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 2a - The nature of the Parisistas (of the Atharvaveda)
456 (of 459)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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in some earlier works like Apss (23.11.2) and the Mahabhasya
130 (4.1.19).129
It may also be added that Keith does not
accept Jolly's suggestion. Nevertheless one thing may be
generally accepted, namely, that the AVP on the whole cannot
be assigned to any remote antiquity. Fairly accurate, ornate
and elaborate metres make the comparative lateness of the
131 text undoubted. According to Keith , words like camara
b
(3.1.3; 4.1.14; 19掳.4.4; 70掳.20.1) are late Puranic and the
word nayaka (24.1.9) is a sign of late origin. Similar is
132 the case with the words attalaka (55.6.2; 71.19.2; 72.3.
10), ak峁m膩l膩 (41.4.5) and golavat (58b.2.9, 4.9). The root
kutta and the words mandalika (36.26.3), kulira and Karkata
(39.1.10) are, according to that scholar, very later words,
belonging to the time of Susruta.
The lower limit of the date of the Parisistas can be
said to be fixed by the BS of Varahamihira, which is definite-
ly posterior to the AVP. Attention has already been drawn,
in the section 'The Nature of the Parisistas', to the
influence of the AVP on the BS. Varahamihira has drawn on
133 the AVP and has even named many of the adhyayas of the BS
129. It has been established (Proceedings of the British
academy, Vol. XVIII, pp. 211-66) that the earliest
denarius period begins about 187 B.C.
130. JRAS 1915, p. 504.
131. JRAS 1912, pp. 755-76.
132. Cf. att膩la: 61.1.12; 56.2.8; s盲ddala: 70.14.1.
133.
See above pp. 299-300. The two verses BS 48.52-53 are
probably taken from AVP 8.1.6-7.
