f the right of self-defence.

119. There were, as now, persons with whom the reading or recitation of
the scriptures was a profession. The functions of those men were not
unlike those of the rhapsodists of ancient Greece.

120. i.e., one possessed of a knowledge of the Vedas.

121. With very slight verbal alterations, this verse, as also the first
half or the next, like many others, occurs in Manu, Vide Manu, Ch. II, V,
157-58.

122. Pratyasanna-vyasaninam is explained by Nilakantha as 'I stand near
these distressed brothers of mine' (for whose sake only I am for
accepting sovereignty). This is certainly very fanciful. The plain
meaning is, 'I am about to lay down my life.'

123. The priest of the Kauravas.

124. Sami is the Acacia suma; Pippala is the Piper longum; and Palasa is
the Butea frondosa. Udumvara is the Ficus glomerata.

125. These are peace, war, marching, halting, sowing dissensions, and
defence of the kingdom by seeking alliances and building forts, &c.

126. For if he had acted otherwise, he would have been called ungrateful.

127. The literal meaning of Purusha, as applied to the Supreme Being, is
'One that pervades all forms in the Universe.'

128. i.e., Aditi and of Aditi's self as born in different shapes at
different times.

129. Yugas may mean either the three ages Krita, Treta and Dwapara, or,
the three pairs such as Virtue and Knowledge, Renunciation and Lordship,
and Prosperity and Fame.

130. Virat is one superior to an Emperor and Swarat is one superior to a
Virat.

131. Vishnu, assuming the form of a dwarf, deluded the Asura Vali into
giving away unto him three worlds which he forthwith restored to Indra.

132. The son of Uttanapada, who in the Krita age had adored Vishnu at a
very early age and obtained the most valuable boons.

133. Sudharman was the priest of the Kurus. How came Dhaumya, who was the
priest of the Pandavas, to have from before an abode in the Kuru capital?

134. This is an allusion to Krishna's having covered the three worlds
with three of his steps for deluding the Asura Vali and depriving him of
universal sovereignty.

135. There are three states of consciousness in the case of ordinary men,
viz., waking, dream, and sound sleep. The fourth state, realisable by
Yogins alone, is called Turiya. It is the state of perfect
unconsciousness of this world, when the soul, abstracted within itself,
is said to be fixed upon the Supreme Being or some single object