Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s7.1418

v2.c4.s7.1418

Vra, according to Roth,¹ means ‘troop’ in the Rigveda² and the Atharvaveda.³ Zimmer⁴ sees in the word (in the feminine form of *vrā*) a designation in one passage of the village host which formed part of the Viś, and was composed of relations (*su-bandhu*). On the other hand, Pischel⁵ thinks that in all the passages Vrā means ‘female,’ used either of animals⁶ or of women who go to the feast (Samana),⁷ or courtezans (viśyā, ‘of the people’),⁸ or, metaphorically,⁹ the hymns compared with courtezans: these senses are perhaps adequate.