[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.s7.64 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s7.64 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s7.64 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c4.s7.64](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.64) 2. Vadhū is in one passage of the Rigveda¹ taken by Roth² to denote a ‘female animal,’ while Zimmer³ urges that it means a ‘female slave.’ As far as the use of Vadhū goes, either meaning is abnormal, for if Vadhū never elsewhere means a female animal (from \*vah\*, to ‘draw’ a cart), neither does it denote a slave: as the passage refers to a gift of fifty Vadhūs by Trasadasyu Paurukutsya to the singer, the latter must have been a polygamist of an advanced type to require fifty wives. The same doubt arises in the case of \*vadhūmant\*, which is used in the Rigveda and Atharvaveda as an epithet of the chariot (Ratha),⁴ of horses (Aśva),⁵ and of buffaloes (Uṣṭra).⁶ Zimmer sees in all cases a reference to slaves in the chariots or with the horses: this interpretation has the support of the Bṛhaddevatā.⁷ Roth’s version of the references to horses or buffaloes as ‘suitable for draught’ is not very happy; if \*vadhū\* is really a female animal \*vadhūmant\* means rather ‘together with mares,’ or ‘together with female buffaloes,’ which makes reasonable sense.⁸ - [Previous: v2.c4.s7.63](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.63) - [Next: v2.c4.s7.65](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.65) - [Up: v2.c4.s7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.64](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.64) · Pramāṇa