Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c10.s3.27

c10.s3.27

The *Viṣṇu Purāṇa*⁵ gives yet another explanation. Vasiṣṭha was annoyed with king Nimi who had engaged the former's antagonist, Gautama, to officiate in his sacrifice. The enraged Vasiṣṭha cursed the king to be *vi-deha*, "bodiless," or "deceased." This is also the etymology of the word given by Macdonell,⁶ Monier Williams,⁷ and Apte.⁸ Modern Sanskritists seem to have relied more on the Purāṇic tradition than is necessary.