History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.15

v6.c81.15

When Whitney derived the word ‘vrata’ from ‘vṛt’ with affix ‘a’, he could cite only two words ‘vraja’ and ‘trada’ as parallel. But it is quite possible to argue that ‘vraja’ is not analogous to vrata (if derived from ‘vṛt’). *Vraja* (cowpen) occurs in the Ṛgveda in II. 38. 8, IV. 1. 15, IV. 16. 6, V. 6. 7, V. 33 10, can very well be derived from ‘vraj’ to go and Pāṇini III. 3 119 appears to derive⁵ it from ‘vraj’ in the sense of ‘karaṇa’ or adhikarana. The root ‘vraj’ occurs in the Ṛgveda⁶ If *vraja* is derived from the root ‘vraj’, it is not on all fours with vrata derived from ‘vṛt’. Whitney probably derived ‘vraja’ from ‘vṛj’. But the meaning of ‘vraja’ (cowpen) can hardly arise from the root ‘vṛj’ (to give up, abandon). The word ‘trada’ occurs only once in the Ṛgveda (VIII. 45 28)⁷ and is applied to Indra It is difficult to say from what root, if any, it is derived. Whitney probably derived it from ‘tṛd’ to injure or pierce. The word ‘tṛdilāḥ’ (crushing) is applied to the stones (grāvānaḥ) which crush *soma* stalks⁸ (Ṛg. X. 94 11) Whitney says he knows only one word ‘marta’ derived from ‘mṛ’ (to die) with the affix ‘ta’ which is analogous to vrata if the latter be derived from ‘vṛ’ But Whitney failed to notice other words with the affix ‘ta’ (not past passive participles) such as ‘karta’ (deep hole, cavern) (in Ṛg. I. 121. 13, II 29 6, IX. 73. 8 and 9) and ‘garta’ (cavity or seat in a war chariot) (in Ṛg. II. 33 11, V. 62. 5 and 8, VI. 20 9, VII. 64. 4), vāta (wind) from ‘vā’ (Ṛg. V 31. 10, X 168. 1 &c.), dhūrta and several others.