The Classical Doctrine of Indian Medicine: Its Origins and its Greek Parallels c7.s2.24

c7.s2.24

² *asya* ... *bráhmaṇā śuṣman aírayah*. Sāyaṇa explains *asya* as designating the *stotr*; Geldner asks if it is not the *soma*, which has been under discussion, under this hypothesis; he translates *bráhman* as "magic force". In fact it is conceivable that in lieu of a formula, a "virtue" is ascribed to the *soma*. This example could be invoked to support the theory of Hubert and Mauss who see a *rapprochement* between the Indian *bráhman* and the Melanesian *mana* which is the magic force aud sometimes simultaneously the formula possessing that force. (*Esquisse d'une théorie générale de la magie*, in *Année soc.*, 1902-1903 (1904), pp. 111, 117 & ff). But in spite of this example the *bráhman* is, probably even in this example, essentially the formula having a magical virtue whereas the *mana* is only secondarily a formula.