[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) › v2.c4.346 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.346 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.346 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c4.346](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.346) Peśas denotes in the Rigveda¹ and later² an embroidered garment such as a female dancer would wear.³ The fondness of the Indians for such raiment is noted by Megasthenes⁴ and by Arrian,⁵ who refer to their \*ἐσθής κατάστικτος\*. So in one passage⁶ a garment (\*vastra\*) is called \*peśana\*, with which Roth⁷ happily compares the Roman \*vestis coloribus intexta\*. The making of such garments was a regular occupation of women, as is indicated by the \*Peśas-kārī\*, the ‘female embroiderer,’ figuring in the list of victims at the Puruṣamedha (‘human sacrifice’) in the Yajurveda,⁸ though the commentator on the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa interprets the word as ‘wife of a maker of gold.’⁹ Pischel,¹⁰ however, thinks that Peśas never means anything but colour or form. - [Previous: v2.c4.345](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.345) - [Next: v2.c4.347](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.347) - [Up: v2.c4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.346](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.346) · Pramāṇa