[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.s18.189 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s18.189 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s18.189 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c3.s18.189](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.189) Dasyu corresponds with the Iranian daṅhu, daqyu, which denotes a ‘province.’ Zimmer¹³ thinks that the original meaning was ‘enemy,’ whence the Iranians developed the sense of ‘hostile country,’ ‘conquered country,’ ‘province,’ while the Indians, retaining the signification of ‘enemy,’ extended it to include demon foes. Roth¹⁴ considers that the meaning of human enemy is a transfer from the strife of gods and demons. Lassen¹⁵ attempted to connect the contrast daqyu : dasyu with that of daeva : deva, and to see in it a result of the religious differences which, according to Haug’s theory, had separated the Iranians and the Indians. The word may have originally meant ‘ravaged land’¹⁶ as a result of invasion; hence ‘enemies’ country,’ then ‘hostile people,’ who as human foes were more usually called by the cognate name of Dāsa. - [Previous: v1.c3.s18.188](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.188) - [Next: v1.c3.s18.190](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.190) - [Up: v1.c3.s18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.189](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.189) · Pramāṇa