वेदों की प्राचीनता एवं काल-निर्णय / ओरायन (लोकमान्य बाल गंगाधर तिलक - खगोलीय वैदिक शोध)

APP. TO CHAP. V—THE THIRTY DAWNS. 117
two wings of the sacrifice, has become the four-fold Stoma
(Chatu-shṭoma). Using Gâyatrî, Trishṭup, Jagatî, Anushṭup
the great song, they brought this light.
5. The creator did it with the Five, that he created
five-and-five sisters to them (each). Their five courses (kratavaḥ),
assuming various forms, move on in combination (prayaveṇa).
6. The Thirty Sisters, bearing the same banner, move on
to the appointed place (nish-kṛitam). They, the wise, create
the seasons. Refulgent, knowing (their way), they go round
(pari yanti) amidst songs (madye-chchandasaḥ).
Acting as Ṛishis...four-fold Stoma: The group of four Dawns
appears to be here compared to the Chatu-shṭoma or the four-fold
song. (For a description of the four-fold Stoma see Ait. Br. III, 42,
Haug’s Trans. p. 237). Gâyatrî &c. are the metres used. The light
brought on by the Dawns is the reward of this Stoma. Sâyaṇa inter-
prets suvas to mean ‘heaven,’ but compare Ṛig. III, 61, 4, where the
adjective, svar janantî, ‘creating light,’ is applied to the Dawn.
5. Did it with the Five: after the number of Dawns was in-
creased to five, the creation proceeded by fives; compare verse 11
below.
Their five courses: I construe tâsâṁ pañcha kratavaḥ prayaveṇa
yanti. Sâyaṇa understands kratavaḥ to mean sacrificial rites perform-
ed on the appearance of the dawn; but compare Ṛig. I, 123, 8, which
says “The blameless Dawns (plu.) go round thirty yojanas, each her
own kratu (destined course),” (supra p. 103). Kratavaḥ in the pre-
sent verse must be similarly interpreted.
In combination: We have thirty Dawns divided into five groups
of six each; compare Taitt. Br. II, 5, 6, 5, quoted above (p. 100),
which says tâ devyaḥ kurvate pañcha rûpâ, “the Goddesses (Dawns)
make five forms.” Five groups of thirty Dawns, each group having
its own destined course, are here described; but as each group is made
of six Dawns, the five courses are again said to assume different forms,
meaning that the members of each group have again their own courses
within the larger course chalked out for the group.
6. Thirty Sisters: Sâyaṇa, in his commentary on the preceding
verse says पञ्चसंख्याका ज्येष्ठा उषसः तासां स्वसारः पञ्चविंशतिसंख्याका इत्ये-
कस्मिन् मासि प्रतिपदादिरूपास्त्रिंशदुषसः संपद्यन्ते, meaning that the thirty Dawns
mentioned are the thirty dawns of a month. But Sâyaṇa does not ex-
plain why one month out of twelve, or only 30 out of 360 dawns should
be thus selected. The explanation is again unsuited to the context,.