Changes

*Maharshi Yaska describes that panis are वर्तकः|| varthaka (business people) who sell things for profits.  

*Maharshi Yaska describes that panis are वर्तकः|| varthaka (business people) who sell things for profits.  

‘पणिर्वणिग्भवति '''panihi vanika bhavathi  

<blockquote>'''''‘पणिर्वणिग्भवति panihi vanika bhavathi''''' </blockquote><blockquote>'''''panihi pananatha vanika panyam nenakthi’ (Nirukti 2.17)''''' </blockquote>Sayanaacharya explains <blockquote>'''''“kincha panayaha vyaya ahisnavaha vanijaha panihi vanika bhvathi thi yaskaha panayaha iti lubdakaha abhi yuddavanaha yugadinam akurvanaha adanashilaha asmat shatravaha”. In that he explains the commentary. (Rk Samhita 1.12.4 – 10)'''''</blockquote>'''(Govindji Is the above the commentary of Sayanacharya for the Rik samhita 1.12.4-10)

panihi pananatha vanika panyam nenakthi’ (Nirukti 2.17)'''  

 

Sayana acarya explains  

''“kincha panayaha vyaya ahisnavaha vanijaha panihi vanika bhvathi thi yaskaha panayaha iti lubdakaha abhi yuddavanaha yugadinam akurvanaha adanashilaha asmat shatravaha”. In that he explains the commentary. (Rk Samhita 1.12.4 – 10)''

 

'''(Govindji Is the above the commentary of Sayanacharya for the Rik samhita 1.12.4-10)

'''

'''

*Maharshi Yaska also refers to '''Panis''' as “business minded people or tradesmen”.

*Maharshi Yaska also refers to '''Panis''' as “business minded people or tradesmen”.

 

<blockquote>'''“panims ca vanijaha”(Niruktha 6.26 Have to add Sanskrit words also). '''

'''“panims ca vanijaha”(Niruktha 6.26 Have to add Sanskrit words also).  

'''

 

*The Vedas also talk of ‘'''bekanatas'''’ who are known to be shrewd money lenders who impose heavy interest for their profits. These ‘bekanatas’ supposedly can see only during the day and when night befalls they argue that those visible things do not exist. Therefore they are considered to be नास्तिक || nasthika or atheists like the Charvaka philosophers. To reaffirm this, Yaska maharshi quotes  

*The Vedas also talk of ‘'''bekanatas'''’ who are known to be shrewd money lenders who impose heavy interest for their profits. These ‘bekanatas’ supposedly can see only during the day and when night befalls they argue that those visible things do not exist. Therefore they are considered to be नास्तिक || nasthika or atheists like the Charvaka philosophers. To reaffirm this, Yaska maharshi quotes  

Meaning : A question arises that if everyone can see the Sun why panis are called “ahardrihaha”. It is said that panis see the Sun only in this lifetime and because of their miserliness and disengagement in Yajna, they attain the land of ‘andha tamasa’ or complete darkness in their future births. Panis view the world with a “materialistic or physical light” and do not experience the “light of spirituality or the higher realms”. Thus they remain in the land of ‘andha tamasa’ or in complete darkness for their understanding is that of the atheists who only believe in what they see with their eyes.  

Meaning : A question arises that if everyone can see the Sun why panis are called “ahardrihaha”. It is said that panis see the Sun only in this lifetime and because of their miserliness and disengagement in Yajna, they attain the land of ‘andha tamasa’ or complete darkness in their future births. Panis view the world with a “materialistic or physical light” and do not experience the “light of spirituality or the higher realms”. Thus they remain in the land of ‘andha tamasa’ or in complete darkness for their understanding is that of the atheists who only believe in what they see with their eyes.  

*This same kind of sukta also comes during the description of Usha Devi. In Rig Veda the word “pani” has been mentioned in the prayers offered to Usha Devi.  '''(Govindji can you pls give me the Usha mantra here and reference Rig number for it)'''

*This same kind of sukta also comes during the description of Usha Devi. In Rig Veda the word “pani” has been mentioned in the prayers offered to Usha Devi.  '''(Govindji can you pls give me the Usha mantra here and reference Rig number for it)'''

“Hey Devi, you are magnanimous, one who gives whatever we ask, and what do we ask? We only ask you for the ingredients to perform the Yajna. We appeal to make the performers of yajnas, especially, those who are generous greater in their intelligence. Similarly the Panis who are our enemies, cheaters, greedy, and bereft of intelligence, please make them go to sleep. Hey Devi, to those who are charitable, the initiators of yajnas, please give them all the benefits. Ye Devi, with compassionate eyes, offer those who perform yajnas with all the stotras, unlimited happiness and prosperity”.

Meaning : “Hey Devi, you are magnanimous, one who gives whatever we ask, and what do we ask? We only ask you for the ingredients to perform the Yajna. We appeal to make the performers of yajnas, especially, those who are generous greater in their intelligence. Similarly the Panis who are our enemies, cheaters, greedy, and bereft of intelligence, please make them go to sleep. Hey Devi, to those who are charitable, the initiators of yajnas, please give them all the benefits. Ye Devi, with compassionate eyes, offer those who perform yajnas with all the stotras, unlimited happiness and prosperity”.

== Conflict between Indra and Panis ==

== Conflict between Indra and Panis ==

== Panis and Gograhana ==

== Panis and Gograhana ==

Panis are demonic and used here as panis indicating not just one person but many such who existed during the vedic period.  From the Gograhana story if we accept cows as Vedas or knowledge, then it could be said that Panis are the powers that hinder the progress of knowledge. Thus from the suktas we can understand that the panis are the “jnana apaharaka shakti” (the thieves of knowledge).

Panis are demonic and used here in plural as 'panis' indicating not just one person but many such who existed during the vedic period.  From the Gograhana story if we accept cows as Vedas or knowledge, then it could be said that Panis are the powers that hinder the progress of knowledge. Thus from the suktas we can understand that the panis are the “jnana apaharaka shakti” (the thieves of knowledge).

They are people who create obstacles wherever there are positive activities which are meant for enhancing dharma or favouring the devathas that revere the “go samuha” herd of the cows. They steal cows and create obstacles in the progress of the devathas and society, which neither benefits them nor the society. They have only materialistic aspirations and do not understand the spiritual knowledge. They steal the knowledge or imprison the Brahma Nishtas to ensure that the knowledge is not spread.  Angirasa who was knowledgeable about the characteristics of cows rescues them from the caves where they were hidden by the Panis.  

They are people who create obstacles wherever there are positive activities which are meant for enhancing dharma or favouring the devathas that revere the “go samuha” herd of the cows. They steal cows and create obstacles in the progress of the devathas and society, which neither benefits them nor the society. They have only materialistic aspirations and do not understand the spiritual knowledge. They steal the knowledge or imprison the Brahma Nishtas to ensure that the knowledge is not spread.  Angirasa who was knowledgeable about the characteristics of cows rescues them from the caves where they were hidden by the Panis.  

   

   

In the Srimad Bhagavatham, the ministers of Kamsa are shown to have the same mentality of the Panis as they want to control the devatas and the Lord. From Srimad Bhagavatham (10.4.39-42) '''(Can we find the following verses in Sanskrit)'''

In the Srimad Bhagavatham, the ministers of Kamsa are shown to have the same mentality of the Panis as they want to control the devatas and the Lord. From Srimad Bhagavatham (10.4.39-42) '''(Can we find the following verses in Sanskrit)'''<blockquote>'''''||mūlaṁ hi viṣṇur devānāṁ yatra dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ tasya ca

 

brahma-go-viprās tapo yajñāḥ sa-dakṣiṇāḥ'''''</blockquote><blockquote>'''''tasmāt sarvātmanā rājan brāhmaṇān brahma-vādinaḥ

||mūlaṁ hi viṣṇur devānāṁ yatra dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ tasya ca

tapasvino yajña-śīlān gāś ca hanmo havir-dughāḥ'''''</blockquote><blockquote>'''''viprā gāvaś ca vedāś ca tapaḥ satyaṁ damaḥśamaḥ

brahma-go-viprās tapo yajñāḥ sa-dakṣiṇāḥ

śraddhā dayā titikṣā ca kratavaś ca hares tanūḥ'''''</blockquote><blockquote>'''''sa hi sarva-suradhyakso hy asura-dvid guha-sayah tan-mula devatah sarvah

 

sesvarah sa-catur-mukhah ayam vai tad-vadhopayo yad rsinam vihimsanam|| Srimad Bhagavatham (10.4.39-42)'''''</blockquote>'''Translation''': “The Devatas and Bhagavan Viṣhṇu, reside wherever there are dharmic principles, culture, the Vedas, cows, brāhmaṇas, austerities and sacrifices with proper donations. O King, we, who are your adherents in all respects, shall therefore kill the Vedic brahmanas, the persons engaged in offering sacrifices and austerities, and the cows that supply milk, from which clarified butter is obtained for the ingredients of sacrifice (to cause harm to Vishnu)”

tasmāt sarvātmanā rājan brāhmaṇān brahma-vādinaḥ

tapasvino yajña-śīlān gāś ca hanmo havir-dughāḥ

 

viprā gāvaś ca vedāś ca tapaḥ satyaṁ damaḥśamaḥ

śraddhā dayā titikṣā ca kratavaś ca hares tanūḥ

 

sa hi sarva-suradhyakso hy asura-dvid guha-sayah tan-mula devatah sarvah

sesvarah sa-catur-mukhah ayam vai tad-vadhopayo yad rsinam vihimsanam||

 

'''Translation''': “The Devatas and Bhagavan Viṣhṇu, reside wherever there are dharmic principles, culture, the Vedas, cows, brāhmaṇas, austerities and sacrifices with proper donations. O King, we, who are your adherents in all respects, shall therefore kill the Vedic brahmanas, the persons engaged in offering sacrifices and austerities, and the cows that supply milk, from which clarified butter is obtained for the ingredients of sacrifice (to cause harm to Vishnu)”

   

   

== Discussion ==

== Discussion ==