Re: Mitanni and Matsya

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Ryan" <proto-language@...>
wrote:

>--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "David Russell Watson" wrote:
> >
> > By the way last night I came across another etymology for
> > Varuna, from 'The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-
> > European Roots':
> >
> > wel-¹. To see. 1. Suffixed zero-grade form *wl-id-
> > in Germanic *wlituz, appearance, in Old Norse litr,
> > appearance, color, dye, akin to the source of LITMUS.
> > 2. Suffixed form *wel-uno- perhaps in Sanskrit Varuna,
> > "seer, wise one", sovereign god: VARUNA.
> > [Pok. 1. uel- 1136.]
> >
> > I think I may favor this one, considering Varuna's role
> > in the Rig Veda, described by Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty
> > as:
> >
> > "a god whose primary role was watching over the deeds
> > of men (as a sky god is well placed to do) and punishing
> > those who violated the sacred law (rta) of which Varuna
> > was the most important custodian."
>
> So, with all of that, what do you propose for the meaning
> of Varuna if based on the root you formerly favored: <vR>.

I've already posted my answer to that.

> Are you now switching to the AHD etymology?

It doesn't involve a "switch" because I've never been
wed to anything in the first place.

There is usually a _range_ of possible answers to such
etymological questions as the one at hand, often with
nothing to tilt the balance in favor of one or another,
other than possibly our personal tastes.

'Mitra-' doesn't admit to a too many interpretations,
whereas 'Varuna-' does have a few more possibilities.

David