Part 10 - Meghanamani (Megha Nama)

The following thirty words¹ are listed as the synonyms of 'cloud.' 134 1. Adrih: The word occurs with its forms in one hundred and thirty places, Sayana interpretes the word in seventy two places as 'gravan and in twenty seven places as parvata. only in ten places he interpretes it as 'megha' (adrim 1.85.5; 88.3; IV.2,15; 16.8; 18.6, V.52.9; VIII.60.16; X.45.6; 112.8; 113.4; Adreh V.41.12 ). 1 J 1 The word is interpreted as vaira in six places (adrih I.165.4; 78.6; adrina I.168.6; adrim 1.51.3; 62.4; V.45.1). 17. phalimgah, 7. valisanah, 12. curuh, 13. varahah 18. uparah, 1. 1. adrih, 2. gravam, 3. gautrah, 4. vrlah, 5. asanamh, 6. purubhojih 8. amsama 1 . parvatah, 10. girih, vrajah, 11. 14. berah, 15. rohinah, 16. raivatah, 19. upelah, 20. camasah, 21. ahih, 8 22. abhrama, 23. valahakah 24. maitheh, 25. drtih, 26. odanah, 27. vrsandhih 28. vrtrah, 29. asura, 30. kosah | 52 d - 1 2. adreyah, adrayah, adrina, adribhih, adrim, advai adri, adri iti | }

} wei 135 3 In other places the word is explained differently. While explaining the word in I. 51.3, sayana says atti bhaksayati vairinam iti adrih vairah; and quotes Nirukta (4.4), 4 In three places he gives alternative meaning. Sayana interpretes the word as mecha while explaining the form adreh only in one place (1.e. V.41.12). Yaska (Niru.4. 4; 5.3; 4.5.6) interpretes the word adri. He states adrih is so called because with it he (Indra) splits mountains 56 or it may be derived from the root 'ad' (to eat) 3. 4. 19.5. adayah marutah | 62. 11. adriyamanam adhvayrvadayah | 10.94. 1. adrayah adaraniya drdhah | 8.68.15. gava bhiradhvarvadayah | 1- 71.2. adrim | antaram phaninamanamasuram | 1.88.3. maighan yajnan ! 4.21.6. adrnati satrun ityadririndrah | 1. 118.3. adreh adaram kurvatah stotuh | 1. 109.3. adri iti adriyantau sradvavantau patniyajamanau | 4.4.2.15. adrie | megham | yadva | dhaninam paninamakasurapahrta godhanayuktamadri parvatam | 5.52.9. megham girim va | 5. 41.12. meghasya va parvatasya | 5. adrivan | adviradrnatmetena | api va antah syat | }

136 2. Grava: The word in its forms i.e. gravabhih and grava iva occurs in twenty one places. In fifteen places it is used as abhisava pasana. In other six places. Sayana does not explain; he simply says abhisavagrava (stone ɩsed for pressing out soma juice). Yaska in his Nirukta (9.8) 6 derives the word gravanah (stones) from the root han (to kill) or from 'gr (to praise) or from grah (to seize), 0 3. Gotrah: Its forms and compounds occur in seventeen places. In twelve places Sayana gives the meaning megha . (cloud). In five places he explains as gosamuna (group of cows). In VIII.63.5 the word gotrasya is interpreted as dhanasya and in X.120.8 as parvatagna. native meaning in four places.8 Sayana gives alter- gavani hanterva | grnaterva | grhanateva | 7. gotram, gotra, gotrasya gotrabhit, gotra'bhidam gotra 8. 1.51.3. 1. 51.3. gautram avyakta sabdavantam vrstayudakasyavarakam maidham | yadva | gosamuham panibhirapattatana gavamacarakam parvatam va | 10. 86.23. meghamudakam ksarayitum panibhirapahrtanam gavamavarakam parvatam va | 10. 120.8. gotrasya parvatasya valenasurena gavam pidhanartham nihitasya | yadva | gausabdan samuharthe pa . 4. 2.51. iti trapratyayah | gotrasya go samuhasya | 6. 17.2. gotrabhit gotranam meghanam parvatanam va bhattari |

hai 137 4. Valah: The word in its forms and compounds 9 is used in twenty three places, In five places Sayana explains the word as 'megha' (cloud) (i.e. vrnotyakasam iti valo mecnab). In other seventeen places the word is explained as asura' who is gavam apahartara or sarvayavaraka, In VIII. 24.35 Sayana explains the word differently; including this in two places. Sayana gives alternative meaning. Yaska in his Nirukta (6.2) derives the word vala from the root vr (to cover ) (valo vrnaten). 10 11 5. Asnah: The word occurs in its forms in ten places. Nowhere the word is interpreted as cloud. Sayana interpretes 12 the word differently. Yaska in his Nirukta (10.12) ' 1. valam valasyai valam ruja 10. 8.24. 30. valah varah svabalenavarakah satrunam | yada | bhiksunam danadi pradanenavarita | 8.14.7 avrtya sthitamapura megham va | 11. ano asya, asanaih, apano'iva, anam . 12. 1164 1. apanah sarvatravyaptah | na hi vayurahitah kascitpradesah tadrsah | 10.27.15. asanavato lokasya | 10.68.8. apana asmana vyaptaya silya | 2.20.5. asnute svatejasa sarvajagadityasnah kascidrasurah | 8.82.2. apane amabhigravabhih karanabhutaih | 201505. asanam | asnati bhayati pranijatamiti | yadva | asnute svatejasa sarvam vyapnotityasnah | kascidasurah |

° 138 commenting on #V.68.8, explains the word asanavata meghana 'all-pervading cloud. It may be noted that sayapa does not follow Yaska while explaining this Rk. He explains asna as vyapaka', or 'raksasa.' 13 6. Purubhojah: Its forms' occur in six places. The word is not used in the sense 'megha. as bahuksira or bhuri-bhojana. Either it is explained In two places it is adjective to Indra (VIII.49.2 and VIII.88.2). The word purubhojasa is used as adjective to the twin gods i.e. asvinau (VIII.22,16). 7. Valisanah: The word does not occur in any of the Vedas. Sarup gives the other three readings: balisanah, parsanah and parnah. They also do not occur in the RV. 14 8. Asma: The word with its forms occurs in twenty five places. In five places Sayana explains the word as cloud (IV. 16.6; V.30.8; II.1.1; IX. 108.6; II.12.3). 1 13. puru, bhojasam purubhoje, purubhojasah, purubhojasa bahunam bhoktarau raksakau | yadva | bahuna stotrn dhanadibhirbhi jayanti he asvini | 14. aimo (iva, asmanam, asmena, armana, asmena' iva, amenah, asmeni, asame'bhih, asman |

139 15 . In six places the word is interpreted as parvata (IV.16.6, V.30.4; VI. 43.3; X.68.4; 1.22.2; II.24.7). In six places the word is explained as pasana or upala. seyin (VI.75.12; I,191,15; II.1.1; III.29.6; I.130.3; VIII.88,2; IX,112.2), In three places the word is explained as vaira. (11.30.5 asmavat kathinam vajram; II.14.6; IV.22.1). In two places Sayana gives alternative meaning. In other places it is used as an adjective 'tyapata'. and In seventy 9. Parvatah: The word occurs with its forms 16 compounds in one hundred and twenty five places. eight places the word has the meaning 'mountain.' nine places it is explained as mecha (cloud). In fifteen 17 places Sayana gives alternative meanings. In four places In thirty 15. | 4. 16.6. asmanam | parvatam megham va | asmeti meghanamaitat | 16. parvatah iva, parvata 'cyutah purvate'cyute, parvate'vrdhah parvatavrdham parvatam, parvatasya, parvatasya iva parvatah parvatah, parvatah ida parvatat parvatanu, parvatanam, parvatasah, parvata, parvatena, parvatabhih, parvatabhyah parvatesu parvatah | 17. 1 49. 140 parvatah | purayita | "parva purane imtidhatuh | yadva | parvavada parvatah | tadvan | parvatasya gireh satruriti vaparvatah | 5.5403. parvata cyutah parvatanam meghanam va vyavayitarah | 9.46. 1. parvata vrdhah parvatairabhisvagavabhirvrdvah parvatesu jatana | 9.71.4. parvata'vrdham meghanam parvatanam va vardhayitaram | 1.57.6. parvavantam megham vrtrasuram va | 5.54.8. parvatah ud ‌yo maigha va | 5.41.9. parvavantah purnavantah meghah va | :

F 1 he explains the word as mountain-god (X.158.3; IV. 55.5; VII.37,87 VIII.54.4). In two places he interpretes it ' as vaira (VI.122.6, VII. 104. 19). VII.104.19) In other places the word is interpreted as an epithet of Megha or abhisavana-gravan according to the context, 140 Yaska in his Nirukta (1.20) 18 derives the word parvata (mountain). He states: 'It is so called because it has joints (parva). But parva is derived from the root pr (to fill) or from pri (to propitiate).' (Here during a period of fortnight, they propitiate the gods). Mountain is called parvata on account of the similarity of the joints. According to Durga, a mountain has joints in the form of stone slabs and time has joints in the form of 19 periods. On the joints of fortnights, i.e. the full moon-day, and the new moon-day they propitiate the gods. A cloud is called girl for the same reason (i.e. from its being raised). 18. parvavan parvatah | parva punah prnateh prinate va | ardhamasaparva | devanasmin prinantiti | tatpakrtitarat sandhisamanyat | meghasthayi | maighoड़ pi giriretasmadeva | 19. grandez 1 geuta fe a fimt-fire-arout fur parvatam | kala sandhisca silavica samanam samdhitvamitih 'devatabhidhana paksa meghasthayi giristha | "meghoda pi girih | asavapi samudgirno bhavati antariksa loke -durgacarya bhasya |

11 Sayana while explaining the Rks V.56.4 and 1.155.1, quotes Yaska's Nirukta (1.20). 141 20 10. Girih: The word occurs with its forms and compounds in forty seven places. In twenty seven places Sayana explains it as parvata. In thirteen places the word gives the sense as megha. In´five places he gives alternative meaning. While explaining the word in I.154.2 Sayana quotes Nirukta (1,20). In other places Savana explains according to the context, 1.e. (IX.18.1; 95.4 abhisavanagrava). And in X.180.2 he gives the meaning ' parvatanivasi. Yaska in his Nirukta, while explaining 22 the word (RV.I.154.2; X.180.2) 'giristha' derives the word'qirih. He states'girih" means mountain, it is raised up (see footnote 18 above also). 20. giribhyah, giridabhujah, girim 21. giristham, girinam, giri { girisu giristhah, giri, gireh iva, gireh | 5.54.5. girim, megham parvatam va | 56040 megham | girim | yada | parvatamiti visesyam girimiti visesanam | nigiratyudakamiti girih | tam | 8.940 12. giristham girisu meghesu parvatesu va tisthantam | 8.15.2. girin parvatan meghan va | 22. giristhana giristhayi | girih parvatah | samudgirno bhavati | : :

142 11. Vrajah: The word with its forms occurs in forty 23 eight places. It is interpreted as gostha..In III.30,10 vrajah is interpreted as costhabhutab valah meghah. In four places the word is interpreted as cloud (vrajam I.132.4; 154.4) X.28.7; 40.8). In I.132,4 and 156.4 Sayana quotes the Nighantu. word is explained is gosamuha. In seven places the In IX, 102.8 it is explained as andhakarasamuha and in VIII.51.5 as gavasvadisamuha. The word is explained as varakasya in IV.51.2.. Yaska in his Nirukta (6.2) explains the word vraja as vrajantyantarikse (moves in the atmosphere). Sayana while explaining the RK I.132.4 interpretes vrajam as 'antarikse gacchantam megham. ª 12. Caruh: The word occurs in five places with its 24 forms. sayana does not explain the word caruh which occurs in two places in the RV. (VII.104.2; and IX.52.3), as the meaning is obvious. It may be explained in the context as boiled rice prepared for oblation. The form carum occurs in two places. In 1.7.6 it is explained as megham and in X,86,18 as carubhandam. The form garunam occurs once; it is explained as patranam. 3 23. brjam, vujasya, vraja, vrjam iva, vrjanu, buje | 24. caruma, carunam • | 1

L 25 Yaska in his Nirukta derives the word caru. He 143 states "A pot (caru) is so called because it is a heap of> clay (mrc-caya) or it may be derived from the root car to walk); from it waters go up." > bha 27 26 13, yarahahi The word occurs with Ita forms: in eight places. In three places Sayana explains the word as 'megha' (varaham 1.67.7; VIII.77.10; X.99.6). In other seven places he explains differently. The word is also listed in the IV chapter (N 1.4.2.21). Yaska in his Nirukta (5.4) 28 referring to four Rks of the RV derives and explains the word differently. He states 'varahah means a clouds it brings (hr)' 'the best means of livelihood.' The other meaning of varahah (boar) is derived from the same root: he tears up the roots, or he tears up all the good roots. 25. carumrccayo bhavati | carameva | samuccarantyasmadapah | 26. varaham, varahaih, varaha'yuh | 27. varahahyuh 9.97.7 varam ca tadahaca varahah | tasminnahini abhisyamanatvena tadvan | arsa aditvat matvarthiyo ac | tadrsah somah | yadva | kascana varahah pada padena bhumim vikramamanah sabdam karoti | 10.28.4. balavantamapi sukaram | ityadayah | 28. niruktam | varaho megho bhavati | varaharah | ayammapitari varaha etasmadeva brhati mulani | varam mulam brhatiti va | angiraso pi varaha ucyante | athapyete madhyamika devagana varahava ucyante | 3 {

The Angirasas also are Varahas. Moreover the groups of atmospheric gods (i.e. Maruts, according to Durga), are called Varahavah also. 144 14. Sambarah: Its other forms occur in twenty two places. In nineteen places the word is explained as asura (Sambara). In two places (i.e. 1.59.6, II.24.2) the word is interpreted as cloud. In IX.61.2 the word is explained as 'Satrupuranam svaminam. Yaska in his Nirukta (7.23) while explaining the Rk. 1.59.6, interpretes the word sambaram as cloud (Sambaram meghan). The word Sambaram is also listed in udakanamani (Nigh.1.12.8) and in balanamani (Nigh.2.9.28). 15. Rauhinah: Its form rauhinam occurs in two places (RV. I. 103,2; II.12.12). Sayana explains it as asura by name rauhina. The word is not used in the sense of 'cloud.' t 16. Raivatah: Its two forms occur: Raivatasah occurs in V.60.4 giving the sense dhanavantah, The other form raivatya iva occurs in X.94.10. It is explained as 'yatha q revantah tejasa yukta bhavanti tadvat. The word is not used in the sense of 'cloud. + $ 17. Phaligah: Its form phaligam occurs in five places.

145 In three places (1.e.1.62.4; I.121.10 and VIII.32.25) Sayana explains it as cloud. In other two places he gives the meaning differently. 29 places. 18. Uparah: The word is used with its forms in nineteen Out of these in eight places it is explained as cloud. In the remaining places it is explained as 'uparam'. The word has been already explained in the dinnamani (1.6.3). 19. Upalah: The word does not occur in the RV, indepenHowever, the compound upala - praksini occurs in dently. - 30 IX.112.3. Sayana explains it differently. Yaska also explains in his Nirukta (6.5).31 The word is not used in the sense of 'cloud'. + 29. 4.50.5. phaldimgam | phalirbhedah tena gacchatiti phaligam | 1.62.4. pratiphalam pratibimbam | tadasminnaratiti phali svaccha- mudakam | tadgacchati adharatveneti phaligah | yada | vrihyadi palam | tadasmin sati bhavatiti phali vrstijalam | tad ‌gacchatitih phalimgah 1 phaligo meghah | 30. upalesu valukasu ulukhala praksinoti yavan hinasti iti | 31. upale praksinati upalapraksepini va | }

1 } 1 32 20. Camasah: The word in its forms occurs in twenty three places, sayana explains it as somapatra' giving various interpretations. Yaska derives the word (10.12 ) 33 Camasah (cup) from the root 'cam' i.e. they drink in it. The word does not occur in the sense of 'cloud.' 34 35 21. Ahih: The word with its forms occurs in eightyeight places. In forty three places the word is used as vrtra; and in twenty four places Sayana interpretes it as *megha'. In eight places sayana gives alternative mearing e, vrtra or megha (1.32.8; II.11.2; X.119.9; 1.187.6; II.11.5; 19.2; X.96.4; and II.13.5); 146 32. yamasam, camasa, camatah camasanu, camasana iva, camate camasesu . ·33. 34, 35. 10.101 8. camasah yajnakhyah bhaksasadhakhacamasa eva va camatarpaye samanyenaikavacanam | 1.20.6. camasam | somadharanaksamam kastapatravisesam | - 100 17.8. pranitapranayanam | 68.8. camanti bhaksayantyatreti camasah somapatram 1 1.54.9. camalah | camyante bhaksyante iti camasah somah | | camasah kasmat | camantyasmin iti ahi iva ahi gopah, aghneि, asneि, ahinam 'ahinam ahi manyavah ahimayasya ahi mayanu ahimayah, t ahi susma ahityaya, ahita hatye, ahin, ahinan, a feset | $ 4

147 In fourteen places the form ahi-budhnyah occurs. 1 36 Sayana explains it as the name of a god. In other places 37 the word is interpreted, differently. Yaska in his Nirukta (2.17) 38 states that 'The cloud (ahi) is so called on account of its motion, it moves in the atmosphere. ` The other meaning of ahi i.e. a serpent, is derived from the same root also, or from a han, (to attack) with its preposition shortened: it attacks. The waters held back as cows by panis (merchants).' The word ahl is listed in udakanamani (N 1.1.12.31) and in V chapter (5.4.29). i The word ahl is listed in gonamani (N 1.12.11.4) and dyavaprthivanaman 1 (3.30.22 ) also. 36° 2.31060 ahirbudhnyah | budhnamantariksam | tatra bhavah ahinama devah 7.34 17. antariksa bhavo budhnyah | avicasau budhanyaceti ahirbudhnyo gnih | 37° 1.186.5. ahih antariksanami ahanta vapa ahinom va ahanyamani va etannamako devah | 6.75.14, HFE: 59 af 59 1 1. 172.1. ahi bhanavah ahiyamanaprakasah | ahimh 2.51.4. asamantat hantaram | 6.72.3. jagata ahantaram | 5.33.5. ahi susma ahirayanat sarvato vyapta ... 1 ityadayah | 38. ahirayanat etyantarikse | ayamapitari ahiretasmadeva nirhasitopasargah | ahantiti niruddha apah paninevagavah |

1 } 148 39 22. Abhram: The word with its forms occur in fifteen places. In fourteen places the word gives the meaning of megha. In one place (i.e. X.75.3) the word is explained as antariksat. In X.20.4 Sayana explains it as meghopa laksitam antariksam vyapnoti and in X.77.1 he explains abhra-prusah na as meghat ningacchanta udakabindava iva. Yaska in his Nirukta (5.5) explains the word 'abhra as water in the cloud i.e. waters on the cloud (waters resting on the cloud).40 ta 23. Valahakah: This word or the other reading balahakah also does not occur in any of the Vedas. - 24. Meghah: The word meghah occurs once (1.181.8) in the RV. Sayana explains it as sekta jaladah pradhanavieso 'va. As already explained (while dealing with the words parvata and giri) Yaska (Niru.1.20) states that 'A cloud is called mountain, as it is raised.' ' ** 39. abhrama, iva, abhasya, abhani iva, abhata, abhata iva, ajhe abhene, abhaih, abhrapusah, abhavarsih | 40. abha a apoda me dhyaya iti | ( a a apoda poda mem adhiti 8 My ។

} } 149 15 25. Drtih: The word with its forms drtim and drteh iva occurs in nine places. Only in V.83.7 Sayana explains it as megha (1.e. drtivad udakadharkam megham), In other eight places the word is explained as a container of soma. 41 26. Odanah: The word in its form odanam occurs in three places. In only one place 1.e. VIII.69.14 Sayana interpretes it as megha. In an other place (i.e.. VIII. 77.10) it is explained as payasa or ksirapaka. InXVIII.77.6 Sayana does not comment, as it obviously means *food.' Yaska explains odana as cloud, the giver of rain water. 42 27. Vrsandhih: Its form vrsandhim occurs only in one place (i.e. IV.22.2). Sayana explains it as 'meghabhedanadevarena varsam kurvantam Indram), 43 28. Vitrah: The word in its forms and compounds 41. 4. 45.1. drtisturiyah | rasadravya dharah padarthascarmamayo drtirityucyate | 1.191 10. drtim | carmamayam surapanamidya | 9.1.8. vrttisadrsamsumanam somam | .... ityadayah | 42. niru . 6.34. odanamudakadanam megham | 43. vrtram putrasya vrtra, vrtra iva, vrtranam, vrtrani, • vrtrata vrtraye, vr, vrtrena, vrtresu | -

° 150 occurs in three hundred and sixty six places. Almost in all places the word is interpreted as asura or satru or papa or avaraka. Only in twenty-one places the word is explained as megha (1.e.I.80.3; II.11.9; 14.2; III.30.E; 32.6; 33.6; IV.16.7; VIII.6.13; 76.3; 4; X.28.7; 113.8; 147.11 vrtrava 1,61.12; V.86.3; VIII.93.4; 1.59.6; 1.81.1, VIII,6.40; X.23.2; 50,2). Sayana interpretes the word as either yrnotyakasam iti vrtro mechah or apamavarkah mechah. It is obvious that the cloud is personified as vitrasura. The word vytrani occurs in forty nine places in the sense of papani or vrtropalaksitani raksamsi. The word vrtra is used in thirteen places in the sense 'Satrum or papani. +4- 1) Vrtra Interpretations of the compound words are as follows: khadah occurs in two places (III.45.2 and 51.9) as an epithet of Indra. (Vrtram khadati hinasti iti vrtra-khadah. Vytra-khadam occurs in X.65.10 with the same meaning. ' 1 11) Vrtrachnah occurs with its form vrtraghne in six places, Sayana explains it as 'killer of vrtra. The feminine form vytrachni occurs in VI.61,7. +3

5 Sayana explains it as vetranam satrunam hantri (Sarasvati) 111) The forms vrtra-turam: Vrtra-tura occur in six places in the sense of 'killer of enemies' (IV.42.8; 1.32.5. VI.20.1; X.48.91 99.1, VI.48.2). sayana in 1.32.5 explains { 44 with alternative meaning." 151 iv) Vitra-turye occurs with its form yrtra-turyesu in fourteen places. Sayana interpretes it as 'battle for killing Vrtrasura (vrtravadharthe sangrame). It should be noted that the word is listed in safgramanamani (Ni.2.17.32). IT v) Vrtra-putra: occurs once (1.e. 1.32.9).45 vi) Vrtra-hatye and vrtya-hatyena occur in fourteen 'places in the sense of vitrahanana. But vitra-hatyesu occurs in five places. It is explained in all the places as 'samgram' in the locative, 44. "vrtu vartate | atisayena lokanam avarakam andhakararupam | yadva | vrtraih avaranaih sarvan satrun tarati tam vrnam asurama $ 45. gad gat deur arg: a du amar ga-jar i "

vil) Vrtra-han and its forms vrtra-han: Vrtra-hanam occur at forty six places as an epithet to Indra, who killed vrtra except in two places where Sayana explains. differently. 46 The form vitra-hana, vitra-hana and yrtrahanau occur in two, four and one place respectively as epithets to Indra and Agni, 152 vili) The forms vitrahan-tamah, vitrahan tamah vrtrahan-tama are also used as epithets mainly of Indra and in one place each to asvins, Agni and Soma as 'atisayena papanam hanta. ng ix) Vrtra-ha occurs in forty seven places as an epithet of Indra. But in the Rks which occur in the IX mandala (75.3; 28.3; 37,5; 89.7) the form is used as an epithet of Soma, i } + } In three places Sayana explains the word vitra as 47 mecha. 46. vrtrahan 8.93.40 vrtrasya apamavarakasya maighasya hantah | 9.98 5. satrunam soma | ·47. 1.81.1. vrtrasyavarakasya vrstinirodhakasya meghasyamurasya va hanta | yadva | avarakanam satrunam hanta | indrah 8.6.40. vrtrasya maighasyasurasya | 10. 23. 2. vrtrakhyasyasurasya meghasya va |

153 Yaska' In his Nirukta (2,16)48 deals in detaill withthe word vrtra. He states: 'Who is Vitra? Who is Vytra? It is a olcud' say the etymologists. He is a demon, son of Tvast, say the legendarians. The phenomenon of rain is produced by the commingling of water (vapours) and lightning (jyoti). With reference to this there are figurative descriptions of battle. Indeed the descriptions of Vedic stanzas and the narration of the Brahmanas depict him, no doubt, as a serpent. By expanding his body, he blocked the channels of the rivers. * Vrtra is the master of Panis (who blocked the cows). The word vrtram is included in dhananamani (Ni.10.27). } The form votresu is explained as satrusu dhanalabhevirodhisu (1,7.5). } 48. tatko vrtrah megha iti nairuktah | tvastro asura ityaitihasikah | apam ca jyotisaca misri bhava, karmano varsa karma jayate | tatropamarthena yuddhavarna bhavanti avittu khalu mantravarna brahamanavadasca | vivrdhya sarirasya sotamsi nikharaya cakara 31 tasmin ho prasasyandira apah | I '

1 154 49 29. Asurah: The word occurs with its forms and compounds' in seventy eight places. Only in two places it is interpreted as megha. In the rest of the places the word is used as an adjective (balavan) to various gods, mainly to Agni, Indra and Varuna, But the other form asurah in VIII.96,9 and X.124.5 and the form asurebhyah in VIII.97.1 is interpreted as demons. The form asuraghnah is explained as asuranam hantah (he Indra). The other forms of the word are explained as mentioned below, with a few examples. 51 49. asurah iva, asura, asuranah, asuramne, asuratvam, asuratva, asuram, asurasya asaraha, asumra, asura, asumra, asurah asurana, asumraya, asura, asurebhyah asuresu asuraih | 50. 8.20.17. asurasya, adakanam ksepturmeghasya | 51. | 10.92.5. maighasya | 1 1.35.7. asurah | sarvesam pranadah | tathacanyatra amnayate | " sarvesam bhutanam prananadayideti te a . 1. 141.8 iti | 1.54.3. asurah satrunam nirasita | yadva | asuh prano balam va | ro matvarthiyah | athava, asavah pranah tena ca apo laksyante, * prana va apah * tai . bra . 3.2.5.28 iti srute tan rati dadatiti asurah | " 8,30.3. balavan agnih 9.73. 1. balavan sarvesam prinanata pranadata va | 74.7. prajno balavan va somah 10.74.2. asurah indrasya prerakah | 10.132.4. asura tamasah ksepaka | yadva | asavah pranah | tan dadati manusyebhyah tvodayena prayacchatityasurah | haim mitra | 6.53.7. asurasya devebhyo'pi balavato rudrasya | 58.6. aspati ksipati sarvamityaturah | kalatma samvatsarah | 5.63.7. meghanam nirasitah parjanyasya |

t རམ ད ཏད ཨཏངདཝན, ཎཏ བཀར Yaska in his Nirukta (3.8) 52 derives and explains the word. He states: "Demons (a-su-rah) are so called because they delight in evil places, or they are expelled from places (5 as to throw) or else, the word asuh is a synonym of breath; inhaled, it rests in the body i.e. endowed with it (asu-rah). It is known: he created the that gods (surah) from good, (Su) is the characteristic of gods, he created the demons (asurah) evil that is the in characteristic of demons (Laxman Sarup, translation, The Nighantu and the Nirukta, p.42). 155 30. Kosah: The word occurs with its forms in thirtynine places, In nine places the word is interpreted as In megha (kosah I.112.11; kosam V.53.6; 59.8; 83.8; VIII.12.8; IX.12.6; 108.9; kosch 1.87.2; kosasah VII.101.4). fifteen places the word has the sense 'drona-kalasa or pot (used for storing Soma juice) especially in the IX mandela. I 52. asura asuratah | sthanesvastah | sthanebhya iti va | api va suriti prananama | astah sarire bhavati | tena tadvantah | tenasuna asuranasrjata tadasuranamasuratvam 53. kausam, kosa, kosanu ´ kausamtah, kau, kosena |

t 4 LU In other places Sayana explains it differently. T 54 Yaska (Niru.5.26) states: "Kosa (pail) is derived from the root kus (to draw out), drawn out; the other meaning of kosa (treasure) is derived from the same root: it is accumalation of great collection. 55 ' To summarise the above discussion, a tabular form 1 s given below! Words No.of times. Used in the used in the RV. sense assigned 1' Adrih 130 10 2 Grava 21 3 Gotrah 1 17. 12 4 Valah 23 5 5 Asnah 11 156 549 , 7.32.15. kosam jalam | yatha jalasekta jalapurnata kosat drteh sakasat jalam patrantare sivati tadvat | 4. 17.16. jaloddharanapatram | jalenapurayitum kupoyatha purayitum acyavayanti tadvat 6. 47.23. dasa samkhyavan hiranyapurnan kosan | 9.88.6. kosasah divibhavah kosah apa iva | 8.22.9. kosa, ayuthadinam kosasthane ramanile rathe varsanasiladhani asvinau 10. 100. 10. gosthe dohanasthane | 55. kosah kusnataih | vikusito bhavati | ayamapitarah kosa etasmadeva | sa camya acitamatro mahan bhavati |

Words No. of times used in the RV. Puru-bhojah 6 Weed in the sense assigned 7 Valisanah 8 Asma 25 5 9 Parvatah 125 39 10 11 972 Girih 47 13 Vrajah 48 12 Caruh 45 1 13 Varahah 10 3 14 Sambarah 22 2 15 Rauhinah 2 16 Raivatah 2 17 Phaligah 4 2 18 Uparah 19 8 19 Upalah 20 Camasah 23 21 Ahih 88 24' 22 Abhram 15 14 47 23 Valahakah 24 Meghah 1 1 25 Drtih 9 1 26 odanah 3 1 27 Vrsandhih 1 28 Vrtrah 366 21 29 Asurah 78 2 30 Kosah 39 157

To conclude, two words (1.e. No.7 and 23) are not used in the RV., and eight words (No.2, 5, 6, 15, 17, 19, I r 25 and 27) are not used in the sense assigned. Six words (No.12, 13, 17, 19, 25 and 26) are used only in a few places in the RV. So, out of thirty words listed, only fourteen words are used in considerable places. 158