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)
219 (of 255)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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246
(which contains eighteen suktas). In kända VII the first and
the fourth anuvākas consist of thirteen suktas each, the
second and the eighth contain nine suktas each, the third
and the last (tenth) contain sixteen suktas each, the fifth
and the seventh contain eight suktas each, the sixth anuvāka
21 contains fourteen and the ninth contains twelve suktas
The second patala then turns to the exceptions
regarding the number of rks within a hymn. The first seven
kändas are expected to contain in their hymns a fixed number
of rks. Thus the norm of the first kända is that the suktas
22 in it should consist of four rks each ; of the second,
five rks each; of the third, six rks each; of the fourth,
sevens rks each, of the fifth, eight rks each, of the sixth,
three rks each and of the seventh, one rk each. The
Pancapatalika (khandas 7-10) states the exceptions to this
general rule. The exceptions are: AV I.3,7,11,29 (these
contain six rks each) and 34 (this contains five rks).
AV II.3,4,14,15 and 32 (these contain six rks each);
5,17,27,29,33 (these contain seven rks) and 10,12 (these
contain eight rks).
(21) In kändas VIII to XVIII, there is only one exception,
namely, XIII, 4 which consists of six hymns instead of
one. This has been noted above in f.n. 20.
(22) Cf. BA 1.13:
पूर्वाण्यविरित्येवमुक्तरकाण्डेषु �
यावदेकाधिक शाक्� सूक्तेषु ऋमित� विजानीयात् �
[pūrvāṇyavirityevamuktarakāṇḍeṣu pa
yāvadekādhika śākta sūkteṣu ṛmiti vijānīyāt |
]
