Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s4.162

v1.c3.s4.162

Upama-śravas is mentioned in a hymn of the Rigveda¹ as a son of Kuruśravaṇa, and grandson of Medhātithi. The exact force of the reference to him is, however, uncertain. According to the Bṛhaddevatā,² followed by Ludwig,³ and by Lanman,⁴ the poet in the hymn consoles Upamaśravas for the death of his grandfather, Medhātithi. Geldner,⁵ on the other hand, thinks that the poet, who was Kavaṣa Ailūṣa, was ill-treated by his patron's son, Upamaśravas, and cast into a ditch or well, where he uttered his complaint and appeal for mercy. But of this there is no adequate evidence, and the tradition of the Bṛhaddevatā seems sound.