History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.45

v6.c81.45

The word ‘dhunivrata’ occurs twice (in Ṛg V 58 2 and V. 87 1) and is applied to Marut or the band of Maruts Prof Apte (p. 435 section 47) takes ‘dhuni’ as an adjective, and as meaning ‘roaring, storming’ and translates ‘dhunivrata’ as ‘whose paths are characterised by roaring or raging’. The word ‘dhuni’ occurs about ten times in the Ṛgveda and when an adjective means ‘one that shakes his enemies or clouds’ or is a noun meaning ‘river’ (as in II. 15. 5). Dhuni is also the name of a demon (in Ṛg. VI. 18. 8, VII. 19. 4, X. 113. 9). In I. 174. 9, V. 34 5 and 8, VI. 20. 12 ‘dhuni’ is an attribute of Indra and in I. 79. 1 of Agni The Nirukta (V. 12) while explaining Ṛg. X. 89. 5 (in which both Soma and Indra are praised) explains ‘dhuni’ as derived from ‘dhū’ to shake Therefore ‘dhunivrata’ should mean ‘whose ordinances are such as make others (breakers) tremble’.