Tomo - Thank you too for the very thoughtful analysis. Very intriguing. Best, Larry

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Tomoyuki Kono <tomokn@...> wrote:
>
> Dear all,
>
> I wouldn't read too much into the word mātugāmo.
>
> One of the common meanings of āvahati is to take as a bride. According
> to Monier-Williams, vahati also has that meaning.
>
> The word mātugāmo has the nominative ending and one would normally
> expect the verb to be passive (āvuyhati) but clearly it isn't here. So
> vahati here must be intransitive, meaning "to ride, go by or in (with
> instr. of the vehicle); be borne or carried away" (See Monier-
> Williams). PED also lists the intransitive sense, "to proceed", etc.
> This could be translated with a passive sentence in colloquial
> English. At any rate the reference must still be to how a woman is led
> to her husband's place in marriage.
>
> My suggestion therefore is:
> "A bride is taken [to the groom's house] concealed, not revealed."
>
> Best wishes,
> Tomo