Thank you for the Panini reference.

Eggeling must have been influenced by the context. As you suggest, the only way amsala could fit the context would be through a shift in meaning in the direction of "strengthening, nourishing, plump, juicy..." -- certainly not "tough".

On 25 Jun 2016 at 15:59, Madhav Deshpande wrote:

Hello Dermot and Herman,

At least in Pāṇini's understanding, the words vatsa+la and aṃsa+la are derived respectively in the sense of kāma "love" and bala "strength," sūtra: vatsāṃsābhyāṃ kāmabale (P. 5.2.98). Thus, for Pāṇini, these words mean "loving, affectionate" and "strong," respectively. That meaning for aṃsala would not fit the Śatapatha passage: aśnāmy evāham aṃsalaṃ ced bhavati, suggesting that the word had some other meaning making the meat more edible/desirable, and hence "tender" is a likely contextual meaning. May be "plump, juicy".

On Sat, Jun 25, 2016 at 3:43 PM, Herman Tull < hermantull@gmail.com > wrote:

unreliablehere), I believe Sayana's commentary

in getting to Eggeling's definition.

(I'm away from my library right now, and I cannot check

On Jun 25, 2016 11:19 AM, < dermot@grevatt.force9.co.uk> wrote:

Can someone help with a bit of brAhmaNa interpretation?

Monier-Williams and Mayrhofer both say aMsala means "strong", connecting it with aMsa
"shoulder". Mayrhofer adds that it's used mainly with reference to cattle and meat.

In xatapatha brAhmaNa 3.1.2.21 Eggeling translates it "tender".

The context is a prohibition on eating beef -- apparently not for everyone at all times, but for
someone undertaking dIkSA. After an arthavAda justifying the prohibition, YAjnavalkya is
quoted as saying "axnAmy evAham aMsalaM ced bhavati."

Eggeling: "I, for one, eat it, provided that it is tender."

Is there any evidence for a meaning "tender", or is Eggeling taking a liberty to give
YAjnavalkya a good punch line?

I realise that ancient Indian diet can be a sensitive issue, but the question here seems to be
about YAjnavalkya's culinary preference.

I'd be grateful for any clarification.

Dermot

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