Ashva

Ashva is the Sanskrit word for a horse, one of the significant animals finding references in the Vedas as well as later Hindu scriptures.

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A

• The word ashva must originally have implied strength or speed or both before it came to be applied to a horse. ...
  • Sri Aurobindo, The Upanishads, quoted in The horse and the aryan debate, by Michel Danino (Journal of Indian History and Culture of the C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar Institute of Indological Research, Chennai, September 2006, No.13, pp. 33-59.)

• The cow and horse, go and ashva, are constantly associated... A study of the Vedic horse led me to the conclusion that go and ashva represent the two companion ideas of Light and Energy, Consciousness and Force.
  • Sri Aurobindo, The Secret of the Veda quoted from The horse and the aryan debate by Michel Danino (Published in the Journal of Indian History and Culture of the C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar Institute of Indological Research, Chennai, September 2006, No.13, pp. 33-59.)

T

• There are many fewer horses in the text of the Rigveda than there are in the translations. Indeed, when the word ásva is present it often appears simply to describe something that moves swiftly in the Rigveda...
  • Thomson, K. (2009). A still undeciphered text: How the scientific approach to the Rigveda would open up Indo-European studies. Journal of Indo-European Studies, 37(1-2), 1-72.
  • Karen Thomson, quoted in Danino, M. (2019). Demilitarizing the Rigveda: a scrutiny of Vedic horses, chariots and warfare., Studies in humanities and social sciences, Journal of the Inter-University Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences VOL. XXVI, NUMBER 1, SUMMER 2019

From Hindu texts

• The four-and-thirty ribs of the. Swift Charger, kin to the Gods, the slayer's hatchet pierces.
  Cut ye with skill, so that the parts be flawless, and piece by piece declaring them dissect them.
  • Rigveda (Ralph T. H. Griffith translation), verse I.162.18

• Compassing those who bore away Dabhīti, in kindled fire he burnt up all their weapons. And made him rich with kine and cars and horses. These things did Indra in the Soma's rapture.
  • Rigveda, II, 15, 4, as translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1889). Cited in Danino, M. (2019). Demilitarizing the Rigveda: a scrutiny of Vedic horses, chariots and warfare.

• He gained possession of the Sun and Horses, Indra obtained the Cow who feedeth many.
  • Rigveda, III, 34, 9, as translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1889). Quoted in Michel Danino, The Horse and the Aryan Debate

• So, of a truth, Indra and Soma, Heroes, ye burst the stable of the kine and horses, The stable which the bar or stone obstructed; and piercing through set free the habitations.
  • Rigveda, IV, 28, 5, as translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1889). Quoted in Michel Danino, The Horse and the Aryan Debate

• Ten horses and ten treasure-chests, ten garments as an added gift, These and ten lumps of gold have I received from Divodāsa's hand. Ten cars with extra steed to each, for the Atharvans hundred cows, Hath Asvatha to Payu given.
  • Rigveda, VI, 47, 23-24, as translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1889). Quoted in Danino, M. (2019). Demilitarizing the Rigveda: a scrutiny of Vedic horses, chariots and warfare.

• Yamuna and the Trtsus aided Indra. There he stripped Bheda bare of all his treasures. The Ajas and the Sigrus and the Yaksus brought in to him as tribute heads of horses.
  • Rigveda, VII, 18, 19, as translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1889). Quoted in Michel Danino, The Horse and the Aryan Debate

• Break open for us the thousands of the Cow and the Horse.
  • Rigveda, VIII.34.14, Sri Aurobindo's translation. Quoted in Michel Danino, The Horse and the Aryan Debate

• Finder of horses, pour on us horses and wealth in kine and gold, And, Indu, food in boundless store.
  • Rigveda, IX, 61, 3, as translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1889). Quoted in Danino, M. (2019). Demilitarizing the Rigveda: a scrutiny of Vedic horses, chariots and warfare.

• I won myself these herds of cattle, steeds and kine, and gold in ample store, with my destructive bolt. I give full many a thousand to the worshipper, what time the Somas and the lauds have made me glad.
  • Rigveda, X, 48, 4, as translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1889) . Quoted in Danino, M. (2019). Demilitarizing the Rigveda: a scrutiny of Vedic horses, chariots and warfare.

• Paved with the rock is this our treasure-chamber; filled full of precious things, of kine, and horses. These Paṇis who are watchful keepers guard it. In vain hast thou approached this lonely station.
  • Rigveda, X, 108, 7, as translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1889)

• The four and thirty ribs of the strong steed,
  Kin of the gods, the axe meeteth;
  Skilfully do ye make the joints faultless;
  Declaring each part, do ye cut it asunder.
  • From the Yajurveda, as translated by A. B. Keith, The Veda of the Black Yajus School, Part II (1914), p. 379

• The birthplace of the horse, indeed, is the sea, its kindred is the sea.
  • From the Yajurveda, as translated by A. B. Keith, The Veda of the Black Yajus School, Part II (1914), p. 637