Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s11.781

v1.c3.s11.781

Kṛṣṭi denotes ‘people’ in general from the Rigveda¹ onwards. Its common and regular use in this sense appears to show that the Āryans, when they invaded India, were already agriculturists, though the employment of the words referring to ploughing mentioned under Kṛṣi indicates that not all of the people devoted themselves equally to that occupation. Indra and Agni are *par excellence* the lords of men (Kṛṣṭi).² Sometimes the word is further defined by the addition of an adjective meaning ‘belonging to mankind,’ ‘of men’ (*mānuṣīḥ*,³ *mānavīḥ*).⁴