We've discussed it before. The suffix
-va(n)t- (feminine -vati: < *-wnt-ih2) means "rich in, having a lot of". The
most likely base seems to be the PIE s-neuter *sel-os/*sel-es- 'marshy lake,
pond, pool'. I also considered *ser-es- 'flow, current' as a possibility, but
the former name apparently describes the historical Sarasvati much better and I
agree it's preferable as an analysis.
Piotr
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 5:29 PM
Subject: [tied] Sarasvati River
What does "Sarasvati"
mean if treated as a Sanksrit word?