History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.701.2

v4.c63.t2.701.2

2, 5, 6 kṛta has the same meaning. Kali is the name of the author of Ṛg. VIII. 66 and in verse 15 of that hymn we read 'kalayo mā bibhītana' (O descendants of Kali! do not be afraid). In Ṛg. X. 39. 8 the Aśvins are said to have rejuvenated Kali who had become old. Vide also Ṛg. I. 112. 15 (where Kali is said to have got a wife from Aśvins). But Kali as a throw of dice does not occur in the Ṛgveda. In the Atharvaveda VII. 114. 1 Kali¹⁷³³ means a throw of dice. The words *kṛta*, *tretā*, *dvāpara* and *āskanda* occur in the Tai. S. IV. 3. 3, Vāj. S. 30. 18¹⁷³⁴ and in the Śat. Br. XIII. 6. 2. 9-10 (S. B. E. vol. 44 p. 416). In later literature Kali is also called Tiṣya (as in Bhīṣmaparva 10. 3). In the Tai. Br. III. 4. 16 the word Kali is used¹⁷³⁵ in place of Āskanda. In all the above places Kṛta and the other three words denote throws in gambling, Kṛta being the most lucky and Kali being the most unlucky. In another passage of the Tai.¹⁷³⁶ Br. (I. 5. 11) we read 'the four stomas (Trivṛt, Pañcadaśa, Saptadaśa and Ekaviṁśa) are Kṛta and the five are Kali; therefore the *catuṣṭoma* (should be performed in the Jyotiṣṭoma)'. This shows that Kṛta meant a throw of four or any multiple of four and Kali a throw which when divided by four left one as remainder. The Aitareya Br.