Note 1. On the secret approach of the Maruts, see I, 88, 5.

Verse 8.

The text in the AV. VII, 77, 2, is bad, yó no márto maruto durhrinâyús, práti muñkatâm sáh, and tápasâ for hánmanâ. The TS. IV, 3, 13, 3, has tiráh satyâ´ni. It reads besides, yó no márto vasavo durhrinâyús tiráh satyâ´ni marutah gíghâm̐sât druháh pâ´sam, and tápasâ. Tiráh kittâ´ni may mean 'beyond all conception,' as Grassmann takes it, or 'unobserved,' as B.-R. suggest. Tiráh satyâ´ni might mean 'in spite of all pledges,' but that is probably an emendation. All this shows the unsettled state of Vedic tradition, outside that of the Rig-veda; see Oldenberg, Prolegomena, p. 328.

Verse 9.

Note 1. Ûtî´, taken here as a dative, by Lanman, p. 382.

Verse 10.

Note 1. On the Maruts grihamedhinah, see Sat. Br. II, 5, 3, 4. Possibly the Maruts may be called grihamedhas, i. e. grihasthas, performing the Grihya sacrifices. See on these names TS. I, 8, 4, 1; 2.

Note 2. The last pâda in the TS. is pramuñkánto no ámhasah.

Verse 11.

Note 1. On ihéha, see Delbrück, Syntax, p. 51. It means 'here and there,' that is, 'again and again.'

Verse 12.

Note 1. Tryambaka is a name of Rudra, but its original meaning is doubtful. Some commentators explain it by 'three-eyed,' but its natural meaning would be 'having three mothers.' The Sat. Br. II, 6, 2, 9, derives it from Stry-ambikâ, because Ambikâ, Rudra's sister, shares the sacrifice with him.

Note 2. On mâ with optative, see Delbrück, Synt. Forsch. I, 194; Syntax, 338, 361, Anm. 1.

Note 3. That amritât is right, not, as Grassmann suggests, amrita, is clear from the parallel forms, prétó muñkâmi nâ´mútah, or itó mukshîya mâ´mútah. Pischel in Z. D. M. G. XL, 121, demands too much logical accuracy from a poet; see AV. XIV, I, 17; VS. III, 60.

All scholars seem to agree that this hymn is a composite hymn, and that it breaks the law of decrease in the number of verses. It begins with three Pragâthas, verses 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, which may be in their right place. Then follow two Trishtubhs, 7 and 8, which may form a hymn by themselves. The next three Gâyatrîs, which clearly belong together, are a later addition; so is the last verse, which ought to stand in the Atharva rather than in the Rig-veda. The Pada text does not divide this last verse. See on this subject, Oldenberg, Z. D. M. G. XXXVIII, 449 seq., Proleg. 200; 511; Bergaigne, Recherches sur l’histoire de la Samhitâ, II, 10.

Next: VIII, 7. To the Maruts (the Storm-gods)

Hinduism

« Previous: Vedic Hymns, Part I (SBE32): Vedic Hymns: VII, 58. To the...

Next: Vedic Hymns, Part I (SBE32): Vedic Hymns: VIII, 7. To the... »