Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s11.742

v1.c3.s11.742

Kṛśana, ‘pearl.’ In the Rigveda pearls are mentioned as adorning the car of Savitṛ¹ as well as being used for the adornment of a horse.² Hence the horse is spoken of as the ‘pearled one’ (*kṛśanavant*).³ The Atharvaveda⁴ also refers to pearls, and mentions that ‘pearl shell’ (*śaṅkhaḥ kṛśanaḥ*) won from the sea was used as an amulet.⁵ The Nighaṇṭu⁶ renders the word as ‘gold.’