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− | The subject of Vedic interpretation is highly technical requiring a specialized knowledge of not only the language of the Vedas but also the vast Vedic and post-Vedic literature together with a thorough grounding in the exegetical, grammatical, religious, cultural, philosophical, philological, lexicographical, and historical studies connected with them. | + | The subject of Vedic interpretation is highly technical requiring a specialized knowledge of not only the language of the [[Vedas (वेदाः)|Vedas]] but also the vast Vedic and Post-[[Vaidika Vangmaya (वैदिकवाङ्मयम्)|vedic literature]] together with a thorough grounding in the exegetical, grammatical, religious, cultural, philosophical, philological, lexicographical, and historical studies connected with them. |
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| Although there are numerous apparent similarities between vedic language and classical sanskrit, the difference between them in respect to grammar, vocabulary, style, matter and spirit are very conspicuous. <ref name=":0">Ram Gopal. (1983) ''The History and Principles of Vedic Interpretation.'' New Delhi : Concept Publishing Company</ref> | | Although there are numerous apparent similarities between vedic language and classical sanskrit, the difference between them in respect to grammar, vocabulary, style, matter and spirit are very conspicuous. <ref name=":0">Ram Gopal. (1983) ''The History and Principles of Vedic Interpretation.'' New Delhi : Concept Publishing Company</ref> |
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| We bring forth in the following section the subtle differences in Vedic Language (वैदिकभाषा) with examples, far different from the present day language, and the associated interesting points that are raised. | | We bring forth in the following section the subtle differences in Vedic Language (वैदिकभाषा) with examples, far different from the present day language, and the associated interesting points that are raised. |
| === अक्षरम् || Akshara (Alphabet) === | | === अक्षरम् || Akshara (Alphabet) === |
− | A single Akshara makes a difference in the meaning of the same word <!-- the table does not explain the difference the letter brings to the meaning --> and same r̥k (ऋक्), in different sections of Veda as seen below<ref name=":1" /> | + | A single Akshara makes a difference in the meaning of the same word <!-- the table does not explain the difference the letter brings to the meaning --> and same rk (ऋक्), in different sections of Veda as seen below<ref name=":1" /> |
| {| class="wikitable" | | {| class="wikitable" |
| |इ'''ळा'''<nowiki>मग्ने |</nowiki><nowiki> iḷāmagnē | </nowiki><br>(Rig. Veda. 3.1.23) | | |इ'''ळा'''<nowiki>मग्ने |</nowiki><nowiki> iḷāmagnē | </nowiki><br>(Rig. Veda. 3.1.23) |
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| |}How can one explain the change of aksharas, when the texts are being carried from the very beginning, to this day without any distortion by oral tradition? | | |}How can one explain the change of aksharas, when the texts are being carried from the very beginning, to this day without any distortion by oral tradition? |
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− | Svarga (स्वर्ग) is the word used in all the other three Veda samhitas but in Yajurveda samhita alone, it is replaced by suvarga (सुवर्ग). Does adding a simple vowel u (उ) make a great difference? | + | Svarga (स्वर्ग) is the word used in all the other three Veda [[Samhita (संहिता)|samhitas]] but in [[Yajurveda]] samhita alone, it is replaced by suvarga (सुवर्ग). Does adding a simple vowel u (उ) make a great difference? |
| === पदम् || Pada (Word) === | | === पदम् || Pada (Word) === |
− | For instance, the words (पदम् | Pada or शब्दः | Shabda) svaha (स्वाहा), svadha (स्वधा), and vashat (वषट्) are very common in Veda but their precise meaning is not known.<ref name=":1" /> | + | For instance, the words svaha (स्वाहा), svadha (स्वधा), and vashat (वषट्) are very common in Veda but their precise meaning is not known.<ref name=":1" /> |
| * स्वाहा॒ स्तोम॑स्य वर्धना॒ प्र क॑वी धी॒तिभि॑र्नरा | svāhā stomasya vardhanā pra kavī dhītibhir narā | (Rig.Veda. 8.8.5) | | * स्वाहा॒ स्तोम॑स्य वर्धना॒ प्र क॑वी धी॒तिभि॑र्नरा | svāhā stomasya vardhanā pra kavī dhītibhir narā | (Rig.Veda. 8.8.5) |
| * यज्ञोवै स्वाहाकारः | yajñovai svāhākāraḥ | (Shat. Brah. 3.1.3.27) | | * यज्ञोवै स्वाहाकारः | yajñovai svāhākāraḥ | (Shat. Brah. 3.1.3.27) |
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| What these sentences mean can be fully understood, only when the exact meaning of the words svaha (स्वाहा), svadha (स्वधा), and vashat (वषट्) are known. | | What these sentences mean can be fully understood, only when the exact meaning of the words svaha (स्वाहा), svadha (स्वधा), and vashat (वषट्) are known. |
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− | There are r̥ks with a single akshara as a complete word:<blockquote>ऊ॒र्ध्व ऊ॒ षु णो॑ अध्वरस्य होत॒रग्ने॒ तिष्ठ॑ दे॒वता॑ता॒ यजी॑यान् । (Rig. Veda. 4.6.1)</blockquote><blockquote>ūrdhva ū ṣu ṇo adhvarasya hotar agne tiṣṭha devatātā yajīyān |</blockquote>One cannot understand the r̥k mantra context without knowing the meaning of words comprising of single akshara which is a unique feature of the Rigveda. | + | There are rks with a single akshara as a complete word:<blockquote>ऊ॒र्ध्व ऊ॒ षु णो॑ अध्वरस्य होत॒रग्ने॒ तिष्ठ॑ दे॒वता॑ता॒ यजी॑यान् । (Rig. Veda. 4.6.1)</blockquote><blockquote>ūrdhva ū ṣu ṇo adhvarasya hotar agne tiṣṭha devatātā yajīyān |</blockquote>One cannot understand the rk mantra context without knowing the meaning of words comprising of single akshara which is a unique feature of the Rigveda. |
| === अर्थः || Artha (Meaning) === | | === अर्थः || Artha (Meaning) === |
| Apart from the unique words seen in vedic texts, some words such as those given below are seen both in Vedic and Classical texts but with different meanings.<ref>Aryamantavya Article : [http://aryamantavya.in/from-vedic-to-classical-sanskrit-development-or-decay/ From Vedic to Classical Sanskrit] (Development or Decay)</ref> | | Apart from the unique words seen in vedic texts, some words such as those given below are seen both in Vedic and Classical texts but with different meanings.<ref>Aryamantavya Article : [http://aryamantavya.in/from-vedic-to-classical-sanskrit-development-or-decay/ From Vedic to Classical Sanskrit] (Development or Decay)</ref> |
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| |Speech, Skill and Activity | | |Speech, Skill and Activity |
| |One of the 57 names for Vak | | |One of the 57 names for Vak |
− | (सप्तपंचाशत् वाङ्नामानि |११| saptapaṃcāśat vāṅnāmāni |11| Nighantu 1.11)<ref>Nighantu Shastram ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%98%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 1])</ref> | + | (सप्तपंचाशत् वाङ्नामानि |११| saptapaṃcāśat vāṅnāmāni |11| Nighantu 1.11)<ref>Nighantu Shastram ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%98%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 1])</ref> |
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| One of the 11 names for Prajna | | One of the 11 names for Prajna |
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| |House, Progeny, Wealth | | |House, Progeny, Wealth |
| |One of the 22 names for House | | |One of the 22 names for House |
− | (द्वाविंशतिः गृहनामानि | ४ | dvāviṃśatiḥ gṛhanāmāni | 4 | Nighantu 3.4)<ref name=":2" /> | + | (द्वाविंशतिः गृहनामानि | ४ | dvāviṃśatiḥ gṛhanāmāni | 4 | Nighantu 3.4)<ref name=":2" /> |
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| One of the 15 names for Progeny | | One of the 15 names for Progeny |
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| (पञ्चदश अपत्यनामानि | २ | pañcadaśa apatyanāmāni | 2 | Nighantu 2.2)<ref name=":3" /> | | (पञ्चदश अपत्यनामानि | २ | pañcadaśa apatyanāmāni | 2 | Nighantu 2.2)<ref name=":3" /> |
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− | One of the 28 names for Wealth (अष्टाविंशतिः एव धननामानि | १० | aṣṭāviṃśatiḥ eva dhananāmāni | 10 | Nighantu 2.10)<ref name=":3" /> | + | One of the 28 names for Wealth |
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| + | (अष्टाविंशतिः एव धननामानि | १० | aṣṭāviṃśatiḥ eva dhananāmāni | 10 | Nighantu 2.10)<ref name=":3" /> |
| |<nowiki>Name of an Asura (असुरभेदः | asurabheda), Place called Gaya (गयाप्रदेशः | gayapradesha)</nowiki><ref>Shabdakalpadruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82 See Gaya])</ref> | | |<nowiki>Name of an Asura (असुरभेदः | asurabheda), Place called Gaya (गयाप्रदेशः | gayapradesha)</nowiki><ref>Shabdakalpadruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82 See Gaya])</ref> |
| |}Some Vedic words like mutra (मूत्रम्), purisha (पुरीषम्) etc. even convey repugnant or repulsive meanings. By quoting Sanskrit meanings, some of the modern writers are even entering the area of pornography in explaining Vedic statements.<ref name=":1" /> | | |}Some Vedic words like mutra (मूत्रम्), purisha (पुरीषम्) etc. even convey repugnant or repulsive meanings. By quoting Sanskrit meanings, some of the modern writers are even entering the area of pornography in explaining Vedic statements.<ref name=":1" /> |