fully fringed discs
of gold that are worn by Hindu ladies on the forehead and that hang by
thin chains of gold attached to the hair. In Bengal, ladies of
respectable houses wear a kind of ornament called 'Chandrahara' or the
moon-wreath. This ornament is worn round the waist, on the hip. Several
chains of gold, from half a dozen to a dozen, having a large disc of
well-carved gold to which they are attached, constitute this really very
beautiful ornament. The disc is divided into two halves, attached to each
other by hinges, so that in sitting down, the ornament produces no
inconvenience.

456. In the Santi Parva it has been explained that in ancient times kings
sometimes performed sacrifices causing altars to be raised at small
distances from one another. These distances were measured by hurling a
heavy piece of wood called Sami, so that throwing the Sami from one
altar, the next altar would be created upon the spot where it fell.

457. i.e. if a sinful man mends his conduct, he succeeds in warding off
the misery and evils to which he would otherwise be subject in
consequence of his sins.

458. What is said here is this: certain persons have the ugly habit of
picking up little clods of earth and pound them into dust, while sitting
on the ground and engaged in talking. The habit also of tearing the grass
while sitting on the ground may be marked. It should be remembered that
the people of India in ancient times used often to sit on the bare
ground. As to cutting off the nails with the teeth, it is an ugly habit
with many young men.

459. The Brahma Muhurta is that when the sun is just below the horizon.

460. The prayers said in the morning and the evening are also spoken of
as adoring the two twilights.

461. 'One should always observe the vow of Brahmacharya' means that one
should abstain from sexual congress except with one's wedded wives and in
the proper season.

462. The Bombay text reads the second line differently. What is meant, is
that the wounds inflicted by wordy shafts rankle and fester and lead to
death.

463. Samyava is a thin cake of unleavened bread, fried with ghee, pounded
and again made up into an oblong form with fresh bread, sugar and spices,
and again fried with ghee. Krisara is a kind of liquid food made of milk,
sesame, rice, sugar, and spices. Sashkuli is a kind of pie. Payasa is
rice boiled in sugar and milk.

464. Antarddhane implies 'in darkness'; hence one should always examine
t