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)
222 (of 255)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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The second patala refers to the various k盲ndas of the
AV-samhita by their technical names. K盲nda V is called
mahat as it contains the longest hymns in the first unit;
k盲nda VI is called trea as it contain suktas of three rks
each; and k盲nda VII is called ekarca as it contains s奴ktas
of one rk each. K盲ndas VIII to XI which form the second
17 unit are called k峁dra, k盲ndas XII to XIV are called
18 ek膩n峁沜a ; k盲nda XV is called vratya on account of its
subject-matter and k盲nda XVI is called prajapatya as its
deity is Prajapati.
Patala 3: Usually a rk in a sukta is supposed to
contain two lines (avasanas). But there are some exceptions
to this rule. Some rks contain only one line, some contain
three, four or five lines. The third patala gives such
(17) It is difficult to say asto why this unit is called
k峁dra. Perhaps it is because it contains shorter hymns
as compared to those in k盲nda XII and the following
k盲ndas. Cf. Whitney (op. cit., p. clviii): "What
pertinence the word ksudra may have as applied to books
VIII to XI, I cannot divine".
(18) Whitney (loc. cit.) thinks: "Probably ekan峁沜ebhya岣�
is a corrupt reading". Such need not, however, be the
case. The word occurs at AV XIX.23.22 (= AVP 46.10.22).
It means 'that which contains suktas one of which consists
of non-rks (1. e. paryayas). The word ekarca (applied
to kanda VII) may be noted in this connection. It may
be noted in this connection further noted that k盲ndas
XI to XIII contain each one paryaya-s奴kta.
