Mahabharata Vol. 2 (Penguin Translated Texts)

by Debroy, Bibek

  33 Suparna is Garuda’s mother.

  34 It isn’t clear from the Mahabharata what kind of a weapon a bhushundi was. It was a weapon that was hurled and could have been a simple rock. However, in descriptions of the Kurukshetra War, it seems to have been more sophisticated than a simple rock.

  35 The gods number thirty or thirty-three.

  36 The staff of death.

  37 A shibika is a palanquin, the god of wealth or Kubera’s weapon.

  38 Noose.

  39 This seems to be a special kind of chakra, though Shiva’s weapon is actually a trident. However, the word Shiva is also used generically for any god.

  40 Herbs.

  41 Bow.

  42 Club.

  43 Spear.

  44 Yama.

  45 Battleaxe.

  46 Mace.

  47 Krishna and Arjuna. Achyuta means one who does not decay and is usually used for Krishna.

  48 Paka was a demon killed by Indra.

  49 Literally, those who move about (chara) in the night (nisha), but the term is also specifically used for goblins, jackals, owls and snakes.

  50 Kinnaras are mythical and semi-divine species, with human bodies and heads of horses. They are the companions of Kubera.

  51 Indra.

  52 A demon killed by Indra.

  53 The chataka birds, but also peacocks.

  54 The term for this is urdhvareta, meaning those who hold up their semen.

  55 Yama, the god of death.

  56 In this context, this should be interpreted as a period earmarked for studying, rather than lifelong celibacy.

  57 There are several hells (naraka). A son is named putra because he saves (trana) the father from the hell named put. This hell is also called punnam, which means, by the name of put.

  58 The former human wife.

  59 The way of the birds.

  60 The sacrificial fire is of three types—garhapatya (in the household), ahavaniya (used in sacrifices) and dakshina (the one placed facing the south).

  61 The number eight has two possible interpretations. The first is the ordinary fire and the other seven consisting of the sacrificial fire in seven different places—the wife’s position at the sacrifice, the soma altar, the general altar, the seat of the priest who maintains the sacrificial fire, the area reserved for the assisting priests, the place where the rituals are performed and the place where the worship is performed. The second and perhaps more convincing explanation is the ordinary aggregated fire and the seven flames or tongues a fire is supposed to have—karali (frightful), dhumini (full of smoke), shveta (white), lohita (red), neelalohita (bluish red), suvarna (golden) and padmaraga (red like a ruby).

  62 Jataveda is one of Agni’s names and means that the Vedas are born from (jata) the fire.

  63 Dhata means creator and is also a term used for Brahma and Vishnu.

  64 The preceptor of the gods. In earlier times, Brihaspati was also a term used for Indra.

  65 The word yama itself means two or a couple and can therefore also be an adjective used for the two Ashvins. However, if it is not an adjective, the two Yamas can only mean Yama and his sister Yami.

  66 The god of wind or Vayu.

  67 Hiranyareta, the one with the golden (hiranya) seed (reta) is a name used for the fire and for the sun.

  68 Pavana is the name of the wind and means the purifier.

  69 The word used in the text is Shukra. Shukra is the preceptor of the gods and is also the planet Venus. But it means the virile one and is also a term used for Agni.

  70 The time for destruction.

  71 Jatharagni is the digestive fire, that is the gastric fluids, inside the stomach (jathara).

  72 The god of the ocean or of water.

  73 The tide goes away, bypassing houses on the shore. In that sense, the fire should bypass the Sharngakas.

  74 The truth.

  75 Jarita.

  76 Instead of wretch, the word kapurusha can also be translated as coward.

  77 The saptarshis or seven (sapta) great sages (rishi) were born from Brahma’s mental powers and were Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vasishtha. They are also the seven stars in the constellation Ursa Major. Arundhati was Vasishtha’s wife and is also a companion star to Vasishtha in Ursa Major. Arundhati was a devoted wife, except for one transgression, which is why Arundhati is invoked in marriage ceremonies. The star Arundhati is not as dazzling as the star Vasishtha, so it is often difficult to make it out in the night sky and there is also a belief that a person who is approaching death can no longer see Arundhati.

  78 Agneya and vayavya are divine weapons, respectively associated with the gods of fire and the wind. The former causes flames, while the latter causes wind.

  1 Architectural designs.

  2 Maya.

  3 Rice cooked with sweetened milk.

  4 Cubits. Literally the word means a forearm; so the length or span of a forearm.

  5 Kunti was his aunt on his father’s side. Krishna’s father was in Dvaraka.

  6 Krishna, also used for Vishnu, meaning the lord of the senses.

  7 Droupadi.

  8 This can mean grain of any kind. But it is specifically used for threshed and winnowed rice that has not been dehusked.

  9 A name for Garuda, as well as for his elder brother Aruna.

  10 The name of Krishna and Vishnu’s bow, the word signifying that it was made of horn.

  11 A brief instant of time.

  12 Lunar day.

  13 They were yoked to the chariot.

  14 A whisk or fan made out of a yak’s tail and a sign of royalty.

  15 About the time of return.

  16 Name for Vishnu or Krishna, meaning the brave one. Also a name for Balarama.

  17 The word used in the text is bhanda, which means a vessel, as well as treasure. If the word is translated as vessel, the jewels have been kept in a vessel. But the word transalted as treasure, seems more appropriate given the context.

  18 Vrishaparva is the king of the danavas. Since he is faithful to his promises, he would not have appropriated the treasure.

  19 Yuvanashva’s son. His name was Mandhatri and he was born from Yuvanashva’s belly.

  20 Bhagiratha was King Sagara’s great grandson and needed to bring the celestial river Ganga down to earth, so that his 60,000 ancestors, Sagara’s sons, might be freed. Accordingly, he performed penances.

  21 That is, the sacrificial stakes need not have been thus ornamented.

  22 Meaning, Maya.

  23 The word kimkara means servant. Literally, a kimkara is someone who asks what (kim) he should do (kara).

  24 Lapis lazuli.

  25 This may not be what is meant. The text uses the word dvija, which means any oviparous animal and can refer to fish, snakes or birds. Most translators have interpreted the word as bird (aquatic). But fish seems more plausible.

  26 This may also be a metaphor. The water on the lotus leaves may have been compared with dots of pearls.

  27 They mistook it for land.

  28 Ducks.

  29 Geese.

  30 The Greeks, but can also be applied to all foreigners or barbarians.

  31 Indra.

  32 The words used in the text are rourava and ajina. Ruru is a deer and rourava is its skin. Ajina can be used to mean the hide of a tiger, lion or elephant too, but is commonly used for the hide of a black antelope.

  33 Pradyumna.

  34 Yuyudhana is one of Satyaki’s names.

  35 Time. The word also means a cymbal. So an alternative translation is, knowledgeable in the playing of cymbals.

  36 Keeping time in music.

  37 Yudhishthira.

  38 Peace or alliance, war, marching or an expedition, halting or pausing, seeking shelter and duplicity.

  39 The traditional four means are sama (conciliation or negotiation), dana (bribery), danda (punishment) and bheda (dissension). To these one adds maya (delusion or deceit), upeksha (neglect) and indrajala (ma
gic) to obtain seven means.

  40 The number fourteen isn’t clear. The most plausible explanation is the fourteen branches of knowledge—the four Vedas, the six Vedangas, the Dharmashastras, the Puranas, Mimamsa and Tarka.

  41 The eight royal duties—acceptance or seizure, giving of gifts, use of servants, prohibition, speech, conduct, punishment and purification.

  42 One who looks after the fort, the executioner, the one in charge of law, the messenger, the priest and the soothsayer.

  43 There is a problem of translation here. The word used in the text is tirtha, which means several things, including a place of pilgrimage. Eighteen places of pilgrimage on the enemy’s side and fifteen on one’s own side don’t make a great deal of sense. However, the word tirtha, also means minister. It is not obvious why there should be eighteen ministers on the enemy’s side, and who they are, and why there should be fifteen on one’s own side.

  44 The word used is patita, which can also be interpreted in the specific sense of having fallen from one’s caste.

  45 Elephants, cavalry and infantry.

  46 Respectively, the four techniques of conciliation, donations, chastisement and dissension, used to govern.

  47 Elephants, cavalry, infantry and chariots.

  48 Elephants, cavalry, infantry, chariots, charioteers, servants, allies and spies.

  49 These pleasures are obviously intended for the later part of the day. They must presumably be known in the forenoon so that arrangements can be made.

  50 Unfortunately, one can’t readily deduce the rate of interest, per cent. One pratika is the amount that can be bought with a coin known as karshapana, but the karshapana itself had different values.

  51 The word used is varta, which in general, means the professions of agriculture, trade, animal husbandry and moneylending. However, the word varta is also used for agriculture in particular.

  52 The five officers who are in charge of the city, the fort, the countryside, the treasury and punishing criminals.

  53 The sense isn’t clear. It probably means knowing those (the spies) who are inside the enemy’s kingdom.

  54 The day is divided into eight yamas, each yama consisting of three hours. The night consists of three yamas and is therefore also known as yami or yamini.

  55 The word used is paschima, which means last, as well as west.

  56 The eight divisions of medicine—digestive, pediatrics, planetary influences, thorns, bites, secretions, sores, poison and their treatment.

  57 The three Vedas, the Atharva Veda not being counted.

  58 A fee, remuneration or gift offered to brahmanas. A specific type of dakshina is offered to a teacher or preceptor on successful completion of one’s studies.

  59 A pundarika is a lotus, usually the white lotus. But it is also the name of a sacrifice.

  60 Covetousness on the part of those who should do the punishing, that is, there is no bribery.

  61 Maintenance of the sacred fire and rendering offerings to it.

  62 Literally, Brahma’s staff. However, the expression is used more for the curse of a brahmana.

  63 In this context, varna clearly means caste.

  64 Yama is the king of the ancestors.

  65 Kubera, the lord of treasure and wealth, lives in Kailasa.

  66 Brahma.

  67 Yama’s father is Vivasvat, the sun. Hence, Yama is Vaivasvata.

  68 Descendant of Kuru. In this case, Yudhishthira.

  69 A yojana is a measure of distance and is between eight and nine miles.

  70 Shachi is Indra’s wife. Mahendra means the great Indra and is one of Indra’s ephithets. Shri and Lakshmi were originally independent goddesses, but eventually became identical. Shri is the goddess of prosperity, while Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth.

  71 The word used is lohita, which can also be translated as copper.

  72 These are feminine personifications of modesty, fame and radiance respectively.

  73 Faith.

  74 Wisdom.

  75 The goddess of learning, also a river.

  76 A stobha is a sacrificial hymn.

  77 Saptarshi or seven great sages.

  78 Brahmana sages.

  79 Region in north India, around Kumaon. Its capital was Alaka, located on the Alakananda river.

  80 Sunitha has been mentioned before, so has Nala of Nishadha. It is of course possible that more than one person had the same name.

  81 The region around the Punjab, though in the text the reference is to the king of the region.

  82 That is, Rama, the son of Dasharatha.

  83 That is, Parashurama, the son of Jamadagni.

  84 Matsya and Virata are the names of the same kingdom, in today’s Rajasthan.

  85 The name of a royal lineage, difficult to identify beyond that.

  86 The name of a royal lineage, difficult to identify beyond that.

  87 There were a hundred kings named Dhritarashtra.

  88 There were eighty kings named Janamejaya.

  89 There were one hundred kings named Brahmadatta.

  90 It is not clear who these Iris were.

  91 There were thousands of kings with this name.

  92 Time or destiny, personified.

  93 Death personified.

  94 Agnishvatta, a term used for brahmanas.

  95 All these are classes of ancestors.

  96 Havyavahana, the fire-god Agni.

  97 Tree associated with cremation grounds.

  98 The palasha tree is also called kimshuka.

  99 Kind of grass.

  100 Holy grass used in religious ceremonies.

  101 Yama.

  102 Pritha’s son, Yudhishthira.

  103 Varuna’s queen and consort.

  104 The name of a naga, not to be confused with the famous Krishna.

  105 The name of a naga, not to be confused with Arjuna.

  106 The name of a naga, not be confused with the famous Janamejaya.

  107 Bali was the son of Virochana and Prahlada’s (or Prahrada) grandson. Vishnu subjugated him in his dwarf (vamana) incarnation.

  108 There are different accounts of Naraka, all agreeing that he was the demon-king of Pragjyotisha and that Krishna killed him.

  109 Dashagriva is Ravana’s name. But there is no indication that Ravana is meant here.

  110 Not to be confused with the Bali mentioned earlier.

  111 Vishnu killed two demons named Madhu and Kaitabha. But there is no indication that this is the same Kaitabha.

  112 Varuna’s weapon is the noose (pasha).

  113 The word used for ocean is samudra. Actually, there are seven oceans, not four. However, the word samudra also means four, perhaps explaining why four oceans are mentioned.

  114 Another name for the Yamuna.

  115 Vidisha is the capital of the Dasharna region, the eastern parts of Malava. Vidisha is located on the banks of the rivers Vetravati (Betwa) and Kadambari. However, Vidisha is also a river and is probably the Beas, which joins the Vetravati. However, the Beas is also mentioned separately later.

  116 A river that joins the Krishna river.

  117 Beas.

  118 Sutlej.

  119 Chenab.

  120 Great river that has now dried up.

  121 Jhelum.

  122 Indus.

  123 Devanada means the river of the gods. In the translation, Devanada has been listed as a separate river. But it is also possible that this is an adjective for the Sindhu, describing it as the river of the gods.

  124 The river Krishna. The river Venna, which joins the Krishna, has already been mentioned earlier.

  125 Kubera. Kubera’s father was the sage Vishrava, Pulastya’s son. Hence, Kubera is known as Vaishravana. Kubera’s mother was Idavida. However, Vishrava had another wife named Kaikasi and through her, had Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana and Surpanakha as offspring.

  126 Semi-divine species, companions of Kubera.

  127 Alaka is the name of Kubera’s capital.

&n
bsp; 128 Beautiful gardens. Specifically, also the name of Indra’s garden.

  129 Offer homage to Kubera.

  130 The yakshas are a distinct species, companions of Kubera. They are not gandharvas. But the text here is not careful in maintaining these distinctions.

  131 Kubera’s son.

  132 Tryambaka, meaning three-eyed. One of Shiva’s names.

  133 Pashupati is Shiva’s name and his consort is Uma. Umapati is thus Shiva’s name.

  134 The name of a demon.

  135 Uma.

  136 The bhutas, spirits and goblins that are Shiva’s companions.

  137 Shiva.

  138 Kubera.

  139 Brahma’s.

  140 Aditya is the son of Aditi and refers to gods in general. In this context, it means the sun-god.

  141 Yudhishthira.

  142 Gopati, or lord of cattle, a term also used for Indra, Krishna, Shiva and Varuna.

  143 The sun-god.

  144 The twenty-seven nakshatras or constellations.

  145 Preceptor of the demons. But here, Venus.

  146 Preceptor of the gods. But here, Jupiter.

  147 Mercury.

  148 Mars. Literally, the red-coloured one.

  149 Saturn. The text actually says Shanaishchara, meaning the slow-moving one.

  150 This has no exact counterpart in the planets. Rahu is the demon that causes eclipses.

  151 Here, mantra means a hymn from the Rig Veda and rathantara means a hymn from the Sama Veda.

  152 The meaning of Harimat isn’t clear, though it might be a proper name.

  153 Probably meaning wealth and riches, unless it is a proper name.

  154 Meaning Indra.

  155 Mitra-Varuna being an example.

  156 Itihasa, usually equated with the two epics.

  157 That is, the Savitri mantra.

  158 The seven kinds of speech is a reference to languages spoken in seven different kingdoms, the languages named after the kingdoms—Magadhi, Avanti, Prachya, Shouraseni, Ardhamagadhi, Bahlika and Dakshinatya.