Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c19.33

v2.c19.33

¹ Vyāghrāghrāta. So far as I remember, āghrā is found in this peculiar usage only with the tiger. According to the lexicographers and the commentators (e.g. Mālatīmādhava, v, 29) it means “ to catch hold of ” (grih). But I think that it has, at least originally, the meaning “ to follow the scent of, to follow after ”. So we read in MBh., vii, 128.9 : “ Thy followers in the battle ran away, like gazelles scented (tracked) by the tiger.” It cannot mean “ caught hold of ” there.