a's heaven.

923 The Lotus River, a branch of the heavenly Ganga.

_ 924 Trilokanatha_, Lord of the Three Worlds, is a title of Indra.

925 The celestial elephant that carries Indra.

926 As producers of the _ghi_, clarified butter or sacrificial oil, used
in fire-offerings.

927 This desertion to the enemy is somewhat abrupt, and is narrated with
brevity not usual with Valmiki. In the Bengal recension the
preceding speakers and speeches differ considerably from those given
in the text which I follow. Vibhishan is kicked from his seat by
Ravan, and then, after telling his mother what has happened, he
flies to Mount Kailasa where he has an interview with Siva, and by
his advice seeks Rama and the Vanar army.

928 Vrihaspati the preceptor of the Gods.

929 In Book II, Canto XXI, Kandu is mentioned by Rama as an example of
filial obedience. At the command of his father he is said to have
killed a cow.

930 A King of the Yakshas, or Kuvera himself, the God of Gold.

931 The brace protects the left arm from injury from the bow-string, and
the guard protects the fingers of the right hand.

932 The story is told in Book I, Cantos XL, XLI, XLII.

933 Fiends and enemies of the Gods.

934 The Indus.

935 Cowherds, sprung from a Brahman and a woman of the medical tribe,
the modern Ahirs.

936 Barbarians or outcasts.

_ 937 Vrana_ means wound or rent.

938 Here in the Bengal recension (Gorresio's edition), begins Book VI.

939 The Goomtee.

940 The Anglicized Nerbudda.

941 According to a Pauranik legend Kesari Hanuman's putative father had
killed an Asur or demon who appeared in the form of an elephant, and
hence arose the hostility between Vanars and elephants.

942 Here follows the enumeration of Sugriva's forces which I do not
attempt to follow. It soon reaches a hundred thousand billions.

943 I omit the rest of this canto, which is mere repetition. Ravan gives
in the same words his former answer that the Gods, Gandharvas and
fiends combined shall not force him to give up Sita. He then orders
Sardula to tell him the names of the Vanar chieftains whom he has
seen in Rama's army. These have already been mentioned by Suka and
Saran.

944 Lakshmi is the Goddess both of beauty and fortune, and is
represented with a lotus in her hand.

945 The