Nala and Damayanti and Other PoemsMilman, Henry Hart
Religion
Nala and Damayanti and Other Poems
Milman, Henry Hart
Sanskrit poetry -- Translations into English
[Footnote 118: p. 63. l. 9. _To desire this deed unholy._ A second marriage in
a woman is considered in India an inexpiable breach of conjugal
fidelity. "A virtuous wife ascends to heaven, though she have no
child, if after the decease of her lord she devotes herself to pious
austerity. But a widow, who from a wish to bear children, slights her
deceased husband by marrying again, brings disgrace on herself here
below, and shall be excluded from the seat of her lord." MENU, v,
160-161. "She who neglects her former (purva) lord, though of a lower
class, and takes another (para) of a higher, becomes despicable in
this world, and is called para purva, or one who had a different
husband before." Ibid. 163.]
[Footnote 119: p. 64. l. 4. _With the ten good marks distinguished._ Avarttas
are "locks," curls, or twists of the hair in certain forms on
different parts of the body--here they are apparently: forehead 1,
head 2, chest 2, ribs 2, flanks 2, crupper 1. In the Magha, v. 9, we
have the term Avarttina applied to horses; on which the commentator
observes, "Avarttina signifies horses having the ten Avarttas, marks
of excellence; they are, two on the breast, two on the head, two on
the hollows of the ribs, two on the hollows of the flanks, and one on
the crupper (Prapata); these are called the ten Avarttas. Avartta
means an eddy, or whirlpool, and the name is applied to dispositions
of the hair of a horse which resemble a whirlpool." WILSON.]
[Footnote 120: p. 64. l. 4. _--born in Sindhu_. The Sindhu is the Indian name
for the Indus; the neighbouring territory is called Sind. See Asiatic
Researches, viii. 336.]
[Footnote 121: p. 65. l. 7. _Matali_. The charioteer of Indra. See Rhaguvansa,
xii, 86, and Sacontala.]
[Footnote 122: p. 66. l. 10. _Ten miles, lo, it lies beyond us._ A Yojana;
according to some eleven, according to others five or six English
miles. I have given a round number.]
[Footnote 123: p. 66. l. 12. _Vibhitak_. 'Beleric Myrobalan.' WILSON, Sanscrit
Dict. in voce.]
[Footnote 124: p. 66. l. 21. _Kotis_. A Koti is ten millions.]
[Footnote 125: p. 68. l. 11. _Kali_. It must be remembered that Kali, while
within the body of Nala, had been enchanted by the serpent Karkotaka.]
[Footnote 126: p. 68. l. 16. Damayanti; who had cursed in the forest all who had
caused the misery of Nala.]
[Footnote 127: p. 68. l. 25. Compare Prospero's power in the Tempest.]
[Footnote 128: p. 70. l. 4. _All the region round him echoing--with the thunders
of his car._ This scene rather reminds us of the watchman reporting
the rapid approach of Jehu, "The driving is like the driving of Jehu
the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously." II Kings ix, 20.]
[Footnote 129: p. 70. l. 6. _In their joy they pawed and trampled._ The horses
of Nala had been before conveyed to the city of king Bhima by
Varshneya.]
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