Arjuni
07 December 2010, 11:44 AM
On Google Books, I recently found (parts of) a book called Epic Mythology With Additions and Corrections, by Edward Washburn Hopkins. Page 66 contains this interesting passage:
"Those who desert their friends in battle are to be burned alive, for 'Indra and the other gods whom he heads give over to misfortune (asvasti tebhyaḥ kurvanti) those who, deserting their friends, come home unwounded from war.' (12, 97, 21)"
While "being burned alive" certainly would constitute a "misfortune" in my book, the author's interpretation seems to me a little strange...Only certain pages of the book are available, so I'm not sure what reference(s) the author is citing with the text "12, 97, 21," and I've not found reference to any such custom elsewhere. Does anyone recognise this passage, or the "practice" that the author explains?
Indraneela
===
"I wait the power of one like thee, O Indra, gifts of a Helper such as thou art, Hero.
Strong, Mighty God, dwell with me now and ever."
Oṃ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṃ Namaḥ Śivāya.
"Those who desert their friends in battle are to be burned alive, for 'Indra and the other gods whom he heads give over to misfortune (asvasti tebhyaḥ kurvanti) those who, deserting their friends, come home unwounded from war.' (12, 97, 21)"
While "being burned alive" certainly would constitute a "misfortune" in my book, the author's interpretation seems to me a little strange...Only certain pages of the book are available, so I'm not sure what reference(s) the author is citing with the text "12, 97, 21," and I've not found reference to any such custom elsewhere. Does anyone recognise this passage, or the "practice" that the author explains?
Indraneela
===
"I wait the power of one like thee, O Indra, gifts of a Helper such as thou art, Hero.
Strong, Mighty God, dwell with me now and ever."
Oṃ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṃ Namaḥ Śivāya.