Kambojas of Yaska

Yaska Acharya was a celebrated Sanskrit scholar and grammarian of the seventh century BCE. He wrote a well-known etymological work on important ancient Sanskrit words, which is popularly known as "Nirukta" [http://www.hindunet.org/hindu_history/sarasvati/dictionary/9niruktam.htm] .

Incidentally, in the "Nirukta", Acharya Yaska referenced the Kambojas and gave information on the language, ethnicity, dress mode and the luxurious living of these ancient people, which can also be usefully applied to make an estimation on the geographical location of the ancient Kamboja country.

Yaska’s text on Kambojas

In the Niruktam (II.2), Yaska Acharya comments on ancient Sanskrit term Kamboja and also attempts to furnish us the etymology of the same word. Yaska writes:

"The verb S'avati, meaning ' to go', is used by the Kambojas (and only the Kambojas).

"The Kambojas (are so called because) they enjoy blankets (kambala), beautiful or desirable (kamaniya) things. A blanket (kambala) is also (one of) the desirable object (kamaniya)."

"Its modified form s'ava, in the sense of 'dead body', is used by the Aryans i.e. Indo-Aryans" [

:Sanskrit:::Shavtirgatikarma Kambojesveva bhasyate........ ::Kambojah kambal.bhojah kamaniya.bhoja va::kambalaha kamaniyo bhavati::vikaramasy. Aryesu bhasyante shava iti::— "(Nirukta 2/2)". ] .

Thus, it is seen that Acharya Yaska not only enlightens us on the language of Kambojas but also attempts to give us an etymology of the Kamboja term.

Yaska's comments on the "Language of the Kambojas" ("shavatir gatikarmaa Kamboje.sv eva bhaa.syate...vikaara enam Aaryaa bha.sante shava iti") have been sufficiently dealt with in the articles: Language and ethnicity of Kambojas and in sub-section "Linguistic evidence" of Kamboja Location.

This section reviews Yaska's comments on the etymology of Kamboja.

Yaska's etymology of Kamboja

As seen above, Yaska defines Kamboja as
* "Kamaniya.bhojah" and
* "Kambal.bhojah".

Commentators on Yaska’s etymology

Several ancient commentators have commented on Yaska's etymological terms "Kamaniya.bhojah" as well as "Kambala.bhojah" as follows:

Ancient commentators on "Kamaniya.bhojah"

Acharya Durga on Kamaniya.bhoja

They (Kambojas) enjoy beautiful things since their country is abounding in precious pearls/gems i.e precious stones [:Sanskrit::"Kambojah kamaniya.bhojah".::kamnaniyani prarathaniyani chaite hi dravayani upbhunjate parchur ratano hi sa desh iti.::— "(Nirukta Vimarash 2/2: Acharya Durga)"

:Translation:"Kambojah are kamaniya.bhojah" ] .

Brahamuni Privrajika on Kamaniya.bhojah

The 'kam' in Kamboja implies kamaniya. 'Kam' means pleasure, happiness (sukham). Since they (Kambojas) enjoy pleasant or beautiful things (kamaniya) like the almonds/"Badams" and variety of precious fruits (dry fruits), hence they are called Kambojas (enjoyers of pleasant things) [:Sanskrit:::"Kamboja kamniya.bhoja".::kamaniyam iti kam ka.n ca sukham bhavati hi sukham kamniyam bhavati ka.n sukham . ::kamniyam, kamaniyani badamadini vividhani sufalani bhunjate tasmaat Kambojah . ::— "(Nirukta Vimarash 2/2: Swami Brahammuni Parivrajik)"

:Trannslation:"Kambojah are kamaniya.bhojah".] .

kanda Swami on Kamaniya.bhojah

They (Kambojas) do not follow proper rules in the choice of their diet, they use mlechcha food since they belong to a mlechcha country. They also do not observe proper rules in choice of women i.e they are indiscriminate in the choice of woman (for their physical needs)..................................They (Kambojas) enjoy horses, ratanas/motis (i.e. pears/gems..precious stones) and kamaniya fruits/meva etc...hence are called Kambojas [:Sanskrit:::"Kambojah kamaniya.bhojah". ::kamaniyan va yatheshata.n vishayaan bhunjate, mlechhadeshatvan.::Istriopey.gabhyagabhyadi.vivayaharrahita ityarathah.::..........................................................................................::Ashva.ratanadi va kamaniya.meva prayayenope.bhunjate . ::— "(Nirukta 2/2, Acharya Sikanda Swami)"

:Translation:"Kambojah are kamaniya.bhojah".] .

Comment

The dictionary meaning of "Kamaniya" is pleasant, lovely, beautiful, desirable etc [See Kamana & Kamaniya in : William Moniers Sanskrit-English Dictionary [http://students.washington.edu/prem/mw/k.html] ; see also: Standard Bhargava's Hindi-English Dictionery, 2000, p 128 etc..] .

The ancient lexicons have also defined Sanskrit 'kamaniya' in the comely, pleasant, or beautiful sense. Celebrated Sanskrit poet Kalidasa also uses 'kamaniya' in the sense of desirable, pleasant, lovely and beautiful [See: "Kumaara.sambhavam", 1/37; also ref: Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, p 225, Dr Kamboj.] .

Dr Moti Chandra has interpreted the 'kam' , ‘Kamana’ or 'Kamaniya' in Yaska's "Kamboja" in the handsome, beautiful or comely sense [Geographical and Economical Studies, J.U.P.H.S., Part II, 1943, p 39.] . Dr B. C. Law also translates 'Kamaniya' in the pleasant or beautiful sense [Some Kshatriya Tribes, p 233, Dr Law.] .

Thus, we can be sure that the commentators like Acharya Durga, Swami Brahammuni Parivrajika etc have correctly interpreted the underlying meaning of 'Kamaniya' in Yaska's etymology of Kamboja.

Hence, Acharya Skanda Swami's interpretation of Yaska's 'kamaniya' in the negative sense with reference to Kambojas is "in gross error" and therefore, is "unacceptable".

Ancient commentators on "Kambal.bhojah"

Acharya Durga on 'Kambal.bhojah

Only, they (Kambojas) make use of Kambalas (blankets) since their country is extremely cold [ :Sanskrit: ::"Kambojah kambal.bhojah". ::te hi prayen kambalan upbhunjate, himprayayatvat tasya deshasya.::— "(Nirukta Vimarash 2/2: Acharya Durga)" :Translation:"Kambojas are Kambal.bhojas’’ .] .

Acharya Sikanda Swami on Kambal.bhojah

In spite of their luxurious living, they (Kambojas) make use of kambalas (blankets) since their country is extremely cold. And therefore being "Kambal.bhojah", and due to elision of characters/letters (in Kambal.bhoja), the name got changed into Kamboja....hence they are called Kamboja" [:Sanskrit:::"Kambojah kambal.bhojah". ::te cha himaprayatvad deshasya eishvara api santah kambalan upbhunjate iti ::kambalbhojah ::santo varana.lopevyapatiyadina Kamboja iti uchyante.::— "(Nirukta 2/2, Acharya Skanda Swami)"

:Translation:"Kambojas are Kambal.bhojas".]

Thus, it is seen that Yaska's Nirukta (2/2) and the comments thereon from various ancient commentators following Yaska, furnish us with very valuable information on Kambojas' language, ethnicity, their food habits, dress-mode as well as on the climate of Kambojadesa and its geographical location. It also provides powerful evidence on Kambojas' opulence and the luxurious lives they lived.

Ancient references on Kamboja-kambala connection

The connection of kambalas with Kambojas reveals that the Kamboja was "a very cold country". Therefore, the Kambojas habitually wore woolen blankets out of fashion, as well as necessity to protect themselves from the rigors of cold (cf. Dr Law). The blankets or kambalas, warm skins and soft furs from Kamboja were all emroidered with fine threads of gold (MBH 2/51/3). The kambals and the soft furs woven with threads of gold were indeed a very luxurious stuff compared to clothes made of raw goat skins/deer skins which many of other clans were accustomed to wear in those remote times. Hence, Acharya Yaska's Nirukta provides very informative hints on Kambojas's luxurious dress and clothing.

cf: The Kamboja people were famous for their furs and skins embroiderd with threads of gold and their woolen blankets.. i.e. "kambalas")... [Ref: Hindu World Vol I, p 520, Benjamin Walker) ] .

In Rig Veda [ Rigveda V. 1. 126 .7.] , Gandhara i.e Gandhari is stated to be very famous for its good wool. A special variety of blankets known as pandu-kambala (Panini IV.2.11) was a product of Gandhara. Gandhara is also known to the Atharva Veda for its fine wool.

"Quite in keeping with Kambojas's association with Gandhara, is the love of Kambojas for blankets (kambhals) to which Yaska (2/2) bears testimony" [Political History of Ancient India 1996, p 132 fn, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury.] .

Mahavanija Jataka (No. 493) specifically mentions blankets or kambalas of Odyana (or Udyana) of Swat valley (region between Swat and Ghoure (Panjkora) rivers ... Suastos and Guraeus of the Greeks respectively) which region was undoubtedly a part of ancient Kamboja Mahajanapada and was inhabited by Assakenois (Ashavakas) and Gaurean (Gore) Kambojan clans [Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p 216-217, 133.] , as we have already sufficiently proved (See: Kamboja Location; Ashvaka Kambojas).

(It is to be noted here that the Gandharans were first blood cousins of the Kambojas).

Mahabharata, too, speaks very high of the expensive blankets/shawls of Kamboja country. The princes of Kamboja presented to Yudhishtra innumerable skins of the best kind, and blankets made of wool, of the soft fur of rodents and other burroughers, and of the hair of cats--all inlaid with threads of gold [

:Sanskrit:::aurnan vailan varshadamsha~njatarupaparishkritam . ::pravarajina mukhyamshcha Kambojah pradadau bahun .//3 ::— "(MBH 2/51/3)".] .

There is further reference to princes of Kamboja sending unto Yudhishtra (as gifts) innumerable skins, black, darkish, and red, of the deer Kadali, as also numberless blankets of excellent textures [See also: Early Eastern Iran and the Atharavaveda, Persica-9, 1980, p 114, fn 81, Dr Michael Witzel.] [

:Sanskrit:::kadali mrigamokani krishna shyamarunani cha .::Kambojah prahinottasmai parardhyanapi kambalan. //19 ::— "(MBH 2/49/19)".] .

Mahabharata further refers to Kamboja princes as worthy of sleeping on soft/precious "woolly astraans" [ ::Kambojam pashya durdharsha.n "Kambojastaranochitam"/ . ::"shayanamrishabhaskandha.n hatam pa.nsushu" madhava .//1 ::— "(MBH 12/25/1)".] .

Luxurious living of ancient Kambojas

Numerous references to kambalas also show that that ancient "Kamboja was very cold country and hence was a mountainous land". As noted before, it comprised Hindukush mountains, Pamirs, Badakshan and parts north of Oxus as far as Yognobe region/Zerafshan valley in Tajikstan, where fine varieties of grapes, pistachio, walnuts, almonds, raisins, kesera (saffron) etc were abundantly cultivated and are still cultivated, which stuff formed important constituent of ancient Kambojas' diet. Another valued food delicacy of ancient Kamboja was 'honey' which is attested in "Atthakatha" of Kunala Jataka [Jataka, Vol V, p 446; Some Kshatriya Tribes, p 240, Dr Law; Ancient Kamboja, pp 240, 246, Dr Kamboj.] . These food stuffs were counted amongst the most precious and solicitable in ancient India and still are considered the most expensive delicacies from Indians' point of view. Hence these comments of Yaska on Kambojas.

Kamboja opulence

The numerous comments from ancient commentators on Nirukta (2/2), as we have noted above, also demonstrate that "Kamboja was a very rich country, full of precious mineral wealth, including ratanas/gems, pearls and other precious stones".

There are ancient Buddhist references to the foreign merchants visiting the Kamboja land with a desire to harvest wealth ["Yassa atthaya gacchama Kambojam dhana-haraka").......Ankuravatthu section of Petavatthu: verse 257-258.] . Raghuvamsha of Kalidasa also attests to immense treasures i.e high mounds of material wealth of the Kambojas ["tunga.draviynah.rashyah"... Raghuvamsa verse 4/70 .] . And Mahabharata also bears strong witness to extreme riches of ancient Kambojas [Kambojah.... Yama. vaishravan.opamah MBH 7/23/41-42 i.e. the Kambojas rich like Kuber, the god of wealth.] .

All these ancient literary references powerfully attest the opulence and luxurious life styles of ancient Kambojas. The precious wealth of Badakshan/Munjan/Anderab including "Kambuka" (=Kamboja) silver, paipilika gold, zinc, ioly iron, lapis lazuli, garnets, emerald, amethyst, diamonds, Kambu (conchs/ shells) and other precious stones as well as abundance of Kamboja horses and a variety of woolen carpets/blankets, furs, skins... all embroidered with threads of gold, appear to have greatly contributed to Kambojas' opulence and hence their life styles. According to Dr Aggarwala, an important economic feature of the Kamboja was its special breed of horses [

cf: In early 6th c BC, north-west division comprised Kamboja, Gandhara and Madra ....the region was at once wealthy but disunited, thus formed a natural pray for the foreigners (Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p 211).] .

Conclusions

In sum, we gather the following useful information, directly or indirectly, on the Kambojas from Yaska and the later commentators on his Nirukta.

1. The Kambojas, especially the Trans-Hindukush Kambojas, were an Iranian/Avestan-speaking people.

2. Kambojas made use of precious woolen stuff, blankets, carpets, astrans etc.

3. Woolen industry was very important industry of Kamboja (Achemenids and India, p 57, Dr S. Chattopadhayaya).

4. Climate-wise, ancient Kamboja was an extremely cold country.

5. Kamboja was a mountainous/parvarta country of north-west, inhabited by so-called "men of the Mountain-Land", the Highlanders of the Classical writings (Arrian) or the Akaufaka of Xerxes.

6. Kamboja land abounded with precious/delicious food stuffs like grapes, raisin, walnuts, almonds, kesra (saffron), honey etc.

7. The Kamboja land teemed with precious mineral wealth, including lapis lazuli, garnets, amethyst, gems, ratanas, Paipilika gold (Dr. Aggarwala), Kambu/Kambuka silver and above all, its animal wealth including celebrated horses, camels, mules, elephants, etc., which greatly contributed to the opulence of the Kambojas.

Notes

ee also

Kamboja
Kambojas
Kamboja Location
Language and ethnicity of Kambojas

References

*Niruktam Sememes
*Nirukta Vimarsh (2/2), Brahamuni Privrajika
*Durga Acharya on Yaska's Nirukta (2/2)
*Skanda Swami on Yaska's Nirukta (2/2)
*Das Volk der Kamboja bei Yaska, First Series of Avesta, Pahlavi and Ancient Persian Studies in honor of the late Shams-ul-ulama Dastur Peshatanji Bahramji Sanjana (Strassberg and Leipzig), Dr E. Kuhn
*The Language of the Kambojas, Journal of Royal Asiatic Society, 1911, Dr G . A. Grierson
*Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, Dr J. L.Kamboj
*Some Kshatriya Tribes of Ancient India, 1924, Dr B. C. Law
*Mahabharata