The Arctic Home in the Vedas c13.s2.4.3

c13.s2.4.3

But this transition of meaning is confined only to the theological literature, and did not pass over into the non-theological works, for the obvious reason that in ordinary language the bad meaning of the word was sufficiently familiar to the people. There can, therefore, be little doubt that, in VII, 100, 5 and 6, *shipivishṭa* is used in a bad sense as stated by Aupamanyava. These verses have been translated by Muir as follows:— “I, a devoted worshipper, who know the sacred rites, today celebrate this thy name *shipivishṭa*; I, who am weak, laud thee who art strong and dwellest beyond this lower world (*kshayantam asya rajasah parâke*). What, Vishṇu, hast thou to blame, that thou declaredst, ‘I am *shipivishṭa*’? Do not conceal from us this form (*varpas*), since thou didst assume another shape in the battle.” The phrase “dwelling in the lower world” (*rajasah parâke*), or “beyond this world,” furnishes us with a clue to the real meaning of the passage. It was in the nether world that Vishṇu bore this bad name. And what was the bad name after all? *Shipivishṭa*, or “enveloped like *shepa*,” meaning that his rays were obscured, or that he was temporarily concealed in a dark cover.