ilent recitation of certain sacred mantras or of
the name of some deity. In the case of the inhabitants of White Island,
the silent recitation was no recitation of mantras or words, but was a
meditation on incorporeal Brahma. The next verse makes this clear.

1806. This would seem to show that it was the Roman Republic which the
pilgrims saw.

1807. Professor Weber thinks that this has reference to the absence of
idols or images. The pilgrims saw no deities there such as they had in
their own temples.

1808. Professor Weber wrongly renders the words Purvaja and
sikshaksharaiamanwitah. The first word does not, as he renders it, imply,
eldest son of God, but simply first-born. It is seen in almost every hymn
in the Mahabharata to the Supreme Deity. It is synonymous with
Adipurusha. Then siksha etc. does not, as he thinks, mean 'accompanied by
teaching,' but it is the science of Orthoepy and is one of the Angas
(limbs) of the Vedas. The Vedas were always chanted melodiously, the
science of Orthoepy was cultivated by the Rishis with great care.

1809. The Pancha-kala, or Pancha-ratra, or Sattwatas vidhi, means certain
ordinances laid down by Narada and other Rishis in respect of the worship
of Narayana.

1810. The sense is this: as all of them were practising that frame of
mind which resembles Brahma, they did not regard us, i.e., neither
honoured nor dishonoured us.

1811. Both the vernacular translators have erred in rendering this simple
verse.

1812. The construction seems to be this: Parangatimanuprapta iti
Brahmanah samanantaram naishthikam sthanam, etc. It does not mean, as K.
P. Singha puts it, that he proceeded to Brahman's region, nor, as the
Burdwan translator puts it, that having gone to Brahman's region he
attained to the highest end. The sense, on the other hand, is that as his
was the very highest end, he, therefore, ascended to a spot that is
higher than Brahman's region. The simple meaning is that king Uparichara
attained to identification with Brahma.

1813. i.e., when they have cursed thee, their curse should fructify. Thou
shouldst not do anything that may have the effect of nullifying that
curse.

1814. To this day, in many religious rites, these streaks of ghee are
poured with mantras recited the while. They are called Vasudhara and are
poured along the surface of a wall. First, a waving line of red is drawn
horizontally on the wall. Then seven spots are made under that line. Then
with the