Read Mahabharata Vol. 1 (Penguin Translated Texts) Online
Authors: Bibek Debroy
Mahabharata Vol. 1 (Penguin Translated Texts) (59 page)
15
Brahma’s epithet.
16
An
apsara
. Apsaras are celestial maidens associated with Indra’s court. They are sometimes regarded as wives of gandharvas.
17
Literally, the most beautiful.
18
Sthulakesha.
19
Star.
20
Better known as Uttaraphalguni.
23
That is, non-poisonous.
1
The word
prajapati
means lord of the world and has different nuances. It is a name for Brahma. However, those who were appointed by Brahma to rule over the worlds are also known as Prajapati. Accordingly, Daksha is also known as Prajapati and the reference here is to Daksha.
2
The word used is
yayavara
s, an expression also used by Jaratkaru’s ancestors.
3
Vasuki is a great naga or serpent and is the king of the nagas. Vasuki was the rope when the ocean was churned by the gods and the demons.
4
Kadru and Vinata were daughters of Daksha and were married to the sage Kashyapa. Kadru was the mother of the snakes and as the story unfolds, we will learn that Kadru cursed her offspring because they did not side with her in her rivalry with Vinata.
5
That is, Agni.
6
Vasuki.
7
Jaratkaru.
10
The son. Aruna is the red sky of dawn and is also the sun’s charioteer.
13
Mythical beings with human bodies and heads of horses.
14
A yojana is a measure of distance and is equal to four
krosha
s. A yojana is between 13 and 15 kilometres.
15
Ananta literally means without end and is a name for the naga Shesha, on whom Vishnu rests, and who is Vasuki’s elder brother. Instructed by Vishnu or Narayana, Ananta uprooted Mandara.
16
Mandara.
17
In a loose sense, asuras and danavas are both demons. But asura is more of a general term and means the antithesis of
sura
s or gods. Danavas are more specific demons, in the sense that they are the offspring of Danu. Daityas are also specific demons, in the sense that they are the offspring of Diti.
21
Mercury.
22
Narayana.
23
Rahu.
24
A discus.
25
The eclipses.
26
Vishnu.
27
The heads were adorned with gold ornaments.
32
Indra. Indra had killed a demon named Bala.
33
Someone wearing a crown or diadem. Kiriti is another name for Arjuna. In this context, it probably means the god Nara.
34
Ucchaihshrava.
35
This should not cause confusion. The word Kourava is often used as opposite to Pandava. The Pandavas had Pandu as their father. However, Kuru was a common ancestor to both brothers. Hence any Pandava, and anyone descended from the Pandavas, can also be called Kourava.
36
Brahma.
37
Brahma.
38
The word used is
timingila
. A whale is a
timi
, a
timingila
is that which swallows whales.
39
The word used is
makara
. Since a makara is a mythical being, it is impossible to translate it satisfactorily. But shark or crocodile is close enough.
45
Another name for Garuda, meaning the one with beautiful feathers.
46
Indra.
47
Indra’s wife.
48
The word means destroyer of cities.
49
The wind-god.
50
Drink of the gods.
51
Muhurta.
52
Lunar days.
53
A kshana is a small interval of time, the time it takes for a twinkling of the eye and is equal to four-fifths of a second. A
lava
is even smaller, because it is one-sixth of a kshana.
54
The bright half of the lunar month.
55
The dark half of the lunar month. The term used in the text is
bahula
.
56
The daily increase or decrease in the size of the moon. A kala is the span of a zodiac sign divided by 1800. So it is roughly around 1 minute, as in minutes and degrees. Measured in time, a kala is variously defined as 1 minute, 48 seconds or 8 seconds.
57
One-thirtieth of a kala.
58
Very small interval of time, equal to half of a lava.
59
Timi.
60
Timingila.
61
Makara. However, a makara is actually a mythical being.
62
Indra.
63
Indra.
64
The Malaya mountains are in south India, adjoining Malabar. The Malaya mountains had several sandalwood trees. Thus, an alternative translation is that the island had many sandalwood trees, since
malaya
also means a sandalwood tree.
65
Synonym for nagas.
66
Garuda.
67
Amrita
is nectar or ambrosia and was produced when the ocean was churned.
68
Hunters, fishermen. Usually, they are described as dwelling in the mountains.
69
Kashyapa.
70
Supratika is a common name for an elephant and this elephant should not be confused with Bhagadatta’s elephant Supratika.
74
Garuda.
75
Rishis who number 60,000 and were generated from the creator’s body. They are the size of a thumb and precede the sun’s chariot.
76
Maya.
83
The son, Garuda.
84
Indra.
85
A tree with large, fragrant and orange-coloured flowers, the
Butea frondosa.
91
Marichi was Kashyapa’s father.
92
Kashyapa.
93
Indra.
94
Aruna is the dawn and also the sun’s charioteer.
95
Vishvakarma is the architect of the gods and Bhouvana (or Bhoumana) is one of his names.
96
Indra has a thousand eyes.
97
The wind-god.
98
The Ashvins.
101
Suparna, another name for Garuda.
102
That is, Vishnu.
103
Vahana
or mount.
104
The one with beautiful feathers.
105
Dhritarashtra is also the name of a naga and this should not be confused with the Dhritarashtra who was Duryodhana’s father.
106
Prayuta.
107
Arbuda
is 100 million.
121
The hermit.
124
This refers to Shamika’s message, not the curse. The curse was levied by Shamika’s son, Shringi.
125
Shamika.
126
Shamika.
127
The name used in the text is Nagasahnya.
128
The ministers and advisers.
129
Yudhishthira, who in a sense was also the great-grandfather, though not as directly as Arjuna.
130
Janamejaya.
131
An ancient king of the lunar dynasty and therefore an ancestor of the Kouravas and the Pandavas. Pururava married the apsara Urvashi.
132
That is, the merit obtained through these austerities.
133
A
brahmachari
, usually translated as celibate. However, a brahmachari is strictly someone who treads the path of the brahman.
134
Time.
135
Shvetakakiya
. This is an unhappy translation, though white crow is right. However, the sense is that the dedication has the watchfulness of a dog, the timidity of a deer and the instinct of a crow.
136
Vasuki’s sister.
137
Agnihotra is a sacrificial fire. The text means that the time for making offerings to the sacrificial fire has arrived.