SUNY Series in Hind, Studies, LANGUAGE AND STYLE Wendy Doniger, Editor THEVEDIC RSIS

by Tatyana J. Elizarenkova

Edited with an Introduction by Wendy Doniger

State University of New York Press Contents

Published by Foreword by Wendy Doniger vu State University of New York Press, Albany 1. Introduction 1 ©1995 State University of New York 2. Vocabulary 29 All rights reserved 3. Metrics and Phonetics 107 Printed in the United States of America 4. Morphology No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever 153 without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval 5. Syntax system or transmitted in any form by any means including electronic, 199 electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other- 6. Conclusion wise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. 285 Notes For information, address the State University of New York Press, 295 State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246 Bibliography 307 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Index 319 Elizarenkova, Tatyana J. Language and style of the Vedic Rsis / by Tatyana J. Elizarenkova; edited with an introduction by Wendy Doniger. p. cm. — (SUNY series in Hindu studies) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-1667-4 (alk. paper). — ISBN 0-7914-1668-2 (pbk : alk. paper) 1. Vedic language—Semantics. 2. . Rgveda—Language, style. 3. —India—History. I. Doniger, Wendy. II. Title. III. Series. PK335.E45 1993 491'.2—dc20 92-40318 CIP

10 987654321 28 LANGUAGE AND STYLE OF THE VEDIC RSIS contentions (as well as die-casting, in later times) were held with the aim of "winning the sun" and establishing order in the universe. The goddess Usas presided over the distribution of generous gifts during these contests. This sketch of the religious and social status of the Vedic Rsis is based mainly on research done by Western scholars. It should be noted that inter- Vocabulary est in this range of problems has been growing lately among Indian scholars as well. The realization of the special role of the Rsis in the archaic Aryan society of the RgVedic period has stimulated research in this area: much work has been published both in English and in modern Indian languages (Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati).19 Although this topic has generated a stream of Some of the essential features of the model of the universe seen by the seers publications, both of a scientific and of a more popular character, their main of the hymns find their fullest and clearest reflection in the vocabulary of the lines of investigation are beyond the scope of the present monograph; our Rg Veda. On the one hand, this circumstance grants the scholar quite a few interest is primarily linguistic. Nevertheless, we cannot avoid mentioning a advantages, as it places at his disposal a general theory which permits him, remarkable phenomenon: an uninterrupted chain of tradition and continuity, using a single non-contradictory method, to interpret the historical and cul- though altered and variable to a certain degree, between modern India and tural situation as well as disparate linguistic facts. But on the other hand, the the world of the Rg Veda Aryan-especially in those cases when the author of dangers of a vicious circle seem apparent. First, we construct a model of the a work on the Vedic poets happens to be both a well-known Sanskritist and universe on the the basis of the Rg Veda hymns, and then we interpret the a descendant of a Vedic Rsi, such as Dandekar, who traces his origin from vocabulary of the Rg Veda with the help of this very model. This danger the/to Vasistha [63.312-350]. must never be overlooked. In addition, there can never be any certainty that many, and sometimes quite essential fragments of this model, have been construed in adequate agreement with the perception of the Vedic Rsis themselves. This uncertainty has to be applied to any interpretation of cer- tain parts of the V