IV. Vocabulary skills

Ex. 4. Give Russian equivalents of the following word combinations and reproduce the sentences in which they are used in the text:

to stamp culture to record one's activities

according to one's traditions to offer sacrifices to the deities

the larger chieftains to be (un)favorably disposed towards smb

to provide smb with to be written in a sacred language

promotion of cotton farming and to oversee the universe

cloth making to direct order

to claim divine descent to offer libations

to consult with smb on smth to be of moderate length

to be structured according to classes

Ex. 5. Give English equivalents of the following word combinations and reproduce sentences in which they are used in the text:

определять ход истории вопросы войны и мира

насчитываться (не) равны от рождения

(не) проявлять интереса обучать брахманов

записывать самый могущественный во вселенной

обосноваться в каком-нибудь месте религиозные догмы

Ex. 6. Arrange the pairs of synonyms:

to write down, section, to teach, attempts, matters, brahmans, deity, Hinduism, rulers, part, chieftains, Brahmanism, divinity, priests, issues, efforts, to record, to train.

Ex. 7. Paraphrase the italicized parts:

1. After 600 ВС some of the songs were written down, possibly for the teaching of the young priests.

2. There is no agreement on the exact date of composition, but the present text is considered to be recorded from about the first century AD.

3. Councils of noblemen consulted with the king on the problems of war and peace.

4. After 1200 ВС the larger Aryan rulers began to expand their territories at the expense of their neighbors.

5. Within the Mahabharata there is a part known as the Lord's Song.

6. The brahmans were the only ones who knew how to worship the Indian gods.

Ex. 8. Complete the sentences:

1. In the period after 1200 ВС...

2. During this age the Aryan invaders...

3. Unfortunately, the Aryans...

4. The larger Aryan chieftains began expanding...

5. The economic basis for territory expand was...

6. Dravidians remained untouched by...

7. Some rulers bore the name raja went so far...

8. Councils of noblemen in a much-structured society...

9. Scribes appeared...

10. The term Hinduism came from...

11. The brahmans were the only ones who…

12. The Rig Veda is a book of songs...

13. The primary gods in Brahrfmnism were...

14. Religious ceremonies were held...

15. In addition to the Vedas...

Ex. 9. Match the definitions with the words given below:

1. The rulers of the Aryan kingdoms.

2. The religious priests at the very highest level of society in Brahmanism.

3. God of war, the most popular divinity in the early years of the classical period.

4. Songs put into writing and consisted of four collections of the songs in the sacred Sanskrit language.

5. One of the primary gods in brahmanism who gave fire.

6. The oldest of the four collections of the songs for training young brahmans.

One of the primary gods who became incarnate so as to help humans

8. One of the two great epic poems appeared to supplement the Vedas, the longest one in world literature.

9. The Lord's Song that teaches the major tenets of the Brahman religion.

10. The highest god that stood over all the other deities, omnipotent throughout the universe.

11. One of the two great epic poems appeared to supplement the Vedas, tells the story of Rama.

12. One of the primary gods who directed the cosmic order.

(the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, Brahma, the Rig Veda, the Mahabharata, Vishnu, Agni, Varana, Vedas, Indra, brahmans, rajas)