The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c24.141

v1.c24.141

⁴ The Av. word *niγne*, here translated ‘smites down,’ is best so taken as a verbal form; so also by Bartholomae, *Air. Wb.* coll. 492, 1814, followed by F. Wolff, *Avesta übersetzt*, pp. 79, 214. J. Darmesteter, *Le Zend-Avesta*, I, 366, also n. 52 (and *cf.* II, 469) has ‘il abat à la rivière du Couchant.’ Others have taken *niγne* as a loc. sg.; thus F. Justi, *Handbuch der Zendsprache* (1864), p. 171, renders ‘im westlichen Niniveh’; F. Spiegel, *Die ar. Per.* p. 119, ‘im westlichen Nighna’ (i.e. the Nile). Opposed to the explanation as a proper name is C. de Harlez, *Avesta traduit* (1881), p. 461, who gives ‘dans les profondeurs de l’occident,’ with a footnote ‘dans l’enfoncement nocturne’; *cf.* also *ibid.* p. 377, n. 4.