History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c89.83

v7.c89.83

In connection with śāntis three words require to be carefully understood viz. *adbhuta*, *utpāta* and *nimitta*. Adbhuta is an ancient word. It occurs several times in the Ṛgveda and is generally applied to some gods in the sense of 'wonderful'. In some passages, however, it means 'future' and possibly also 'portentous'. For example, according to Nirukta I. 5¹¹⁸⁰ the sage Agastya first promised to offer an offering to Indra, but later he desired to offer the same to the Maruts, that then Indra came to Agastya and complained to him as in Ṛg. I 170. 1 (what was promised today) even that does not exist, nor will it (the *havis*) be there (for me) tomorrow; who knows (for certain)