Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s19.255

v1.c3.s19.255

Dhmātṛ (lit. ‘blower’) occurs twice in one passage of the Rigveda¹ in the two forms, *dhmātā*, nom. ‘smelter,’ and *dhmātari*, which, according to the Padapāṭha, stands for *dhmātari*, a locative probably meaning ‘in the smelting furnace.’² Geldner,³ Bartholomae,⁴ and Oldenburg⁵ regard the latter form as a locative infinitive, ‘in the smelting.’ Ludwig⁶ and Neisser⁷ think *dhmātari* is a nom. sing. masc. used in the same sense as *dhmātā*. Smelting is also clearly referred to,⁸ and the smelter is described as using the wings of birds (*parṇa śakunānām*) to fan the flame.⁹ That the art was widely applied is shown by the fact that reference is made to arrows with points of Ayas,¹⁰ to kettles which were fashioned of the same metal and could be placed upon a fire,¹¹ and to Soma cups of beaten Ayas.¹²