e the birth derived from the
preceptor is true regeneration, unfading and immortal. It is a question
whether any other nation paid such respect to persons employed in
teaching.

489. Kanchi is an ornament worn by ladies round the waist or hips. There
is a shining disc of gold or silver, which dangles on the hip. It is
commonly called Chandra-hara. The Nupura is an anklet of silver, with
moving bullets placed within, so that when the wearer moves, these make
an agreeable sound.

490. In verse 3, Avaguna means Nirguna; Ekatma means alone and asamhta
implies without associates i.e., helpless.

491. A Padma is a very large number. Instead of rendering such words
exactly, I have, in some of the preceding verses, following the sense, put
down 'millions upon millions of years.'

492. Avartanani means years. Four and twelve make sixteen, Sara is arrow.
The arrows are five in number as possessed by Kama, the deity of love.
The number of fires also is seven. The compound saragniparimana,
therefore, implies five and thirty. Adding this to sixteen, the total
comes up to one and fifty.

493. A countless number almost.

494. Here the exact number of years is not stated.

495. Some of the most beautiful ladies in Indian mythology and history
have been of dark complexion. Draupadi, the queen of the Pandavas, was
dark in colour and was called Krishna. As to women called Syamas, the
description given is that their bodies are warm in winter and cold in
summer, and their complexion is like that of heated gold.

496. A very large figure is given.

497. This sacrifice consisted of the slaughter of a human being.

498. The exact number of years is given, consisting of a fabulous figure.

499. Abhravakasasila is explained by Nilakantha as having the attribute
of the Avakasa or place of Abhra or the clouds. Hence, as stainless as
the ether, which, of course, is the purest of all the elements.

500. Sacrifices have for their soul either the actual rites laid down in
the scriptures or fasts of several kinds. The observance of fasts is
equal to the performance of sacrifices, for the merits of both are equal.

501. The word Tirtha as already explained (in the Santi Parva) means a
sacred water. There can be no Tirtha without water, be it a river, a
lake, or even a well. Bhishma, however, chooses to take the word in a
different sense.

502. The language is figurative. By Manasa is not meant the
trans-Himalayan lake of that name, whic