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The Panis are a class of demons in the Rigveda, from ''(unicode:paṇi-)'', a term for "bargainer, miser," especially applied to one who is sparing of sacrificial oblations. The Panis appear in RV 10.108 as watchers over stolen cows. They are located behind the stream Rasā, and sought out by Sarama. They boast to Sarama that they are well-armed and will not yield the cows without battle, and that the cows are furthermore well hidden in a rocky chamber. Sarama threatens them with the might of Indra and the Angirasas who will recover the cows. The "rocky treasure-chest" of the Panis is identical to Vala, the stone split by Indra to liberate Dawn. The myth is a variant of that of Indra slaying Vrtra, imagined as a stone serpent, liberating the blocked rivers. The word ''pani'' is also applied in the Rig Veda to human beings, even respected members of the community, who are unwilling to share their wealth. In one hymn Indra himself is addressed as "pani".〔 *Pande, G.C. 1991. ''Foundations of Indian Culture: Pt. 1 & 2''.〕 Graeco-Roman authors equated the Parthians with a Scythian tribe called the Parni (i.e. Greek ''Parnoi''), which has been equated by some with the Panis.〔Parpola, Asko: 1988, ''The Coming of the Aryans to Iran and India and the Cultural and Ethnic Identity of the Dasas''; ''The problem of the Aryans and the Soma''.〕〔Macdonell and Keith, Vedic Index, 1912〕 Strabo (11.9.2) mentions that the Parnoi belonged to the Dahas ("Dahae") and lived in Margiana and that they founded the Arsacid empire of Parthia. 〔Parpola 1988〕 The Panis were an important tribe of Afghanistan lasting to the time of Sikandar Lodi.〔Bellew, H.W. 1891. ''An Inquiry Into the Ethnography of Afghanistan''〕 Ahmed Abdulla writes that "the most important Pakhtun tribes of the Division are Kakar, Panni, Tarin, Shirani and Achakzai all of whom are split up between Baluchistan and Afghanistan."〔Ahmed Abdulla. 1973. ''The Historical Background of Pakistan and Its People''〕 It is further recorded in Sindh that "according to native accounts, the Parni Afghans came to Sibi (Siwi) in 1470 AD."〔Mahmudul Hasan Siddiqi; . 1972. ''History of the Arghuns and Tarkhans of Sind, 1507-1593 : an annotated translation of the relevant parts of 's , with an introduction & appendices'', p. 20〕 The same text states that Parni Afghans are also known as "Panni".〔Mahmudul Hasan Siddiqi; , p. 20〕 == References == * *Sethna, K.D. 1992. ''The Problem of Aryan Origins''. New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Panis」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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