The History of Indian Literature c9.58

c9.58

dagger † These terms are probably derived from *śíla*, and refer to the corrupt, loose morals of those so designated; and the same must apply to Śilála, if this be a cognate word. The derivation from Kuśa and Lava, the two sons of Ráma, at the beginning of the Rámáyaṇa, has manifestly been invented in order to escape the odium of the name ‘*ku-śílava*.’ [^double-dagger]: ‡ Ought we here to understand the name literally, as, perhaps, a kind of mocking epithet to express poverty, with at the same time, possibly, a direct ironical reference to the renowned Kṛiśáśva of old ??