[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Vedic Index of Names and Subjects](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912) › v1.c3.s16.338 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s16.338 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s16.338 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c3.s16.338](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.338) Jñātṛ occurs in two passages of the Atharvaveda¹ and one of the Śāṅkhāyana Āraṇyaka² with a somewhat obscure sense. Zimmer³ conjectures not unnaturally that the word is a technical term taken from law, meaning ‘witness.’ The reference is, perhaps, to a custom of carrying on transactions of business before witnesses as practised in other primitive societies.⁴ Roth⁵ suggests that the word has the sense of ‘surety.’ But Bloomfield⁶ and Whitney⁷ ignore these interpretations. - [Previous: v1.c3.s16.337](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.337) - [Next: v1.c3.s16.339](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.339) - [Up: v1.c3.s16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16) ## Linked texts (2) - [Śāṅkhāyanāraṇyaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.aranyaka.kausitaki) — Sanskrit - [Atharvavedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.atharva) — Atharvan & Aṅgiras, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.338](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.338) · Pramāṇa