History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.14

v6.c81.14

I shall now state my own views on the derivation and the meanings of the word vrata in the Ṛgveda. I derive the word from the root ‘vṛ’ (to choose). From this root comes the word ‘vara’ (bridegroom who is chosen from among several men by a maiden or her guardian), which occurs in Ṛg IX. 101. 14 and X. 85. 8 and 9. Choosing involves willing or volition on the part of the person choosing. Hence ‘vṛ’ also means ‘to will’. Therefore, when the word vrata is derived from ‘vṛ’ with the suffix ‘ta’, the meaning of vrata can be ‘what is willed’ or simply ‘will’. The will of a person in power or authority is a command or law unto others Devotees believe that gods have laid down certain commands to be followed by themselves as well as by all beings. Thus comes the sense of ‘law or ordinance’. A command of a superior imposes and implies a corresponding duty to obey. When commands are obeyed or duties are performed in the same way for long, they become the patterns of obligations i. e. customs or practices When persons believe or feel that they must perform certain acts as ordained by gods, then arises the sense of religious worship or duty. If a man imposes upon himself certain restrictions as to his behaviour or food to win the favour of gods that becomes a sacred vow or religious observance. Thus the several meanings of the word ‘vrata’, which I derive from the root ‘vṛ’, are command or law, obedience or duty, religious or moral practices, religious worship or observance, sacred or solemn vow or undertaking, then any vow or pattern of conduct. It should not be supposed that these several meanings followed one another in a time sequence Two or more meanings might have been simultaneously in vogue such as ‘ordinance, duty or obedience’. These meanings of vrata set out by me are quite sufficient for the interpretation of almost all Ṛgveda passages in which the word occurs.