Essay name: Atharvaveda ancillary literature (Study)
Author:
B. R. Modak
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Department of Sanskrit and Prakrit Languages
The essay studies the ancillary literature of the Atharva-Veda with special reference to the Parisistas. It does so by understanding the socio-cultural and philosophical aspects of ancient Indian life. The Atharvaveda addresses encompasses all practical aspects of life from health and prosperity to rituals and sorcery.
Chapter 1 - Ancillary Literature of the Atharvaveda (other than the Parisistas)
216 (of 255)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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243
example given in this connection is AV XVIII.2.44 wherein
the words yathaparam na m盲s盲tai, sate saratsu no pura are
divided so as to occur in two avasanas. But in the next
verse they are covered by one avasane only. Here the
Pancapatalika mentions the rule that, in the case of parvayas,
the avasanas are to counted as rks. Sometimes identical
words appear either in consecutive lines or in scattered
lines. Even in such cases the rule given above, namely the
dropping of all identical words except the last one, is to
be observed. The example given is yad enam aha vratya
(XV.11) in which these words are repeated in verses 3-6, 8
and 10. Sometimes we find that complete rks one or more in
number, are identical and are scattered in the samhita of
17.
the AV. In such cases specification should be made by
stating the number (e.g. ity eka) after giving the pratika.
The example given is that of AV I.20.3 ya sasapa ... which
is identical with IV.17.3. When two consecutive verses are
identical with two consecutive verses occurring in the
earlier part of the text, the words iti dve are to be added
after mentioning the pratika of the first verse. The
example given is III.8.5 and 6 which is identical with VI.
94.1 and 2. Similar method should be adopted when three
consecutive rks are identical. The example is II.32.3-5
which is identical with V.23.10-12.
(17) Whitney (loc. cit. p. exix) has shown that at 41 places
there are repetitions which involve 52 verses. Same-
times two and even three consecutive verses have been
repeated.
