[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.s6.1 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s6.1 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s6.1 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c3.s6.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s6.1) 1. Ṛkṣa, ‘bear,’ is found only once in the Rigveda,¹ and seldom later,² the animal having evidently been scarce in the regions occupied by the Vedic Indians. Not more frequent³ is the use of the word in the plural to denote the ‘seven bears,’ later called the ‘seven Ṛṣis,’⁴ the constellation of the ‘Great Bear’ (ἄρκτος, ursa). - [Previous: v1.c3.s5.38](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s5.38) - [Next: v1.c3.s6.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s6.2) - [Up: v1.c3.s6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s6) ## Linked texts (1) - [Ṛgvedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.rg) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s6.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s6.1) · Pramāṇa