Maha-bharata Part 46

DEVA-RISHI, celestial saint.

DHARMA-RAJA, monarch by reason of piety and virtue.

DIKSHA, initiation into a sacred rite.

GANDHARVA, a cla.s.s of aerial beings; celestial singers.

GANDIVA, Arjun's bow.

GHEE or GHRITA, clarified b.u.t.ter.

GURU, preceptor.

HOMA, a sacrificial rite or offering.

HOWDA, the seat on an elephant.

IDA, a form of sacrificial offering.

KANKA, a bird of prey.

KHADIRA, an Indian tree.

KIMPURUSHA, a cla.s.s of imaginary beings.

KINNARA, a cla.s.s of imaginary beings with the face of a horse.

KOKIL, an Indian bird answering to the English cuckoo, and prized for its sweet note.

MAGHA, a, winter month.

MAHUT or MAHAMATRA, elephant driver MANTRA, hymn or incantation.

MLECHCHA, outer barbarian. All who were not Hindus were designated by this name.

MUNI, saint, anchorite.

NAGA, dweller of the snake-world; also a tribe in Eastern India.

NISHADA, an aboriginal race.

NISHKA, gold pieces of specified weight, used as money and also as ornament.

PANKHA (from Sanscrit _paksha_, wing), a fan.

PISHACHA, ghost or goblin.

PITRI-MEDHA, sacrifice and offering due to departed ancestors.

PRAVARGYA, a religious rite.

PURANA, a cla.s.s of religious works.

PURUSHA, the soul.

RAJASUYA, imperial sacrifice.

RAKSHA or RAKSHASA, monster or goblin.

RIK, hymn recited at sacrifice.

RISHI, saint; a holy man retired from the world and devoting himself to pious rites and contemplation.

SAMADHI, austere religious practice.

SAMAN, hymn chanted at sacrifice.

SAMI, an Indian tree.

SANKHA, sounding conch-sh.e.l.l.

SARVAVARNIN, an Indian tree.

SASTRA, scriptures and religious works.

SAVANA, a religious rite.

SAVITRI, a hymn; also the G.o.ddess of the hymn.

SIDDHA, holy celestial beings.

SLESHA, an Indian tree.

SUPARNA, celestial bird.

SWARGA, heaven.

SWASTI, a word uttered to dispel evil.

SWAYAMVARA, a form of bridal, the bride selecting her husband from among suitors.

TIRTHA, holy rites at the crossing of rivers.

TRIRATRA, a three nights' penance and fast.

VEDA, the most ancient and holiest scriptures of the Hindus.

VIJAYA, Karna's bow.

VINA, the lyre.

YAJNA, sacrifice.

YATO DHARMA STATO JAYAH, where there is virtue there is victory.

YUGA, the period of the world's existence.

In view of the comprehensive character of the "Temple Cla.s.sics,"

it has seemed desirable to include Mr. Dutt's version of India's great Epic--the work of a distinguished soldier and patriot. The importance of the poem is sufficiently explained in Mr. Dutt's Note. The translator's high position in Modern Indian Literature is attested by the following reference in Mr. R. W. Frazer's recent "Literary History of India" (an excellent survey of the whole subject, to which the reader should turn, more especially for its luminous account of the Epics and Dramas of Ancient India):--"A worthy follower of India's first great novelist (Bankim Chandra Chatterji) appeared in Romesh Chandra Dutt, the ablest native member of the Indian Civil Service. His novels have now pa.s.sed through five of six editions in the Bengali.... His translation of the 'Rig Veda Sanhita' into Bengali appeared in 1887; his valuable 'History of Civilisation of Ancient India,' in English, in three volumes, from 1889, &c. &c.... A whole library of 'Sorrow and Song' was poured forth by this Dutt family of Rambagan." Mr. Dutt is at present resident in London, holding the office of Lecturer in Indian History at University College, and devoting himself to literary and other labours.

I.G.

Nov. 15th, 1898