History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.36

v6.c81.36

There are seven passages in the Ṛgveda where the word 'vivrata' occurs In six of them 'vivrata' is applied to the horses of Indra. According to Prof. Apte, the only natural meaning is 'moving or wandering along diverse paths' (p 419) But this is arguing in a circle They can be explained if vrata is taken to mean 'ordinance, duty or practice', when applied to horses 'vivrata' may be held to mean no more than this that two horses are yoked on two sides of the chariot and obey the various orders indicated through the pulling of the reins The 7th passage X. 55. 3 in which 'vivrata' occurs as an adjective of 'jyotiḥ' is difficult to construe and Prof. Apte has not succeeded in satisfactorily explaining it