Even a simple popular source such as Wikipedia covers this :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhu-vidya#Vedic_background

In the Rig Veda, Soma, the Vedic symbol for deep spiritual truth, is addressed as Madhu, the nector or ambrosia, the drink of Immortality sought by both gods and men. Rishi Vamadeva has described how the saving of the knowledge of Madhu or Soma Doctrine came to him through a hawk in a sudden flash in his darkest hour.^[4]

It is believed that Rishi Dadhichi had his ashrama in Dudheshwara on the banks of Sabarmati River near present-day Ahmedabad. His name appears in the Rig Veda.^[5] Dadhichi was a sage of Vedic repute (Rig Veda I.84.13: इन्द्रो दधीचो अस्थ भिर्वृत्राण्यप्रतिष्कुतः| जघान नवतीर्नव ||). He was the son of Rishi Atharvan of the Atharvaveda, and the father of Pippalada of the Prasna Upanishad. His name is seen to occur in the first Mandala of the Rig Veda, and in the Bhagavata Purana. Rishi Kakshivana, the sage of the Rig Veda Sukta 119 which is addressed to the Ashvins, in Mantra 9 tells us :

उत स्या वां मधुमन्मक्षिकारपन्मदे सोमरयौशिजा हुवन्यति |

युवं दधीचो मन आ विवास्थोऽथा शिरः प्रति वामश्व्यं वदत् ||

"The bee desirous of honey sang praise-song for you. Aushij in delight of Soma tells how Dadhichi, told you the secret of his mind after the head of his horse was cured."^[6]

On Mon, Dec 27, 2021 at 3:07 AM Joanna Jurewicz <j.jurewicz@uw.edu.pl> wrote:

Dear Jim,

I discuss this doctrine (to some extent) in my "Fire, Death and Philosophy. A History of Ancient Indian Thinking".

With regards,

Joanna

---
Prof. dr hab. Joanna Jurewicz

Katedra Azji Południowej /Chair of South Asia Studies

Wydział Orientalistyczny / Faculty of Oriental Studies

Uniwersytet Warszawski /University of Warsaw

ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28

00-927 Warszawa , Poland

Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages

College of Human Sciences

UNISA

Pretoria, RSA

Member of Academia Europaea

https://uw.academia.edu/JoannaJurewicz

niedz., 26 gru 2021 o 20:40 Jim Ryan via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> napisał(a):
Madhav,

Thanks for this. This brings up the question of “honey” as a metaphor in Vedic tradition generally. What was the “honey-ness” that was found I each footstep?
Naturally, very difficult to ascertain, but interesting to contemplate.

Jim

On Dec 26, 2021, at 11:25 AM, Madhav Deshpande <mmdesh@umich.edu> wrote:

Dear Jim,

Check out R̥gveda 1.154.4-5 that refer to Viṣṇoḥ padāni as being filled with Madhu and having a fount of Madhu.

Madhav

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]

On Sun, Dec 26, 2021 at 11:10 AM Jim Ryan via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> wrote:
Hi,

I’m looking for scholarship relating to the Honey Doctrine sonorously invoked in Bṛhadāraṇyaka U., 2.5.1-19. Are there Vedic antecedents anywhere?

Jim Ryan
Asian Philosophies and Cultures (Emeritus)
California Institute of Integral Studies

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