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)
225 (of 255)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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252
and then gives the number of rks in each of the suktas of
the remaining k盲ndas. The number of paryayas in the
parvaya-suktas is also given. It is interesting to note the
method adopted by the patala in this connection. It takes
some round number as the norm while counting the rks and
gives the extra (or less) number of rks in an anuv膩ka or a
sukta as the case may be.
norm for k盲ndas I, II, VII, VIII, IX and XI; the number 30 is
taken as the standard for k盲ndas III, IV, VI and X and the
number 60 is taken as the norm for kangas V and XII.
Thus the number 20 is taken as the
According to the Pancapatalika the six anuv膩kas of
kanda I contain 29 (20+ 9), 25 (20 + 5 etc.), 20,22,28 and
31 rks respectively. The six anuv膩kas of k盲nda II contain
29,28,42,48,29 and 31 rks respectively. The six anuv膩kas
of k盲nda III contain 33 (30 + 3), 40 (30 + 10 etc.), 38,40,
35 and 44 rks respectively. The eight anuv膩kas in k盲nda
IV contain 37,39,51,42,35,36,37 and 47 rks respectively.
The six anuv膩kas in k盲nda V contain 48 (60 - 12), 49 (60 - 11
etc.) 57,8325, 69 (60 + 9 etc.) and 70 rks respectively.
The ten anuv膩kas in k盲nda VII contain 28 (26 + 8), 22 (20 +
2 etc.) 31,30,25,42,31,24,21 and 32 rks respectively.
In k盲nda VIII the first nine suktas contain 21 (20 +
1), 28 (20 + 8 etc.) 26,25,22,26,28,24 and 26 rks respective-
(25) This has been mentioned separately by referring to the
anuv膩ka (4) as eka vr峁h.
