds a spotted weapon and a shining armour (X-127-7). He travels in the top of the sky (V. 123).