The Rāmāyana, Volume 2. Āranya, Kishkindhā, and Sundara...

[179]

Another reading is Gridhrā padesana—through the vulture's cunning. This the commentator considers as preferrable.—T.

[180]

The commentator explains in pure orthodox fashion: Because everything is in Rāma, people serve each other from the love and tenderness, which pertain to him.—T.

[181]

Karmanā (instru) by his action. The commentator explains: alarmed by his speech about eating up the monkeys. The passage is obscure.—T.

[182]

i. e. the worlds enveloped by his three steps during his Dwarf Incarnation.—T.

[183]

Aruna, son unto Vinatā.—T.

[184]

Clairvoyance attained by success in knowledge respecting the spiritual Golden eyes. Thus far the commentator. We leave the abstruse point to the apostles of theosophy and spiritism for illucidation.—T.

[185]

Lit. Daçaratha's son. The term it applied in especial to Rāma.—T.

[186]

The commentator supplies the elipsis thus,—"Coming within thy ken by luck, Sitā is living."

[187]

The passage is obscure. The commentator has glossed over this sloka, and the meaning is none the clearer for his explanation.—T.

[188]

While the saint was staying here.—T.

[189]

Consequent on Jatāyu having dropped down.—T.

[190]

South-east.—T.

[191]

The passage is obscure. This is however, all the explanation that the commentator has to give.—T.

[192]

Rāmanuya comments: "the confusion seized them as the sun was midway. They lost ail sense of direction. The faint succeeded".—T.

[193]

From the fact of the food not touching the earth, and other signs. It is humorous to read the explanation of the commentator as to the reason of Indra's supplying Sitā with food. "If Sitā remained fasting, Rāvana would forego his attachment for Vaidehi, on seeing her altered appearance; and thus his destruction could not take place. Further, if he saw Sitā retaining her former loveliness, he could conclude that Sitā, as also Rāma, were superhuman character, and that as such they could not be agents for his destruction according to the prophecy "Rāvana shall be slain by a human being." This inducing him to persist in his bellicose attitude towards Rāma, would bring down rain upon his head."—T.

[194]

For going to Lankā.—T.

[195]

The commentator says "The period is one hundred and eight years."—T.

[196]

For the loss of my plumage.—T.

[197]

Rāma and Lakshmana.—T.

[198]

Abhijitābhimukhān (acc.) Abhijit—the name of a star. Abhijit may also mean—he who is to be conquered. Then the sense would be, "the region in which Rāvana was."—T.