Nirukta and the Vedic interpretation (study)
by Shruti S. Pradhan | 1964 | 116,890 words
This essay studies the role of Yaska’s Nirukta in Vedic interpretation focusing on his contributions to understanding the Rigveda. This study further examines Yaska’s technique of using etymology to confirm meanings assigned by traditional Nighantus (Vedic glossaries), highlighting his subjective approach. While modern methods combine context with ...
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319 292. Passage Quoted: Rigveda II.27.1, Nirukta XII.36 (p. 855). Translation According To Yaska: (I) I offer to the Adityas, the kings, (the oblations) bathed in ghee (or dripping ghee or carrying ghee or winner of ghee) with a ladle, to live long. May Mitra, Aryaman, Bhaga (Dhata) the creator of many, Varuna, Daksa and Amsa listen to these our hymns. (II) For a long time I offer..... .....etc. Final Translation: I offer with the ladle (i.e. the tongue) these praises having ghee on the back to the Adityas, the kings of yore. May Mitra, Aryaman and Bhaga, powerful Varuna, Daksa and Amsa listen to us. Notes: ghrtasnu: is taken by Yaska as an adjective of ahutih to be supplied, taking the latter as an object of juhomi. European scholars take it to moan 'having ghee on the back' and construe it with girah. The girah are so called owing to the offerings which accompany them. Again Yaska takes imah girah with cd as the object of srnotu. His construction is defective as it involves duranvaya. tuvijatah: is explained as bahujatah by Yaska and taken as an adjective of dhata to be supplied. For tuvi meaning bahu Cf.Nighantu III.1 (p. 212). We take