History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.133

v7.c95.133

Śabara (bhāṣya on Jai. X. 1. 35) shows that the language of cultured people from the Himavat to cape Comorin was the same (prasiddhaśca sthālyāṃ caruśabdaḥ ā Himavataḥ ā ca Kumārībhyaḥ prayujyamāno dṛṣṭaḥ). Vide also his bhāṣya on Jai. X. 1. 42 for the same words. The snow-capped mountains were known to the sages of the Ṛgveda (vide X. 121, 4 'yasyeme Himavanto mahitvā yasya samudram rasayā sahāhuḥ). 'Yasya' in the verse quoted refers to Hiraṇyagarbha. The Atharvaveda (V. 4. 2 and 8) mentions Himavat in the singular. *Parvatas* (plural) occur several times in Ṛg. III. 33. 1, IV. 54. 5 and also *parvata* in the singular (Ṛg. I. 37. 7, V. 56. 4). The Mahābhārata, Śabara, Purāṇas and the Bṛhat-saṃhitā show that ancient Indian people identified their culture with Bhāratavarṣa i. e. they identified country and culture, not race with culture.