Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Penguin Translated Texts)
Page 69
187 The word yama means restraint or control.
188 Vivasvat is the sun-god and Yama is his son.
189 In the case of the other boons, Yama had qualified it by saying that Savitri could not ask for Satyavan’s life. In this case, that caveat wasn’t mentioned.
190 The vessel used for collecting fruit.
191 Goutama’s disciple.
192 Dyumatsena.
193 The goddess Savitri.
194 Dyumatsena.
195 Elephants, horses, chariots and infantry.
196 Yuvaraja.
197 Markandeya.
1 Heaven, where Arjuna had gone to obtain divine weapons.
2 Yudhishthira.
3 Vibhavasu is the sun-god’s name and Karna was his son.
4 Indra killed a demon named Paka.
5 Karna was naturally born with these.
6 The sun is the lord of the cows.
7 Bala and Vritra were demons killed by Indra.
8 Svarbhanu is a name for Rahu, who causes eclipses.
9 Because he was brought up by Radha, Radheya is Karna’s name.
10 Vishakha is the twenty-first of the twenty-seven nakshatras. It has four main stars and the name itself means one that is fork-shaped, with branches, usually interpreted as possessing two forks or branches. That is because the two forks are identified with Indra and Agni.
11 Jamadagni’s son is Parashurama.
12 Indra.
13 Shakti.
14 Because Surya had appeared to him in a dream. Having awoken, Karna now told Surya about the dream.
15 Vrisha is Karna’s name.
16 Kuntibhoja was Kunti or Pritha’s father. The brahmana in question was the sage Durvasa.
17 The story of Agastya’s destruction of Vatapi has been told in Section 33. The Talajangha connection is less direct. The Talajanghas were destroyed by Sagara and the brahmana Aurva gave Sagara the weapon for the destruction.
18 Shura was Kuntibhoja’s friend and Kuntibhoja had no offspring. So Shura gave Pritha to Kuntibhoja as an adopted daughter.
19 Shura.
20 The Chyavana–Sukanya story has been recounted in Section 33.
21 The Atharva Veda.
22 Durvasa.
23 The root kan means satisfied or pleased. While kanya can rightly be translated as maiden or young girl, it specifically also means a virgin or a girl who is ten years old.
24 In the sense of being free to unite.
25 Earrings and armour.
26 Kashyapa’s wife, the mother of the gods, who are therefore known as Adityas.
27 The word used is nabhi, which translates as navel. However, nabhi also means the central point.
28 Meaning Kuntibhoja.
29 The moon.
30 To make it waterproof.
31 Another name for the river Ganga.
32Vasu means wealth or riches, as well as gold.
33 Varana means elephant and Varanasahrya is another name for Hastinapura.
34 Rama is Parashurama. Five types of weapons are mukta (those that are released from the hand, like a chakra), amukta (those that are never released, like a sword), muktamukta (those that can be released or not released, like a spear), yantramukta (those that are released from an implement, like an arrow) and mantramukta (magical weapons unleashed with incantations). Of these, the text is referring to the first four.
35 Arjuna.
36 Another name for Surya.
37 Arjuna.
38 A reference to Vishnu’s boar (varaha) incarnation.
39Kartana means to cut or slice. However, Vikartana is the name of the sun-god and the sun-god’s son is Vaikartana.
40 Jayadratha.
1 Yudhishthira.
2 Yudhishthira.
3 Used to light a fire through friction.
4 The word used is tata, which means son. But it is affectionately used for anyone who is younger.
5 The word used is tata, which means son. But it is affectionately used for anyone who is younger.
6 The word used is tata, which means son. But it is affectionately used for anyone who is younger.
7 Vijaya is Arjuna’s name, as is Bibhatsu, or Gudakesha. Shvetavahana (meaning the one whose steeds are white) is also one of Arjuna’s names and so is Savyasachi.
8 The word used is tata, which means son. But it is affectionately used for anyone who is younger.
9 The architect of the gods.
10 Five-leafed tree (Vitex negundo) with medicinal properties, also known as nirgundi.
11 Flowering plant.
12 Kind of tree.
13 The sacred fig tree.
14 Lokapalas.
15 Shakuni.
16 The word used is tata, which means son. But it is affectionately used for anyone who is younger.
17 The yaksha has said that he is a crane.
18 The four Pandavas.
19 Specifically, the shrutis or revealed texts.
20 The word used is dvitiyavana, meaning one who has a second. But the meaning remains obscure. However, dvitiya also means the second in a family, that is, a son. Perhaps the sense is that one obtains a son through perseverance.
21 Prana.
22 The critical edition uses the word pravadatam, meaning those who speak. Some other versions use the word prasavatam, meaning those who are born. Since the answer is a son, the latter fits better than the former.
23 The critical edition uses the word nrinam, meaning men. Some other versions use the word trinam, meaning grass. Grass does fit better than men.
24 The three Vedas—Rig Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda.
25 The water.
26 Meaning brahma muhurta, those specific times of the day that are regarded as being presided over by the brahmana. They occur towards the early part of the day.
27 The five qualities of equanimity, self-control, abstinence, control of the senses and yoga.
28 Hunger, thirst, sorrow, delusion, fear and death. Hunger and thirst occur early in life, sorrow and delusion later and fear and death right at the end.
29 The brahmana’s.
30 The restoration to life of the four Pandavas and the encounter between the father (Dharma) and the son (Yudhishthira).
31 The Pandavas and the ascetics respectively.
32 Shakuni.
33 Pursued by Vritra, Indra hid inside a mountain.
34 Hayashira (head of a horse) or Hayagriva (neck of a horse) is one of Vishnu’s incarnations. Vishnu, as an Aditya, is also Aditi’s son. There are different stories associated with Hayashira, some connected with killing a demon named Hayagriva, others connected with the demons Madhu and Kaitabha.
35 This is a reference to Vishnu’s vamana (dwarf) incarnation.
36 Ourva was the son of Chyavana and the father of Jamadagni. He was born from his mother’s thigh (uru).
37 This is a reference to Rama’s story.
38 Arjuna’s name, the wielder of the Gandiva.
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First published by Penguin Books India 2011
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