Vedic Mythology c6.s3: § 53. Dadhyañc
Vedic Mythology c6.s3
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§ 53. Dadhyañc
c6.s3.1
Dadhyañc, who is the son of Atharvan (6, 16¹⁴; 1, 116¹². 117²²), is mentioned nine times in the RV. and, with one exception, only in the ninth, the tenth, and especially the first book. He is a seer who kindled Agni (6, 16¹⁴) and is mentioned with Atharvan, Aṅgiras, Manu, and other ancient sacrificers (1, 80¹⁶. 139⁹).
c6.s3.2
The Aśvins gave a horse's head to Atharvan's son Dadhyañc, who then proclaimed to them the (place of the) mead (*madhu*) of Tvaṣṭṛ (1, 117²²). With the head of a horse Dadhyañc proclaimed to the Aśvins the (place of the) mead (1, 116¹²). The Aśvins won the heart of Dadhyañc; then the horse's head spoke to them (1, 119⁹). Indra is also connected with this myth. For it is said that, when seeking the head of the horse hidden in the mountains, he found it in Śaryaṇāvat and slew with the bones of Dadhyañc ninety-nine Vṛtras (1, 84¹³. ¹⁴). Indra, besides producing cows from the dragon for Trita, gave cowstalls to Dadhyañc (and) Mātariśvan (10, 48²). These are probably the cowstalls which Dadhyañc opens by the power of Soma (9, 108⁴). It is noteworthy that in the only older passage (6, 16¹⁴) in which the name of Dadhyañc occurs, he is the son of the ancient fire-priest Atharvan and is himself a kindler of fire. Otherwise he is chiefly connected with the secret abode of Soma and with Indra in the release of the cows. Owing to his horse's head and his name he can hardly be altogether dissociated from the steed Dadhikrā. The etymological sense of *dadhi-añc*, 'curd-ward' might signify either 'possessing'¹ or 'fond of' 'curdled milk'. In Bergaigne's opinion Dadhyañc does not differ essentially in origin from Soma². The evidence is, however, insufficient to justify any certain conclusion. But it does not seem an altogether improbable conjecture that Dadhyañc originally represented the lightning form of fire. The horse's head would indicate its speed, the voice with which it speaks, the thunder, its bones, the thunderbolt. His connexion with the secret abode of Soma, would resemble that of the eagle with the celestial Soma. The name, too, suggests the curdling effect of the thunderstorm. In post-Vedic literature the name generally occurs in the form of Dadhīca, and in the Mahābhārata the thunderbolt for slaying Vṛtra is said to have been fashioned out of his bones³.
c6.s3.3
¹ 'Uni au lait', BRV. 2, 457. —
c6.s3.4
² BRV. 2, 458. —
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³ PW. s. v. — Cp. also BRV. 2, 456—60; GRV. 2, 84; Perry, JAOS. 11, 138; LRF. 120—2; Oertel, JAOS. 18, 16—18.
Linked texts (1)
- Ṛgvedasaṃhitā — Sanskrit