अघ्न्या

From Proto-Indo-Iranian *agʰnyáH (“milch cow”, literally “not to be killed”), from Proto-Indo-European *n̥-gʷʰn̥-yéh₂ (literally “not to be killed”), from *gʷʰen- (“to kill”). Cognate with Avestan ⁧𐬀𐬔𐬆𐬥𐬌𐬌𐬁⁩ (agəniiā, “milch cow”).

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /ɐɡʱ.n̪jɑ́ː/, [ɐɡʱ.j̃jɑ́ː], /ɐ́ɡʱ.n̪jɑː/, [ɐ́ɡʱ.j̃jɑː]
• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈɐɡʱ.n̪jɑː/

अघ्न्या • (aghnyā́ or ághnyā) stem, f

1. a cow
   • c. 1700 BCE – 1200 BCE, Ṛgveda 5.83.08:

     महान्तं कोशमुदचा नि षिञ्च स्यन्दन्तां कुल्या विषिताः पुरस्तात्।
     घृतेन द्यावापृथिवी व्युन्धि सुप्रपाणं भवत्व् अघ्न्याभ्यः॥

     mahā́ntam kóśamúdacā ní ṣiñca syándantām kulyā́ víṣitāḥ purástāt. ghṛténa dyā́vāpṛthivī́ vyúndhi suprapāṇám bhavatv aghnyā́bhyaḥ.

     Lift up the mighty vessel, pour down water, and let the liberated streams rush forward.
     Saturate both the earth and heaven with clarified butter, and for the cows let there be drink abundant.

अघ्न्या • (aghnyā)

1. feminine singular nominative of अघ्न्य (aghnya)