History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.64

v6.c81.64

There are three passages of the Ṛgveda in which the words 'vṛttam na cakram' (like a round wheel) occur, viz I. 155 6 (addressed to Viṣṇu), IV. 31 4, V. 36. 3 (both addressed to Indra). Prof. Apte did not mention them and they have no bearing on the derivation of vrata At the most those might have been relied upon for the meaning of the root 'vṛt'. In this discussion we have restricted ourselves to verbal forms or present participles and omitted past passive participles which sometimes depart very much from the root-meaning as in the case of 'kṛta' in Ṛgveda X. 43. 5 (kṛtam na śvaghni vi cinoti devane). 'Vṛtta' cannot mean revolving even if vṛt meant 'to revolve', it is *vartamāna* that might have that meaning if 'vṛt' originally meant 'to revolve' Besides, Ṛg I 155 6 is obscure. It probably refers to the belt of the zodiac that goes round the sky.