The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c8.42

v1.c8.42

It is, however, an interesting question¹ how far there can be traced in the Rigveda evidence of closer connexions with Iran on the part of some of the families of poets, even if, as is doubtless proper, we reject the suggestions of Hillebrandt which would make certain of the hymns of the Rigveda (book vi) a product of the time when the seers dwelt beyond Indian limits proper. Here again, however, we must be contented in large measure with a negative result. Thus it has been suggested that we are to see special closeness of connexion in the case of book viii, on the strength of the occurrence of such names as the Gomatī, Suvāstu, Asiknī, Paruṣṇī, and the hostile aspect in which the Gandharva is viewed,² contrary to the usual honourable position occupied by that spirit. Ārjīka or Ārjīkīya is also cited as pointing to some Iranian locality. This, however, as has been said, is uncertain,³ and the most certain indication of Iranian influence, the form *titaü* with an unparalleled hiatus,⁴ is found in book x, other alleged instances of such influence being most dubious.