History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.244

v7.c91.244

XI. 40); verse 45 (catvāri vāk parimitā padāni) is explained in six ways (more or less different from each other) by Sāyaṇa; it is also explained in the Mahābhāṣya (p. 7 of M. M. Abhyankara-śāstri’s ed.). The verse ‘catvāri śrṅgā’ (Ṛg. IV. 58. 3) has been the subject of varying explanations from very early times. Nir. (XIII. 7) explains it as referring to Yajña. The Mahābhāṣya (p. 6 of the Mahābhāṣya *ibid.*) also does the same. Sāyaṇa explains it as referring to Agni (identified with yajña) and Sūrya. This verse is a riddle. Śabara¹⁶¹¹ in his bhāṣya on P. M. S. I. 2. 38. (‘abhidhāne arthavādaḥ’) explains it but Kumārila differs from him. Sāyaṇa and others explain it (e. g. the word ‘tridhā’) with reference to Mantra, Brāhmaṇa and Kalpa, but when this verse was first proclaimed there must have been no Brāhmaṇas and Kalpasūtras. In several cases the Nirukta gives the adhidaivata (physical) and adhyātma (metaphysical or spiritual) or adhiyajña and adhyātma as in Nir. X. 26 (on Ṛg. X. 82. 2 ‘Viśvakarmā vimanā), Nir. XI. 4 (on Ṛg. X. 85. 3, adhiyajña and adhidaivata meanings), Nir. XII. 37 (on Vāj. S. 34. 55 ‘sapta ṛṣayaḥ’, both adhidaivata and adhyātma), Nir. XII. 38 (on Atharva X 8. 9 ‘Tiryag-bilaś-camasa &c.’ both adhidaivata and adhyātma). In Ṛg. (I. 164) verses 11–13 and 48 contain a very imaginative and poetic description of the year, the seasons, months and total days and nights.