Ṛgvedic dhīmahi was already recognised by the authors of PW (s.v. √dhī) as belonging to √dhā, rejecting the error of native interpreters, who attributed the verbal form to √dhyā, an historical inaccuracy with a shift of meaning that European scholars on occasion have also supported, intentionally or unintentionally (e.g., “we concentrate” [Michaels, Hinduismus, 108f]).
On this mode of the optative formed from the stem of the root aorist: dh-ī-mahi from √dhā, cf. Oldenberg (“Noten”, 261); Renou (Études XVI, 103); Witzel, Gotō et al. (Rigveda in German Transl., Komm. p. 460, with further literature); “might we make our own” (Brereton/Jamison, vol. I, 554). Already before Oldenberg, it was correctly understood and accordingly translated by Ludwig (“wollen wir uns schaffen” / “we would procure us”); Graßmann (“Daß wir (...) erlangten doch”). However, the past tense (“empfingen wir”) is used by Geldner.

Regards,

Am Mo., 19. Juli 2021 um 19:19 Uhr schrieb Caley Smith via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info>:

I always thought this was the self-benefactive use of the middle voice, just as dā in the parasmaipada is to give and dā in the ātmanepada is to give to oneself, and thus to take, dhīmahi as 1st pl middle optative to dhā as wishing "may we place/establish X for ourselves" = "may we requisition X" ? -- C

On Mon, Jul 19, 2021 at 1:12 PM Madhav Deshpande via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> wrote:
Some time ago, we had a discussion on the syntax of dhīmahi. But when I search the archives, nothing shows up. Can someone help me?

Madhav M. Deshpande
Professor Emeritus, Sanskrit and Linguistics
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Senior Fellow, Oxford Center for Hindu Studies
Adjunct Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, India

[Residence: Campbell, California, USA]

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