History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.926

v4.c63.926

In the Ṛg. there is frequent mention of *taskara*, *stena* and *tāyu*. In Ṛg. VI. 28. 3 the sage⁹⁴⁸ says 'may the cows not disappear from us, may a thief not injure them'. In Ṛg. VIII. 29. 6 it is said 'Pūṣan guards the ways and knows of concealed treasures as a thief does'. From Ṛg. X. 4. 6 it appears that thieves were desperate and bound people with ropes and (from Ṛg. I. 191. 5) that thieves (*taskaras*) appeared at night. *Tāyu* (thief) occurs in Ṛg. I. 50. 2, IV. 38. 5, VI. 12. 5 and is an Indo-Iranian word. The word 'stena' occurs in Ṛg. VI. 28. 7 and means 'one who is a cattle-lifter'. Ṛg. VIII. 67. 14 indicates that a *stena* was bound with ropes (when caught). In Ṛg. VII. 55. 3 the dog is asked to run after a *stena* and a *taskara*, the first being probably a thief (who secretly carries away property) and the second a thief who openly carries it away. In the Vāj.948a S. XI. 79 (= Tai. S. IV. 1. 10. 2) we have the *malimlu* in addition to *stena* and *taskara*. Atharvaveda IV. 3 contains charms against wolves, tigers and thieves (*taskaras*).