Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s11.81

v1.c3.s11.81

Kanā, Kanyā.—Both these words, of which the former is very rare,¹ while the latter is the normal term from the Rigveda² onwards, denote ‘maiden’ or ‘young woman.’ It is doubtful whether Kanīnakā (accented on the final syllable) has this meaning,³ or only denotes the pupil of the eye,⁴ which is the sense of kanīnakā or kaninikā (both accented on the antepenultimate) in the later Saṃhitās and the Brāhmaṇas. See also Strī.