Re: Mitanni and Matsya

----- Original Message -----
From: "david_russell_watson" <liberty@...>
To: <cybalist@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 7:48 PM
Subject: [tied] Re: Mitanni and Matsya


--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Ryan" <proto-language@...>
wrote:
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Francesco Brighenti"
<frabrig@...> wrote:
> >
> > Mitra (and other Aditya gods) are, in fact, abstractions.
> > Mitra-s (m.) 'god Mitra' corresponds to mitra-m (n.)
> > 'agreement' (or 'friend'?); same in Bhaga-s 'god Bhaga',
> > bhaga-m 'portion, share'. Cf Arya-man 'arya-hood'.
>
> I cannot think that anyone could interpret the name as 'friend'.

It's not an interpretation; it's the primary meaning of
the word in Sanskrit and Vedic. Have you done no study
at all of Sanskrit, Patrick?

***

Ah, more attempts to goad me into a hasty comment, just as you threatened to
do in your private communications before you resumed participation in the
list.

I still have copies of those threat-letters.

Some simpletons cannot understand the difference between allies and friends.

Friend is based on affection; an ally is based on mutual obligations -
exactly the sense of *mei-.

I do not claim any expert knowledge of Sanskrit, David, but I do claim to
understand ancient religion better than you ever will or you would not hate
the Mormons so muc, as you explained to me you did.

I also claim to understand PIE better than you because I know that the _u_
in Varuna NEEDS to be explained, and my proposal, *wer-u-, explains it while
yours does not.

Explain it for us now, will you not?

Or ignore the question for the fourth time and prove me right.

***

Use the engine at http://webapps.uni-koeln.de/tamil/ to
search for the string 'mitra', making sure to remove the
quotes and to select 'prefix' from the drop-down menu on
the right. Besides 'mitra-' itself look at the numerous
compounds built upon it and listed there too.

Let us know what you find. :^)

> That is simply hubris in extremis.

Yes it is, though the hubris is all yours, for not only do
you try to lecture us on the grammars, vocabularies, and
phonologies of your imaginary proto-language and nostratic,
but now you also think you can rewrite attested Sanskrit.

***

I am certain with what I have read here, that I understand the semantics of
*wer-u- better than you do.

***

> I think reciprocal social and contractual relationships is the
> basal meaning; Mitra being the deity who enforces reciprocity.

Well you're a little late with it, as this is more or less
what the experts have already said, and decades before you.

***

Experts have said many things, and no doubt, will continue to disagree.

***

Friendship is a form of reciprocating relationship, is it
not?

***

For most people but perhaps not for someone like you.

***

> Of course, experts will disagree.

This may be the only time they would agree with you, though
I'm not sure you didn't just do some quick googling and are
trying to pass off this as an original thought of your own.

David

***

I know what I am sure of, David. You intend to provoke me with your insults
until I tell you what I really think - just as you threatened to do.

One expects a privy to stink.


Patrick