Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Penguin Translated Texts) (87 page)
Read Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Penguin Translated Texts) Online
Authors: Bibek Debroy
82
Shiva.
83
The text uses both
astra
and
shastra
. These are both weapons and the words are often used synonymously. However, an astra is a weapon that is hurled or released, while a shastra is held in the hand.
84
Since Maheshvara is mentioned, the goddess probably means Parvati.
85
The text uses both astra and shastra.
86
Shastras.
87
Naraka is a demon who had been killed by Krishna.
88
Indra.
89
Samshaptakas are warriors who have taken an oath in battle, either to kill the enemy or fall in battle.
95
Duryodhana is speaking.
98
Vidura’s name. The word means the son of a shudra mother and a kshatriya father.
1
The deer that had not been killed so far.
2
Yudhishthira’s charioteer.
1
It is not obvious who is meant.
2
Collecting grains of rice that would be left around markets.
3
Literally, a sacrifice that satisfies one’s wishes.
9
The messenger of the gods.
10
Since Mudgala has walked seven steps with the messenger of the gods, he can presume the messenger to be a friend.
11
Mudgala is being addressed thus because the Moudgalya lineage originated with him.
12
The Vishvadevas.
13
The text says
yaamaa
s, in the plural. Yaamaas are precepts of social discipline that are an integral part of yoga, in combination with
niyama.
This must be a personification of that.
14
A dhama is a sacred place of pilgrimage and in the plural, these must be personifications of those.
15
The name of Indra’s pleasure garden.
16
The Ribhus are Vedic gods, identified with the rays of the sun. They are often Indra’s companions. There are three gods—Ribhu, Vaja and Vibhvan, collectively known as the Ribhus. In later myths, Ribhu became Brahma’s son.
17
The Ribhus.
18
Kalpa
, one of Brahma’s days, a very long period of time.
19
The critical text uses the word loka. Some other versions say deva. Deva is more appropriate, since there are thirty-three gods.
20
Ayuta, also meaning ten thousand.
21
A lower order in rebirth.
22
The word used is tata, used affectionately towards any senior.
23
Nirvana, a word with many different nuances. While it means extinction or extinguishing, it stands for absolute extinction or annihilation and the final emancipation and bliss that comes from union with the supreme soul.
1
Jayadratha was already married to Duhshala, Duryodhana’s sister.
2
Dhata and Vidhata are different manifestations of the creator. Vibhu means Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva. Savita is the sun-god.
3
Jayadratha is described as the king of Sindhu, Souvira and Shibi. Souvira and Shibi were kingdoms adjacent to Sindhu and had probably been conquered by Jayadratha.
4
Jayadratha.
5
Kotikashya is the king of Shibi.
9
This isn’t made explicit. Six others could have entered the cottage with Jayadratha, but this doesn’t sound plausible, especially since we don’t know who these other six were. It could be that the cottage normally held six—the five Pandavas and Droupadi. In that sense, Jayadratha was the seventh in the cottage.
10
Sharabha has different meanings. In this context, it probably means a young elephant.
11
Kind of deer.
12
Arjuna’s name.
13
Different dynasties and lineages are listed in different places. They don’t quite add up to seventeen, the number is actually more. So it isn’t clear which are the seventeen Jayadratha is referring to.
14
Valour, power, poise, dexterity, generosity and kingship.
15
Krishna and Arjuna. Though rarely used, Krishna is also a name for Arjuna.
16
Arjuna’s name. Literally, the one with a diadem on his head.
17
Krishna.
22
The chariots.
23
The maid’s suggestion is fairly obvious. Jayadratha may rape Droupadi, or force her to submit against her wishes.
24
Alternatively, lily.
25
Mridanga.
26
Makara is a mythical aquatic animal, which can be translated as crocodile or shark.
27
Freed of their lives.
28
Arjuna.
33
Kotikashya.
34
An unrivalled warrior, whose valour is unlimited, greater than a maharatha.
35
From his chariot.
36
Probably Sahadeva, since Nakula’s chariot had been destroyed.
37
Arjuna.
38
Jayadratha.
39
Arjuna.
40
Yudhishthira.
41
Leaving five tufts is the standard practice at the time of tonsuring.
42
Jayadratha.
46
Shiva. Vrishadhvaja is also Shiva’s name. And Shiva is also the three-eyed one.
49
Brahma.
50
There is some divergence with standard accounts. In standard accounts, the sage Vishrava is the son of the sage Pulasyta. Vishrava had two sons from two different wives—Kubera and Ravana. Both of them are thus known as Vaishravana. Kubera is the lord of riches and also has a son named Nalakubara. He is also friendly with Ishana (Shiva). In all accounts, Kubera originally ruled over Lanka. Kubera is also a lokapala (guardian of the world).
51
The text uses the word
rajaraja
. Raja is king, but the word raja also means yaksha. So Rajaraja is the king of the yakshas. Kubera is known as Naravahana because he has a man (nara) as his mount (vahana).
52
Dashagriva is Ravana’s name, meaning ten-headed, or more accurately, ten-necked.
53
This is probably a reference to the five sacred fires—dakshina, garhapatya, ahavaniya, sabhya and avasathya.
54
Ravana, the one with ten faces.
55
This means that Ravana had successively offered more than one head into the fire.
56
Bhuta
s or ghosts.
57
Kubera.
64
The word
rama
means pleasing, delightful, gratifying.
65
Yuvaraja
. Literally, the young king.
66
Rama’s.
67
Spelt as Kousalya, rather than Koushalya, here.
68
Kaikeyi.
69
Raghava is Rama’s name, because one of his ancestors was Raghu.
70
Janaka’s kingdom was Videha and its capital was Mithila. So Sita is known as Vaidehi and Maithili.
71
Bharata and Shatrughna were away at the time, visiting their maternal uncles.
72
In Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. The Chitrakuta region spills over into Uttar Pradesh too.
73
Bharata did not return to Ayodhya, awaiting Rama’s return. He chose a place named Nandigrama, a short distance away from Ayodhya. He had brought back Rama’s sandals and placed these on the throne, as a symbol of kingship.
74
Khara’s younger brother.
75
They were severed by Lakshmana.
76
Ravana.
77
Coastal town in Karnataka, with a famous Shiva temple.
78
Respectively, Maricha and Ravana. Maricha is doing the initial speaking.
79
Rama’s name, because Kakutstha was one of his ancestors and Raghu was Kakutstha’s son.
80
Funeral rites, since Maricha knew that he was certain to die.
81
Tridanda
, the mark of a mendicant who has renounced the world. Three poles are tied together as one and held in the right hand.
82
The nakshatra Mrigashira, or deer’s head in the sky, straddling Taurus and Gemini. Also known as Margashirsha. The twenty-seven nakshatras are sometimes described as Brahma’s daughters and Brahma lusted after Rohini, chasing her in the form of a deer or antelope. Shiva (Rudra) pursued the deer and cut off one of its heads. This became Mrighashira.
83
A rakshasa.
86
From Ravana’s body.
