A History of Indian Medical Literature v2.c29.182

v2.c29.182

⁵²⁶ Cf. Su.Sū.46.85. The domesticated ass is meant, but a wild ass is also found in India: Equus hemionus Pallas (see: F. Finn, 1929: 181–183; R.E. Hawkins, 1986: 25–26; S.H. Prater, 1971: 227–228). See on the ass in Indian culture: J. Deppert (1977): 103; A.A. Macdonell and A.B. Keith (1967): I, 214, 221, II, 223; J.J. Meyer (1937; see index s.v. Esel); W. Rau (1980–81); L. von Schroeder (1908: 310–312; G. Zeller (1990): 111–112; H. Zimmer (1879): 232–233. The wild ass may be known as parasvant to the Atharvaveda (6.72.2–3) and other Vedic texts, if, actually, this animal is meant, as L. von Schroeder (1908: 310–312) advanced, but his interpretation has been disputed by H. Lüders (1942: 50–56), who regarded the rhinoceros as the most suitable candidate. Parasvant is explained as the wild buffalo (āraṇyamahiṣa) by Mahādeva Vājapeyayājin in his commentary on the pāpmano vinidhayaḥ of the Baudhāyanaśrautasūtra (see C.G. Kashikar, 1970: 52).