Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s20.342

v1.c3.s20.342

Nahus occurs several times in the Rigveda, but the exact sense is not certain. Ludwig¹ sees in the Nahus a tribe on the Sindhu (Indus)² or Sarasvatī,³ rich in horses,⁴ allied with the Bharatas and Śimyus,⁵ connected with Kakṣīvant and the Vārṣāgiras,⁶ and having as kings Maśarśāra and Āyavasa.⁷ Roth,⁸ on the other hand, sees in Nahus the general sense of ‘neighbour’ as opposed to a member of one’s own people (Viś); this interpretation is supported by the occurrence of the phrase *nahuṣo nahuṣtara*,⁹ ‘closer than a neighbour.’ Nahuṣa has the same sense as Nahus in two passages of the Rigveda,¹⁰ but in one it seems to be intended for the proper name of a man.¹¹ Possibly Nahus was originally a man like Manu.¹²