And the same is said of Agni, II, 2, 5. dyaúh ná stríbhih kitayat ródasî (íti) ánu. Stríbhih occurs I, 68, 5; IV, 7, 3; VI, 49, 3; 12. It always means stars, and the meaning of rays (strahl) rests, as yet, on etymological authority only. The evening sky would, no doubt, be more appropriate than usrâ´h, which applies chiefly to the dawn. But in the Indian mind, the two dawns, i. e. the dawn and the gloaming, are so closely united and identified, that their names, too, are frequently interchangeable.

Verse 2.

Note 1. I translate yayí not by a goer, a traveller, i. e. the

cloud (this is the explanation proposed by Sâyana, and adopted by Professor Benfey), but by path. Sâyana (TS. IV, 3, 13, 7) renders yayim by gatim. Etymologically yayí may mean either, and in some passages I feel doubtful as to which is the more appropriate meaning. But in parallel passages yayí is clearly replaced by yâ´ma. Thus:

VIII, 7, 2. yát—yâ´mam subhrâh ákidhvam.

When you, bright Maruts, have seen your way.

See also VIII, 7, 4. yát yâ´mam yâ´nti vâyú-bhih.

When they (the Maruts) go on their path with the winds.

VIII, 7, 14. ádhi-iva yát girînâ´m yâ´mam subhrâh ákidhvam.

When you, bright Maruts, had seen your way, as it were, from above the mountains.

The same phrase occurs, even without yâ´ma or yayí, in

V, 55, 7. ná párvatâh ná nadyâ´h varanta vah yátra ákidhvam marutah gákkhata ít u tát.

Not mountains, not rivers, keep you back; where you have seen (your way), there you go.

Though yayí does not occur frequently in the Rig-veda, the meaning of path seems throughout more applicable than that of traveller.

V, 87, 5. tvesháh yayíh.

Your path, O Maruts, is blazing.

V, 73, 7. ugráh vâm kakuháh yayíh.

Fearful is your pass on high.

I, 51, 11. ugráh yayim níh apáh srótasâ asrigat.

The fearful Indra sent the waters forth on their way streaming.

X, 92, 5. prá—yayínâ yanti síndhavah.

The waters go forth on their path.

Ludwig takes kósa as buckets on the chariots of the Maruts, which seems right.

Verse 3.

Note 1. Cf. I, 37, 8, page 75. There is no authority for Sâyana's explanation of vithurâ´-iva, the earth trembles like a widow. Vithurâ´ occurs several times in the Rig-veda, but never in the sense of widow. Thus:

I, 168, 6. yát kyaváyatha vithurâ´-iva sám-hitam.

When you, Maruts, throw down what is compact, like brittle things.

I, 186, 2; VI, 25, 3; 46, 6; VIII, 96, 2; X, 77, 4 (vithuryáti). The Maruts themselves are called ávithura in verse 1. Spiegel compares the Zend aiwithura. As to ágma and yâ´ma, see I, 37, 8, page 75.