The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v2.c41.s4.12

v2.c41.s4.12

Geldner⁵ has suggested that references to the legend of the churning of the ocean are to be found in the Rigveda. Thus in v. 2. 3 he interprets the *amṛtaṁ vipṛkvat*, which the Purohita throws on the fire, as denoting the ghee which separates itself out, as did the Amṛta at the churning of the ocean. Again in i. 163 he holds that the poet is dealing, not with the sun-horse, but with the coming into being of the ‘Urross’, whether from the sun (verse 2) or, along with the Soma, from the ocean (*asi somena samayā vipṛktaḥ*). The whole stress of the argument rests on the artificial sense ascribed to *vipṛc* in both passages, and it is quite impossible to accept Geldner’s suggestion, which is not repeated by Dumézil.