The History and Culture of the Indian People v1.c19.s1.15

v1.c19.s1.15

It is a controversial question whether the Vedic tribes in the days of the *Ṛigveda* had reached the ocean and had knowledge of sea navigation. Keith and many other European scholars hold that there is no clear indication in the Rigvedic period that ocean and sea navigation were known.¹² Max Müller, Lassen, Zimmer, and the authors of the *Vedic Index* on the other hand assert that ocean was known to the Rigvedic people.¹³ This seems to be the more probable view. The Sarasvatī is stated to have reached the sea (above, p. 246), and the hymns X. 136, 5 and 6 seem clearly to refer to the western and eastern oceans. References to the treasures of the ocean and to Bhujyu's story appear to allude to marine navigation. The knowledge of high tide can be inferred from *Ṛigveda*, I. 48. 3. All these references indubitably prove that the Rigvedic people not only knew the sea, but were mariners and had trade relations with the outside world.