Vedic Mythology c5.s3.t1: § 34. Pṛthivī
Vedic Mythology c5.s3.t1
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§ 34. Pṛthivī
c5.s3.t1.1
— The Earth, Pṛthivī, being, as has been shown (p. 22), generally celebrated conjointly with Dyaus, is lauded alone in only one short hymn of three stanzas in the RV. (5, 84) and in a long and beautiful one in the AV. (12, 1). The personification is but slight, the attributes of the goddess being chiefly those of the physical earth. According to the RV. she abounds in heights, bears the burden of the mountains, and supports the trees of the forest in the ground (*kṣmā*). She quickens the soil, for she scatters rain, and the showers of heaven are shed from the lightning of her cloud. She is great (*mahī*), firm (*dṛḷhā*) and shining (*arjunī*).
c5.s3.t1.2
The meaning of Pṛthivī is ‘the broad one’; and a poet of the RV. (2, 15^2) alludes to the etymology when he says that Indra upheld the earth (*pṛthivī*) and spread it out (*paprathat*). The TS. (7, 1, 5) and TB. (1, 1, 3^5) in describing the origin of the earth, expressly derive the name of Pṛthivī from the root *prath*, to extend, because she is extended.
c5.s3.t1.3
Pṛthivī is spoken of as ‘kindly Mother Earth’, to whom the dead man in a funeral hymn (10, 18^), is exhorted to go. When mentioned with Dyaus, Pṛthivī frequently receives the epithet of ‘mother’ (cp. §§ 11. 44).
c5.s3.t1.4
Bruce, JRAS. 1862, p. 321; OST. 5, 21–2; BRV. 1, 4–5; BDA. 48; Bollensen, ZDMG. 41, 494–5; HVBP. 25–6; Thurneysen, IF. 4, 84.
Linked texts (4)
- Ṛgvedasaṃhitā — Sanskrit
- Taittirīyasaṃhitā — Sanskrit
- Taittirīyabrāhmaṇa — Sanskrit
- Atharvavedasaṃhitā — Atharvan & Aṅgiras, Sanskrit