Page 142 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

~IBHUS AND V~ISHAKAPI 127

described as sun's neighbours or pupils (ante vasas ); while in
~ig. iv. 51. 6 their work is said to be done by the dawn. Y4ska
therefore considers that the ~ibhus also represented the rays
of the sun, and in this he is followed by S~ya~a. But the expla-
nation does not account for the number of the ~ibhus who are
said to be three brothers. We must therefore go a step further
and hold that the ~ibhus did not merely represent the rays of the
sun generally, but the three seasons, as connected with them as
several European scholars have suggested. • In the ~igveda iv.
34, 2, the ~ibhus are told to rejoice with the seasons ( ~itus )
and this supports the latter view. In ~ig. i. 15. 10, Dravipoda
is said to be the fourth companion of the seasons and the Shata-
patha Brahma{la ( xiv. I. I. 28) expressly states that there are
three seasons. It is therefore generally believed that this was the
old division of the year, and that the number of the seasons was
increased as the Aryas travelled further from their original home. t
The three ~ibhus, representing the three seasons, may thus be
said to be engaged,, throughout the whole year, in doing wonders
for tl:fe gods and 'received as guests in the house of Agohya at
the end of t~ course. " Here they spend twelve days in enjoy-
ment; then die course begins anew, and anew the earth brings
forth fruit, the streams flow; plants cover the heights, and
waters the depths: "t And now comes the verse (~g. i. 161.
13 ) on which I rely :-
~~~ 'llt4ilii('EC~t4861•"! • ~ 1i't' "UW I
~· ~ ~~ai~¥iii, .. hME!' ~ ~ II
Here the ~ibhus, awakened from their sleep and rest for
twelve days, ask " Agohya ! Who is it that awakened us ? §
The goat , ( the sun ) replies that it is the " hound. " S&ya~

• See Kaegi's J,tigveda, p. 37 and note 127 on page 133. Parti-
Ctllaflt 3ee Ludwig's J,tig. iii, pp. r87-9.
t Kaegi's ~eda, p. r'r6, note 68 where he quotes Zimmer t()
the same effect.
t This is in substance a translation of J,tig. i. J 6r. II and Yi. 33· 4·
See Kaegi's l_tigveda. p. 37·
§!dam in the first line is not object of abtil!udhaJ as -Slya11-a and
Mr. S. P. Pandit suppose. It sh!>uld l::e taken either in apposition with
''"• or as an ad•:erb meaniug 'now,' 'l'ere,' etc.