[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.s16.77 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s16.77 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s16.77 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c3.s16.77](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.77) Jani, Janī.—These words appear to denote ‘wife,’ usually applying to her in relation to her husband (Pati). The more general sense of ‘woman’ is doubtful; for when Uṣas is called a fair Janī,¹ ‘wife’ may be meant, and the other passage² cited for this sense by Delbrück,³ which refers to the begetting of children, seems to demand the sense of ‘wives.’ Since the words usually appear in the plural,⁴ it is possible they may refer not to ‘wives’ proper, but to Hetairai. This is, however, rendered unlikely because the Rigveda⁵ uses the phrase \*patyur janitvam\*, denoting ‘wifehood to a husband,’ as well as the expression \*janayo na patnīḥ\*,⁶ ‘like wives (who are) mistresses,’⁷ besides containing passages in which the word has reference to marriage.⁸ The singular occurs in the dialogue of Yama and Yamī.⁹ - [Previous: v1.c3.s16.76](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.76) - [Next: v1.c3.s16.78](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.78) - [Up: v1.c3.s16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.77](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s16.77) · Pramāṇa