In Tājika astrological texts, a certain mathematically derived point or 'lot' (sahama, from Arabic sahm) is called pānīyapāta. The sense seems to be 'falling into water', as it is associated with danger from water (pānīyapātasahamaṃ krūrayutaṃ jalabhayaṃ karoty abde), but I confess that this use of pānīya to refer to water outside the context of drinking sounds fairly odd to me (even slangy, though I accept that's probably my first- and second-language sensibilities intruding). Can anyone tell me how old this wider usage is? It is tempting to think of it as a projection of NIA pānī onto early modern Sanskrit, but Moner-Williams seems to suggest that the meaning 'water' (irrespective of context?) is found in Manu and the MBh.

On a related note, the text passage quoted above also warns of buḍana (astaṃgate tadīśe buḍanaṃ syāt). MW and other dictionaries give the meaning 'cover, conceal' (and 'emit, discharge') for the root buḍ. Drowning might be defined as being covered by water, but again, it does sound a little odd to me. Has anyone come across a contextually more likely meaning of buḍana?

Many thanks in advance,

Martin Gansten

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