--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "kishore patnaik"
<kishorepatnaik09@...> wrote:
> Gort et al (2007) insist Varuna is connected to Greek Ouranos...
> Anthony(2008)in his latest book does not deny that there is no
> connection between Varuna and Ouranos but he says we can not
> disprove the disconnection either -- good logic to insist
> connection, where there is none!
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/cybalist/message/56535
"Attempts to link Ouranos to Varuna etymologically have been
generally abandoned. "The Greek Ouranos is the Sanskrit Varuna"
is no longer as undisputed as it was in Dumézil's time -- compare
Frisk's Greek and Mayrhofer's Sanskrit etymological dictionaries.
From a PIE perspective, Gk. Ouranos may well be related to
*werseti 'rains' (Puhvel, e.g., postulates Ouranos < *worsanos), but
Skt. Varuna probably isn't. As for Varuna, many Vedicists are now
inclined to consider a PIE root *ver- 'to speak, to speak solemnly,
to speak with truth' (< PIE *u_erh1-). The name Varuna would, thus,
be etymologically related to the Vedic term vrata- 'solemn promise,
oath' or also, according to others, 'law, contract' (cf. Avestan
urvata-), as well as to Latin verus 'true', Greek ereo 'I shall
speak' etc. This etymology would make Varuna a god of true-speech,
i.e. of spoken truth, stressing his role as Vedic arbiter of ethical
behavior, namely, as the god of oaths."
Regards,
Francesco