Prakrits (was Re: [tied] Non-lexical language trees)

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "P&G" <petegray@...> wrote:

> > > > At RV 1:179:5 it appears to be semen.
> > I do not understand how Pete reads this meaning in the r.ca.
> >
> > 1.179.04 Desire, either from this cause or from that, has come

upon > > me whilst engaged in prayer and suppressing (passion); let

> > Lopa_mudra_ approach her husband; the unsteady female beguiles

the> > firm and resolute man.

> > 1.179.05 (Pupil): I beseech the Soma, which has been drunk in my
> > heart, that it may fully expiate the sin we have committed; man

is> > subject to many desires.

>
> Your translation is much milder than mine would be. I acknowledge

that you> are much better than I in Sanskrit, but I also know I am
not alone in seeing> sexual references throughout this passage.

> The word vr.s.an seems to have vanished form your translation -

its basic> meaning is one who sheds rain or semen, and the meaning
moves on to mean a> potent male animal, like a bull.

> Your "beguiles" is for a something like "sucks dry"
> Your "firm and resolute man" is for me a man who is "panting"

(presumably> because of what the interesting female is doing to him).

>
> I won't argue the point with you - I am merely surprised to find

that you> disagree.

This shows, Pete, the complexity of interpreting R.gvedic r.ca-s.
Take, for example, the su_kta on the three naves of a wheel (posted
elsewhere on the list).

Anyway, I disagree because you equated soma with semen. There is no
way that such an equation can be found or even implied in the entire
su_kta. The only reference is hr.tsu pi_tam which literally
means 'drunk in the heart'. Soma is not a plant. Were it a plant, it
would be reduced to pure carbon subjected to intense firing upto
1500 degrees centigrade for 5 days and 5 nights. Come on, only a
mineral can be subjected to such intense heat. [Oh no! don't read
metaphors in the words: firing, heat!!]

Let me repeat the cha_ndogya chant:

es.a somo ra_ja_
tad deva_na_m annam
tam deva_ bhaks.yanti

This soma is king; it is food for deva-s; it is eaten by deva-s.
That deva-s are also metaphors is clear from Ya_ska's Niruktam.