1069 Shraddhaa, Shradhadeva’s wife.
1070 The hotri is the chief priest and is accomplished in the Rig Veda. The adhvaryu is the assistant priest and is accomplished in the Yajur Veda.
1071 The hotri’s transgression is left implicit. Since he was thinking of Shraddha’s request, his concentration wavered. The sacrifice was being performed for sons. Instead, a daughter was born.
1072 Vasishtha, grandfather’s grandfather in the sense that Shuka was born from Vyasa, Vyasa from Parasara, Parashara from Shakti and Shakti from Vasishtha.
1073 Ravi is another name for Vivasvat, the sun god.
1074 A region famous for its horses.
1075 Sudyumna, who had now become a woman.
1076 Literally, the southern path. In course of time, this was the southern part of the trade route that led from Bihar, through Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, to the ports in Gujarat. We can also simply take this as the southern regions.
1077 Identified as Jhusi, near Prayaga, though Pratishthana had been identified with other places too. Pururava was the son when Sudyumna was a woman. The sons born when Sudyumna was a man became kings over the southern regions.
1078 That is, Shraddhadeva.
1079 Literally, posture of a hero. A seated position used by ascetics.
1080 The tiger.
1081 Vasishtha.
1082 The paramatman.
1083 Literally, the northern road. The northern part of Jambudvipa.
1084 Chakravarti, literally, a king whose wheel (chakra) travels everywhere on earth.
1085 Kubera.
1086 Kubera.
1087 Trinabindu’s.
1088 Vishala’s.
1089 Those were the sage Chyavana’s eyes. While he was meditating, a termite hill had formed around him. Chyavana was descended from Bhrigu’s lineage.
1090 Chyavana’s.
1091 The two Ashvins, their names are Nasatya and Dasra.
1092 The text uses the word punyajana, which means yakshas.
1093 The father was Nabhaga and the son was Naabhaaga.
1094 In the text, these sentences have the subject/subjects missing. We have added them, so that the meaning is clear.
1095 A sukta is a hymn. These are the two suktas to the Vishvadevas in Rig Veda 10.61 and 10.62.
1096 Such as temples and shrines.
1097 Hari.
1098 This is subject to interpretations. Dhanva can be interpreted as a desert region, instead of a proper name. We have taken this to mean that the flow of the Sarasvati reversed direction there. Alternatively, the sacrifice could have faced the upward direction of the river, rather than the natural downward direction.
1099 The forms of the others were similar to those of the gods. The gods do not blink.
1100 Fasting on the twelfth lunar day. More correctly, the vow lasts from the night of the tenth day to the morning of the twelfth day. This is the period of fasting. However, having eaten on the morning of the twelfth day, one fasts again on the night of the twelfth day. Thus, one fasts for three nights, tenth, eleventh and twelfth.
1101 Kalindi is Yamuna and Madhuvana is the area around Mathura.
1102 The bathing of the image.
1103 Such as vessels for milking.
1104 That is, break the fast.
1105 Durvasa.
1106 Ambarisha had only half a muhurta left to break the fast and he had to wait for Durvasa to return.
1107 A famous sage born from Vishnu’s speech, known as Sarasvata. He is also identified as Vedavyasa.
1108 Also interpreted as prosperity in this world and in the next.
1109 Salokya is the ability to reside with the lord, sarupya is to be like the lord in form, samipya is proximity to the lord and sayujya is identification with the lord.
1110 Ambarisha.
1111 Dhumaketu.
1112 The sense is that I can do nothing more to praise you other than bow down to you.
1113 A reference to Ambarisha touching Durvasa’s feet.
1114 This may cause confusion. This refers to the earlier incident, when Durvasa had gone to have his ablutions.
1115 That is, all this was due to his devotion to Hari.
1116 Angiras had sons through Rathitara’s wife. They were kshetraja sons, kshetra meaning the field or wife. They should have been kshatriyas, but were brahmanas.
1117 Though ashtaka means eighth, this is performed on the seventh, eighth and ninth lunar days.
1118 That is, meat obtained through hunting.
1119 The preceptor, Vasishtha.
1120 Ikshvaku got to know from Vasishtha.
1121 The person who ate a hare (shasha).
1122 To help the gods, Shashada’s condition was that Indra should be his mount. Before Vishnu interceded, Indra had refused. Thus, he got the name Indravaha, the one borne by Indra. Since he was seated on the bull’s hump (kakuda), he acquired the name of Kakutstha, the one located on the hump. Puranjaya means the conqueror of a city.
1123 A sage.
1124 Not to be confused with the earlier Yuvanashva.
1125 The sages asked this question.
1126 Literally, the terror of bandits. He was known as Mandhata, from ‘mam dhata’, meaning, ‘be suckled by me’.
1127 Not to be confused with the earlier Ambarisha.
1128 Svayamvara is a ceremony where the maiden herself (svayam) chooses her husband (vara) from assembled suitors.
1129 Using his powers, he became young and handsome.
1130 Soubhari.
1131 Fifty wives, each wife had one hundred sons.
1132 This can be interpreted in different ways, the fires of desire, or the fires a householder possesses.
1133 Ambarisha, Youvanashva and Harita.
1134 Mandhata’s son.
1135 Not to be confused with Mandhata, who also had a name of Trasadasyu.
1136 Interpretations take this to mean that Satyavrata was cursed by his father. Since the word used is guru, it can also mean preceptor. In this case, the preceptor was Vasishtha. Satyavrata wanted to go to heaven in his own physical body. When Vasishtha refused to help, Satyavrata enlisted the support of Shakti, Vasishtha’s son, whereupon Vasishtha cursed him. This is the standard story. Of course, the Vasishtha curse has no mention of being a chandala. That occurs, if guru is taken to mean father. This story is in Harivamsha. When Satyavrata forcibly married a maiden who had already been married to someone else, his father cursed him that he would become a chandala/shvapaka.
1137 Astronomically, Trishanku is identified as the Southern Cross.
1138 This means Koushika, Vishvamitra. Through Vishvamitra’s powers, Trishanku went to heaven in his own physical body. When the gods made him fall down from heaven, Vishvamitra again used his powers to make Trishanku hang on there, with his face downwards.
1139 Vishvamitra adopted the form of a crane and Vasishtha that of a heron, they having cursed each other that they would become birds. The clash resulted from Vishvamitra’s persecution of Harishchandra.
1140 Varuna.
1141 Infant teeth.
1142 Mahodara, distended stomach.
1143 Ajigarta was a brahmana from Bhrigu’s lineage. He had three sons. He did not wish to part with his eldest son and his wife did not wish to part with his youngest son. Thus, the second son, the one in the middle, was chosen.
1144 In Chapter 9(16).
1145 Harishchandra.
1146 As should be obvious, these shlokas have complicated metaphysical interpretations.
1147 Ignorance.
1148 The capital of the Anga kingdom, now Champanagar in Bhagalpur.
1149 Died.
1150 A sage.
1151 He was named Sagara because he was born along with (sa) poison (gara).
1152 Thus, the ocean is Saagara.
1153 Ourva.
1154 Sagara had two wives, Sumati and Keshini.
1155 Between friend and foe, between one’s own self and that of others.
1156 In a former birth.
1157 He brought the dead children back to life.
1158 Kapila.
1159 This is sometimes translated as Ahumitra. Since the name of Mitrasaha is given later, we have taken Ahumitra in the sense of someone who is referred to as Mitra.
1160 Soudasa means Sudasa’s son. Thus, Soudasa is the same as Ahumitra or Kalmashapada.
1161 Soudasa wished to curse Vasishtha because Vasishtha had cursed an innocent person.
1162 Kalmasha means speckled black and white. Therefore, Kalmashapada or blackened feet.
1163 The word used is didhishu, meaning second husband. The lady had married a second time.
1164 Literally, when you are about to discharge your semen.
1165 Soudasa’s name.
1166 Vasishtha.
1167 Resulting from a stone (ashman).
1168 All kshatriyas were destroyed by Parashurama. At that time, women saved Mulaka from destruction. Narikavacha means someone whose armour consisted of women. When all the kshatriyas were destroyed, a new line of kshatriyas was born through Mulaka.
1169 Not to be confused with Rama’s father.
1170 In the plural.
1171 This should be taken as Sugriva, though Hanuman is also possible.
1172 Lakshmana.
1173 Demons.
1174 Shiva.
1175 Parashurama.
1176 Meaning, three times seven, twenty-one.
1177 Shurpanakha.
1178 Of the deer.
1179 Just as Rudra/Shiva killed Daksha.
1180 Jatayu.
1181 Originating in tamas.
1182 Ravana was the sage Vishrava’s son.
1183 The word is vitanka. This means aviary or dovecote, as well as a lofty point or pinnacle. It is not obvious to us why most interpretations take this in the sense of aviary. Given the context, pinnacle seems better.
1184 Indrajit.
1185 Hanuman.
1186 Jambavat.
1187 Indra’s charioteer.
1188 Ravana.
1189 Kshurapras (kshuras) are arrows with sharp edges.
1190 Ravana’s wife.
1191 Shimshapa is the ashoka tree.
1192 Shatadhriti is a name for both Brahma and Indra and could mean either.
1193 Bharata.
1194 Guilds.
1195 North Kosala.
1196 Sita.
1197 Vasishtha.
1198 After sacrifices, he donated four parts of his kingdom to the four officiating priests.
1199 Vasishtha.
1200 Auspicious ornaments a married woman, who is not a widow, should wear.
1201 The brahmanas.
1202 That is, sages who should not be punished by the king.
1203 Valmiki.
1204 The name of the other son is not stated. Elsewhere, it is stated in different places as Chandraketu or Angada.
1205 Raghupati is Rama’s name, the lord of Raghu.
1206 The word chaitya has several meanings—sacrificial shed, temple, altar, sanctuary and a tree that grows along the road.
1207 The village (grama) of Kalapa has been speculatively located in various places, including near Badarikashrama. The last remaining kings of the solar and lunar dynasties are respectively Maru and Devapi. It is believed that they meditate and reside there, waiting for kali yuga to be over.
1208 Abhimanyu killed Brihadbala in the Kurukshetra war.
1209 There is a slight problem of tense. Brihadrana must already have been born.
1210 To be an officiating priest at Indra’s sacrifice.
1211 Nimi.
1212 That is, time would pass.
1213 That is, Vasishtha. Vasishtha was Shuka’s great-great-grandfather, Vasishtha to Shakti, Shakti to Parashara, Parashara to Vedavyasa and Vedavyasa to Shuka. Mitra and Varuna’s semen impregnated Urvashi.
1214 Nimi’s.
1215 Nimisha is the opening and closing of the eye, the twinkling. Nimi resides there.
1216 The word Janaka is derived from janma (birth). One without a body (deha) is vi-deha. Vaideha is derived from this. Mithila is derived from mathana (churning). Janaka is Mithila, the city is Mithilaa.
1217 This is Rama’s wife, Sita. All kings of the lineage were referred to as Janaka. Shira/sira means plough, while dhvaja means flag. The flag signifies fame. He became famous because of the plough.
1218 Pururava, Ila’s son.
1219 Brahma.
1220 The tears of joy in Atri’s eyes.
1221 Shiva’s preceptor was Angiras, Brihaspati’s father.
1222 The battle over Tara.
1223 Brihaspati.
1224 About whose son this was.
1225 The intelligent and wise one.
1226 Chapter 9(1).
1227 Narada.
1228 The god of love, Kama, Madana.
1229 The word sukta is used because this is a reference to Rig Veda 10.95.1. There is also an allusion to 10.95.15 in Urvashi’s reply.
1230 It is possible to translate this in more than one way.
1231 Other than through me.
1232 A vessel for keeping fire.
1233 The three Vedas.
1234 Arani, fire is generated by rubbing them against each other.
1235 Urvashyam Urvashi Pururavah—Pururava is on Urvashi’s bosom.
1236 Jataveda is a name for Agni, the Vedas being generated from Agni’s mouth. Here, the three Jatavedas (the three fires of ahavaniya, garhapatya and dakshinagni) are being thought of as the sons of Pururava and Urvashi.
1237 When the Ganga was flowing down, she disturbed the sage Jahnu and he drank up the water, subsequently released on Bhagiratha’s plea. Ganga is therefore known as Jahnavi.
1238 Richika was descended from Bhrigu’s lineage.
1239 For his wife, the mantra for a brahmana son was uttered. For his mother-in-law, the mantra for a kshatriya son was uttered.
1240 Yama.
1241 The river Koshi.
1242 Parashurama.
1243 Kartavirya Arjuna.
1244 Dattatreya.
1245 Narmada.
1246 A garland that signifies victory.
1247 Ravana’s.
1248 Kartavirya Arjuna.
1249 Kartavirya Arjuna’s capital.
1250 One who possesses/supplies oblations, an indirect reference to a kamadhenu, a cow that provides all the objects of desire. Jamadagni could provide the hospitality because of this cow.
1251 Jamadagni’s.
1252 The leader of an elephant herd.
1253 Arjuna.
1254 An akshouhini is an army, consisting of 21,870 chariots, 21,870 elephants, 65,610 horse riders and 109,350 foot soldiers.
1255 A shataghni was a weapon that could kill one hundred at the same time and could have been a giant catapult.
1256 Arjuna.
1257 Brahma.
1258 Chitraratha.
1259 Jamadagni.
1260 The heads of Arjuna’s sons.
1261 Samantapanchaka is the area around Kurukshetra. It is known as Samantapanchaka because it extends for five yojanas in every direction. Alternatively, it is known as Samantapanchaka because Parashurama created five lakes of blood there. The usual number given is therefore five, not nine.
1262 This does not mean the physical body.
1263 In the list of saptarshis Jamadagni’s name is sometimes mentioned.
1264 Vishvamitra.
1265 Vishvamitra.
1266 Shunahshepa.
1267 Literally, protected by the gods.
1268 Barbarians, those who did not speak Sanskrit.
1269 That is, Shunahshepa.
1270 Vishvamitra.
1271 Shunaka’s son.
1272 Raji.
1273 Raji’s sons.
1274 Brihaspati.
1275 Indra.
1276 The comparison is with the five senses and the mind.
1277 Temporarily, Indra was dislodged from his position as the king of the gods and Nahusha became Indra. However, he desired Indrani/Shachi, Indra’s wife, and caused offence to both her and brahmanas. The brahmanas cursed him that he would fall down from heaven and become a python (ajagara) on earth.
1278 Kavya/Shukracharya was the preceptor of the danavas and his daughter was Devayani. Vrishaparva was the king of the danavas and his daughter was Sharmishtha.
1279 Pratiloma means against the natural order and applies to progeny where the mother is superior in varna to the father.
1280 Parvati.
1281 Balibhuja, a creature feeding on leftovers and scraps. Usually, this means a crow, but can also mean a sparrow.
1282 Kacha was Brihaspati’s son. Shukra knew the art of sanjivani, also known as mrita-sanjivani, the knowledge that brings the dead back to life. When the gods and the demons fought, the demons were brought back to life by Shukra and the gods, deprived of the knowledge, suffered. Kacha was sent to Shukra, to become his disciple and learn this art. In the process, Devayani fell in love with Kacha. But Kacha refused her, arguing that since she was his preceptor’s daughter, she was like his sister. At this, Devayani cursed Kacha that his knowledge would prove to be futile and Kacha cursed Devayani that no brahmana would marry her.
1283 There are grains left after a crop has been harvested, or after grain has been milled. If one subsists on these leftovers, this is known as unchavritti. The mode of subsistence followed by a pigeon refers to this, picking up grain from the ground.
1284 Devayani.
1285 That it might be adharma to refuse a lady.
1286 Yadu wanted to renounce everything. However, he wanted to experience material pleasures first.
1287 A father’s.
1288 Yayati.
1289 Hari is all pervasive, like the sky.
1290 Yayati.
1291 A fire.
1292 The five senses and the mind.
1293 The three gunas.
1294 About the goat.
1295 Travellers meet temporarily at a watering hole. Relatives are no more than that.
1296 Interpreted as the gross and/or subtle bodies.
1297 Five senses of perception and five organs of action.
1298 Lakshmi.
1299 The apsara Menaka was her mother.
1300 Meaning that she agreed.
1301 In the gandharva form of marriage, the groom and bride fall in love and marry.
1302 Literally, a vessel made out of leather.
1303 Dirghatama.
1304 One badva numbers 13,084.
1305 The celestial women.
1306 The wives thought their husband would suspect them of infidelity.
1307 Bharata.
1308 Mamata. Brihaspati’s elder brother was Utathya. Because of Brihaspati’s curse, Utathya and Mamata’s child, Dirghatama, was born blind. Brihaspati and Mamata’s child was Bharadvaja.
1309 Bharadvaja.
1310 The shloka is terse and has to be expanded and explained. The gods made Brihaspati and Mamata speak these words to each other. This is the natural explanation. The word dvaja means born from two people and both Brihaspati and Mamata use this word. Brihaspati means that the child has been born from his semen and his brother’s kshetra. Mamata means that the child has been born from Brihaspati’s semen and herself. The word bhara means to nurture. Hence, Bharadvaja.
1311 Bharata’s.
1312 Bharadvaja’s name, after he was adopted by Bharata.
1313 Made out of wheat flour, sugar, ghee and milk.
1314 Of yoga.
1315 The pulkasa.
1316 The brahmana, vrishala, master of dogs and pulkasa.
1317 From pancha or five.
1318 That is, Panchalas. Panchala was divided into a North Panchala and a South Panchala. This is a description of North Panchala. The South Panchala lineage was through Bhallada.
1319 Jarasandha means joined by Jara; Jara was a demoness.
1320 The word for peace is shanti.
1321 A parivetta is someone who marries or accepts a share in a sacrifice before his elder brother.
1322 On the basis of Devapi’s story, recounted elsewhere, we have deviated from standard translations. The words are such that they do require some interpretation. Devapi had leprosy and was unworthy to succeed Pratipa. That is the reason he retired to the forest. Interpretations often suggest Devapi deviated from the norms. On the contrary, Devapi abided by the norms and it is the ministers and brahmanas who deviated. When Devapi refused the kingdom, Indra, the god of rains, showered down.
1323 Parashurama.
1324 Shantanu’s wife was Satyavati. Chitrangada and Vichitravirya were her sons. Satyavati was the daughter of a king of fishermen, hence the use of the word dasha, meaning lowly class.
1325 Satyavati. This son was Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa.
1326 The Bhagavata Purana.
1327 By Bhishma.
1328 The wind god.
1329 A putrika is a daughter who is regarded as a son. After marriage, she lives in her father’s household. Her son is regarded as her father’s son and becomes the heir. Chitrangadaa, the princess of Manipura, was a putrika. Therefore, Babhruvahana came to be regarded as the son of the king of Manipura.
1330 An atiratha is a great warrior, superior to a maharatha.
1331 The three Vedas.
1332 Hastinapura.
1333 Yayati’s son.
1334 Rishyashringa was the son of the sage Vibhandaka and a doe.
1335 Romapada. Romapada performed a sacrifice for offspring and Rishyashringa was brought to the sacrifice. Indra immediately showered down.
1336 Indra.
1337 Adhiratha.
1338 This son was Karna.
1339 Druhyu was Yayati’s son.
1340 Turvasu was Yayati’s son.
1341 This adopted son was Dushyanta.
1342 Not to be confused with Kunti, Pandu’s wife.
1343 Bhadrasena is the same as Bhadrasenaka.
1344 That is, Arjuna.
1345 The five senses and the mind.
1346 With Parashurama.
1347 Meaning Sagara.
1348 An elephant, a horse, a chariot, women, an arrow, a treasury, a garland, garments, a tree that yielded objects of desire, a javelin, a noose, a jewel, an umbrella and a vimana.
1349 She was a courtesan.
1350 Not to be confused with Pandu’s wife.
1351 Devavridha and Babhru.
1352 Thus known as Satyaki.
1353 The text doesn’t make it clear that these were Andhaka’s sons.
1354 Tumburu was a gandharva.
1355 Viduratha was Chitraratha’s son.
1356 Dundubhi is a kettledrum and anaka is a larger drum.
1357 Shura.
1358 Pritha is also known as Kunti.
1359 Hiranyaksha.
1360 Vinda and Anuvinda.
1361 The same as Rashtrapalikaa.
1362 As will be apparent, this is not a complete listing of all of Vasudeva’s wives.
1363 Bhadra’s name.
1364 There are eight Vasus.
1365 Since Balarama was Shesha.
1366 This is very similar to Bhagavad Gita 4.7.
1367 Since Krishna’s birth is still in the future, there is a slight tense problem in the text.
1368 The simile makes the English sound strange. The hands joined in salutation are cupped palms used to touch the water of tirthas, while the ears are used to hear.
1369 This is the King Nimi, who made them blink.
1370 Jaya is Arjuna’s name. Krishna announced this as Arjuna’s victory.