Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s7.179

v2.c4.s7.179

⁶ The nīla of the Chāndogya Upaniṣad, viii. 6, 1, is replaced by kṛṣṇa in the Kauṣītaki Upaniṣad, iv. 19. Cf. Rv. viii. 19, 31. In the post-Vedic language nīla describes the colour of dark blue objects, such as indigo, sapphire, etc. That the word already had some such sense in the Rigveda is suggested by its use in allusions to the smoke of Agni.