Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c8: Appendix II

Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c8

Language: English

c8.s1 88. List of Doubtful Hymns and Fragments — 9 parts

Appendix II

88. List of Doubtful Hymns and Fragments

Maṇḍala I

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13 9-12. The second section of the Āpriya hymns, both here and elsewhere, contains late linguistic features: but only in ix 5 *8-11 do we find either of the characteristic metres of the popular Rigveda.

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22 16-18. Stanzas 17, 18 are repeated AV. vii 26 4, 5.

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22 19-21. Stanzas 19, 20 are repeated AV. vii 26 6, 7.

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*24 1, 2. These stanzas seem to have the character of a charm: much depends on the interpretation of the phrase *pitáram ca mátáram ca*, for which parallels are found in *i 163 13b, viii 69 15d, ix 73 5a, *x 88 15d, those in the popular Rigveda being the nearer. For the form of question and answer compare *v 44 14, 15.

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*24 6-15. The linguistic indications receive some confirmation from slight contamination in 15c. Part of stanza 9 is repeated AV. vi 97 2, and stanza 15 in AV. vii 83 3.

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27 13. Uncertain: cf. i 139 11, iii 9 9.

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28 1-6. The metre shews some trace of epic rhythm, and the linguistic notes indicate late date. On the other hand it is difficult to separate these stanzas from 7-9, which are similar in their subject: and the whole hymn may therefore be assigned to the transition period.

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29. This hymn has to some extent the character of a charm; it can hardly be earlier than the transition period, and like 28 1-6, is possibly later.

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32. Stanzas 1-3 are quoted AV. ii 5 5-7.

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35. This hymn, if standing by itself, would naturally be referred to the popular Rigveda in consequence of its metre: but it can hardly be separated from the other hymns of its group.

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50 1-9. Quoted AV. xiii 2 16-24.

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*84 16-18. Out of order, and not of the character of a hymn. Stanza 16 quoted AV. xviii 1 6.

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*89 10. Fragment of a cosmogony, quoted AV. vii 6 1.

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*90 9. Appended Anuṣṭubh stanza, quoted AV. xix 9 6.

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*93. The metre of 1-3 may be epic Anuṣṭubh, and 4-8 is out of order, besides shewing contamination. The combination of Agni and Soma is so strange to the Rigveda proper that it is probable that the whole hymn is late.

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*97. This appears to be of the nature of a charm: stanzas 1-8 are quoted AV. iv 33 1-8.

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105 1-3. Stanza 1 quoted AV. xviii 4 89.

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105 16-18. Stanza 16 shews a trace of epic rhythm.

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115. Stanza 1 is quoted AV. xiii 2 35: but the hymn can hardly be separated from the other hymns of its group. Compare i 35.

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*120 10-12. The character of this fragment is very uncertain: it disturbs the order of the hymns.

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*126 6, 7. Appended Anuṣṭubh stanzas.

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*133 1-5. These stanzas have the character of a charm: but it is very unusual to find such verses prefixed to one of the hymns of the ordered collection.

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139 11. Uncertain: cf. i 27 13.

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*161. A typical mythological hymn, assigned to the late Rigveda on linguistic grounds.

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*170, *179. See on i *161.

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188 8-11. See on i 13 9-12.

Maṇḍala II

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3 8-11. See on i 13 9-12.

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*8 6. The metre may be interpreted either as Gāyatrī with extra verse or as epic Anuṣṭubh, but the association of Indra and Soma with Agni is contrary to the practice of the Rigveda, and the nearest parallel is perhaps in the popular hymn *x 173 5c 6a.

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*32 4, 5. Quoted AV. vii 48 1, 2.

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39, 40. The linguistic notes indicate late date, but this is unconfirmed, and it seems better to assign the hymns to the same group as i 35, 115.

Maṇḍala III

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*8 10, 11. This fragment has late linguistic notes, and disturbs the order of the hymns.

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9 9. Uncertain (compare i 27 13), but required here by the order.

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*28. Out of order, and similar in metre to the next hymn. Cf. also iii 52.

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*29. In spite of the linguistic notes, the general character of this hymn, the traces of epic Anuṣṭubh metre, and the fact that stanza 10 is partly repeated in AV. iii 20 1, and stanza 16 is repeated AV. vii 97 1, all contribute to mark it as belonging to the popular Rigveda.

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33 1-12. Uncertain : cf. iii 53 9-16. *33 13. Appended Anuṣṭubh stanza, repeated AV. xiv 2 16. *37 11. Appended Anuṣṭubh stanza. *52. This hymn is out of order, and being closely parallel to iii 28, is probably a late addition. 53 1. An independent hymn, in its proper order as one of the Indra hymns. 53 2-16. A series of fragments, as to which it is only clear that they are of the same period as iii 33 1-12, which also deals with the personality of Viśvāmitra. Cf. vi 47 1-25. 53 24. Appended Triṣṭubh verse.

Maṇḍala IV

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12 6. Uncertain : cf. i 27 13, iii 9 9. Repeated x 126 8. *13 5. Apparently a fragment of a cosmogony : cf. i *89 10. 24 *9 *10. These verses form no part of the hymn : their meaning is much disputed, but they seem to have the character of the popular hymns. Cf. i *120 10-12. *39 6. Appended Anuṣṭubh stanza. 42 1-7. A mythological dialogue, which appears to belong to the Rigveda proper. 57 1-3. This hymn is not out of order, and by its analogy with the hymns to Bṛhaspati, Sadaspati, and Vāstospati belongs to the Rigveda proper. *58. The position of this hymn is the principal reason for assigning it to the popular Rigveda rather than to the cretic period, with which it is connected by subject and language. Stanza 10 is repeated AV. vii 82 1. Stanza 11 may be regarded as a contamination of the Triṣṭubh metre, or it may be an appended stanza. Cf. x *94, *175.

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⁵ 8-11. See on i 13 9-12. *30 15. The reference to the Pravargya ceremony is isolated in the Rigveda, and may indicate later date. 40 4. Appended Triṣṭubh stanza. *44 14, 15. The metre indicates late date. 46 7, 8. Repeated AV. vii 49 1, 2. *51 14, 15. Appended Anuṣṭubh stanzas. 61 6-8. The language, and perhaps the subject, may indicate later date.

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⁶² The language indicates late date, but this is unsupported. 78 4. Appended Triṣṭubh stanza. *83. Verse 7a repeated AV. iv 15 6a : stanza 8 AV. iv 15 16.

Maṇḍala V

Maṇḍala VI

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9. The language alone indicates late date: cf. ii 39, 40, v 62.

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15 16-18. These stanzas appear to form a separate hymn, rightly placed in the arrangement.

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*15 19. Out of order, and late by the linguistic notes.

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*16 47, 48. Appended Anuṣṭubh stanzas.

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47 1-25. This hymn consists of a number of fragments, all of which are out of order in the collection, though they seem to be roughly arranged amongst themselves. The first three fragments are really separate hymns, viz. 1-5 (Soma), 6-10 (Indra), 11-14 (Indra): they shew no indication of late date, except that several stanzas are repeated elsewhere, namely 1 in AV. xviii 1 48, 6 AV. vii 76 6, 8 AV. xix 15 4, 11 AV. vii 86 1, 12-13 RV. x 131 6, 7, and AV. vii 91 1, 92 1. It does not seem clear that these hymns belong to the popular Rigveda. On the other hand stanzas 15-18 are late by metre and language, but do not appear in AV.: stanzas 19, 20, 21 give no certain indications, and stanzas 22-25 appear rather to be early in character.

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*48 22. Appended Anuṣṭubh stanza: cosmogonical.

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*51 16. Appended Anuṣṭubh stanza.

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*52 1-3. Stanza 2 repeated AV. ii 12 6. If stanzas 1-3 are a later addition, the remainder of the hymn is in its proper order.

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52 4-6. Uncertain.

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53-57. The Pūṣan group shews a large proportion of the popular linguistic notes, especially 54, of which stanzas 9, 10 are repeated AV. vii 9 3, 4.

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60 14, 15. Uncertain.

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72. The metre alone indicates late date.

Maṇḍala VII

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2 8-11. The metre indicates that these stanzas really belong to iii 4, which see.

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17. This hymn is a play upon an Apriya hymn of seven verses, such as vii 1 1-7. Although out of order, it does not appear to be late.

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*33. Mythological poem.

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*35. Uncertain: stanzas 1-10 are repeated AV. xix 10 1-10; stanzas 11-15 in AV. xix 11 1-5.

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41. Uncertain: repeated AV. iii 16 1-7.

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*49. Uncertain: stanza 3 repeated AV i 33 2.

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55 1. Compare the preceding hymn, and iv 57 1-3.

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*55 2-4. Apparently a charm, but the metre is lyric: cf. x 126.

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59 7, 8. Stanza 8 repeated AV. vii 77 2.

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59 9-11. Out of order. Stanza 9 repeated AV. vii 77 1.

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*66 16. Unmetrical and probably late.

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89 5. Repeated AV. vi 51 3. 101, 102. The Parjanya hymns shew late linguistic notes, but they are in their order in the collection.

Maṇḍala VIII

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*1 33. Out of place, and with late linguistic notes. *1 34. Mythological. *3 24. Appended cosmogonical verse. The metre is probably Paṅkti. *33 16-18. Perhaps late: but cf. v 61 6-8. *33 19. Appended Anuṣṭubh stanza: mythological. 47 1-12. Uncertain. *47 13-18. The language and the epic rhythm in 15c 17d point to late date. Stanza 17 is repeated AV. vi 46 3, xix 57 1. *48. The metre seems to indicate late date. *59 1-5. The position of this hymn between two others that are clearly late, suggests late date. *66 15. Appended Anuṣṭubh stanza.
69. This hymn contains some elements of uncertainty: verse 11a shews epic rhythm: for the phrase pitré mātré see on i 24 1, 2. *100. In the section 7-9 the metre, in 10-11 the subject plainly indicate late date. In the other sections the probabilities are on the same side. *101 14. Cosmogonical stanza, repeated AV. x 8 3. *101 15, 16. Probably late, as following stanza 14. *102 19-21. Probably late: stanza 20 is repeated AV. xix 64 3. *102 22. Probably late, as following stanzas 19-21.

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² Stanzas 3, 4 are repeated AV. xix 59 3, 2. 9 1-5. Repeated AV. i 5 1-3, 6 1, 5 4. *11-13. Hymns 11, 12 are repeated in their entirety in AV. xviii 1, and hymn 13 is repeated in AV. xviii 3 39-41, vii 57 2. There are also other marks of agreement in the collection 10-14 which make it undesirable to separate its parts, though it is probable that some fragments of earlier date are included in it. *27, *28. The dialogue form contributes to make late date probable. *32 6-9. Mythological poem (Agni in the waters).

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⁴⁰ Stanzas 10, 12, 13 repeated AV. xiv 1 46, 2 5, 6. *51-53. Mythological poems (Agni and the gods). 54-56 3. Uncertain. The stanza 55 5 is repeated AV. ix 10 9, and 56 1 in AV. xviii 3 7.

Maṇḍala X

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*59 1-4, *60 1-6. In the absence of more definite indications these hymns may be presumed to be of the same late date as those attached to them.

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62. Uncertain.

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*87 22-25. The position amongst hymns clearly popular makes late date probable.

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*94. The date of this ceremonial hymn, as of *iv 58, *x 175, is open to some doubt.

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*95. Mythological poem (Purūravas and Urvaśī).

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*101, *102. These hymns must be considered together, owing to the similarity of position and metre. Late date is indicated by the repetition of 101 3, 4 in AV. iii 17 2, 1, and by the mythological subject of 102.

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*108. Mythological poem.

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110 1-11. Āpriya hymn, repeated AV. v 12 1-11. See on i 13 9-12.

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*119. Out of order. Decisive indications of date are wanting.

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*120. Repeated AV. v 2.

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123. Stanza 6 is repeated AV. xviii 3 66.

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124. This hymn as a whole is out of order. Stanzas *1-5 containing the dialogue between Indra and Agni appear to be late. On the other hand the Vṛtra myth in stanzas 6-8 has the signs of early date. For the ‘swan’ myth in stanza *9 close analogies are wanting, but it is more probably late.

Linked texts (2)

Atharvavedasaṃhitā — Atharvan & Aṅgiras, Sanskrit
Ṛgvedasaṃhitā — Sanskrit