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Twelfth mantra emphasizes on the qualities of the warrior and its
translation is as follows:
They who crave for the meat of a horse and declare the horse fit to
be killed should be exterminated. Those who keep the fast horse well trained
and disciplined deserve to be praised by us for the strength of their character
and perseverance. (IT CLEARLY DEMOLISHES THE THESIS OF JHA AND
PROVES THAT HE HAS MERELY QUOTED CITATIONS AND HARDLY
CARED TO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL TEXT BUT INSPIRED BY THE
FOLLOWING TRANSLATION OF WILSON):
"Let their exertions be for our good who watch the cooking of the
horse; who say, it is fragrant; therefore give us some: who solicit the flesh of
the horse as alms". (WHAT AN IMMENSE DAMAGE TO THE SPIRIT OF
THE MANTRA).
Mantras 13 to 19 deal with the theme of horse or automation power
while 20 to 22 are devoted to the benefits of Yogic exercises and an ideal
life.
Sukta 163
This Sukta deals with various attributes of learned person, agni(fire),
science & technology. There are references to the horse to illustrate its
unique qualities of its immense energy likened to agni (fire), intelligence,
bravery and inbuilt attributes which are at par with those of the men of
wisdom. Perusal of some mantras will bring home this point.
First mantra includes or rather ends with 'arvan' and this word
denotes as per Yv 29.12 vigyanvan athva ashvaiv vegavan vidvan=0 learned
person active like the horse.
Second mantra includes the term `surat ashvam' which means the
fast moving agni i.e the fire which enables a speedy locomotion.
Third mantra includes the term 'adityah arvan' and here it means
the sun which is all pervading. 'arvan' means sarvatrapraptah=pervading
all. This term was wrongly translated by Prof. Wilson, Griffith and others,
while both admit in the notes that Yama means Agni, Aditya-Sun and Trita-
Vayu. How can horse be identified with Agni (fire) sun and the air etc. none
has cared to justify. To take `arva' for agni, there is the clear authority of the
Taittiriya Brahmana.(I.36,4).
Fourth mantra includes the word 'arvan' where it is used to mean
the learned and wise people.
Eighth mantra includes the word 'arvan' through which the mighty
and active person has been likened to the horse who bears such
characteristics.
Ninth mantra includes the word 'arvantam' which means
vegavantam agnim ashvam=the rapid horse in the form of Agni (fire,
electricity etc.)
(6)