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203
THE SÜRYASATAKA OF MAYŪRA
Notes. 1. Lit. 'may Ravi, whose rising is worthy, etc., protect you.'
It is worthy of note that in the first three padas of this stanza the words
are arranged in pairs, a noun with an adverb, and that in each pair the
adverb begins with the same letter as the noun, or else some word or
syllable in the noun-compound imitates in sound some word or syllable
in the adverb-compound. This constitutes an interesting example of
yamaka, 'assonance'; cf. Introd., p. 91, and, for somewhat analogous in-
stances of assonance, cf. Süryaśataka, stanza 71, and Candidataka, stanzas
36 and 52. 2. The Siddhas have been mentioned in stanzas 6 (see note
8), 20, 52, 67 and 72 (see note 5). Bühler, when comparing the opening
stanzas of the Prasasti of Vatsabhatti with the Saryafataka (cf. Die
indischen Inschriften, as cited in stanza 6, note 8), notes how in both
poems it is stated that Sürya is praised by the semi-divine beings, such
as Siddhas, Gandharvas, etc. In this connection, cf. Mahabharata, 3. 3. 40,
where it is said that the Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Gandharvas, Yakşas, Guhyakas,
and the Nāgas (Serpents), desirous of obtaining boons, follow the course
of Surya's car through the sky; see also Vişnu Purana, 2. 10 (Wilson,
vol. 2, p. 284-289), which tells us that the Adityas, Rşis, Gandharvas,
Apsarases, Yakşas, Serpents and Rākṣasas guide the car of Sürya, one
of each class being assigned to this service during each of the twelve
months. 3. Lit. 'with a mixture of established truths.' The commen-
tary, however, explains this as meaning 'accompanied by the ceremony
called siddhanta. The commentary further notes that siddhantamiśram,
'with a mixture of established truths,' and fritavidhi, 'with performance
of ceremonial rites,' are adverbs (kriyaviseşaṇam). 4. Lit. fritavidhi
means ceremonial acts having been resorted to.' 5. The Caraṇas,
according to the commentary, were the 'bards of the gods (devavarna-
kaih). In the Mahabharata they are often mentioned as praising or wor-
shiping some person or object, especially in company with the Siddhas
and Gandharvas; cf. Sörensen, Index to the Names in the Mahabharata,
s.v. Carana. 6. Lit. 'with a fulness of flattery'; this the commentary
amplifies into 'with flattery, chiefly consisting of a reiteration of his
good qualities.' 7. According to the commentary, the foremost of the
Gandharvas was Viśvāvasu. He is the reputed author of Rig Veda 10.
139, being mentioned in that hymn (stanza 5) as its composer. For the
Gandharvas as a class, cf. stanza 36, note 2. 8. According to the com-
mentary, the Yātudhānas were the goblin Piśācas. They are mentioned in
the Rig Veda (1.35. 10; 7. 104. 15; 10. 87. 12-13), and appear to have been
flesh-eaters and causers of disease; cf. Macdonell, Vedic Mythology, p.
163. 9. Lit. 'with self-restraint.' 10. The Sadhyas are mentioned in
stanza 72 (see note 5). 11. The argha (sometimes spelled arghya),
which I have rendered as oblation,' is defined in Yajñavalkya's Smrti
(ed. in 2 vols. by H. N. Apate, Poona, 1903-1904), 1.289: dürvasarşapa-
puspanām dattva 'rgham ('rghyam) pürnam añjalim, 'having given as an
oblation a full handful of dürva grass, mustard and flowers.'
'with very joyful mind.'
cipated' are the yogins.
12. Lit.
13. According to the commentary, the 'eman-
14. The term pakşapatat, which I have ren-
THE SÜRYASATAKA OF MAYŪRA
Notes. 1. Lit. 'may Ravi, whose rising is worthy, etc., protect you.'
It is worthy of note that in the first three padas of this stanza the words
are arranged in pairs, a noun with an adverb, and that in each pair the
adverb begins with the same letter as the noun, or else some word or
syllable in the noun-compound imitates in sound some word or syllable
in the adverb-compound. This constitutes an interesting example of
yamaka, 'assonance'; cf. Introd., p. 91, and, for somewhat analogous in-
stances of assonance, cf. Süryaśataka, stanza 71, and Candidataka, stanzas
36 and 52. 2. The Siddhas have been mentioned in stanzas 6 (see note
8), 20, 52, 67 and 72 (see note 5). Bühler, when comparing the opening
stanzas of the Prasasti of Vatsabhatti with the Saryafataka (cf. Die
indischen Inschriften, as cited in stanza 6, note 8), notes how in both
poems it is stated that Sürya is praised by the semi-divine beings, such
as Siddhas, Gandharvas, etc. In this connection, cf. Mahabharata, 3. 3. 40,
where it is said that the Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Gandharvas, Yakşas, Guhyakas,
and the Nāgas (Serpents), desirous of obtaining boons, follow the course
of Surya's car through the sky; see also Vişnu Purana, 2. 10 (Wilson,
vol. 2, p. 284-289), which tells us that the Adityas, Rşis, Gandharvas,
Apsarases, Yakşas, Serpents and Rākṣasas guide the car of Sürya, one
of each class being assigned to this service during each of the twelve
months. 3. Lit. 'with a mixture of established truths.' The commen-
tary, however, explains this as meaning 'accompanied by the ceremony
called siddhanta. The commentary further notes that siddhantamiśram,
'with a mixture of established truths,' and fritavidhi, 'with performance
of ceremonial rites,' are adverbs (kriyaviseşaṇam). 4. Lit. fritavidhi
means ceremonial acts having been resorted to.' 5. The Caraṇas,
according to the commentary, were the 'bards of the gods (devavarna-
kaih). In the Mahabharata they are often mentioned as praising or wor-
shiping some person or object, especially in company with the Siddhas
and Gandharvas; cf. Sörensen, Index to the Names in the Mahabharata,
s.v. Carana. 6. Lit. 'with a fulness of flattery'; this the commentary
amplifies into 'with flattery, chiefly consisting of a reiteration of his
good qualities.' 7. According to the commentary, the foremost of the
Gandharvas was Viśvāvasu. He is the reputed author of Rig Veda 10.
139, being mentioned in that hymn (stanza 5) as its composer. For the
Gandharvas as a class, cf. stanza 36, note 2. 8. According to the com-
mentary, the Yātudhānas were the goblin Piśācas. They are mentioned in
the Rig Veda (1.35. 10; 7. 104. 15; 10. 87. 12-13), and appear to have been
flesh-eaters and causers of disease; cf. Macdonell, Vedic Mythology, p.
163. 9. Lit. 'with self-restraint.' 10. The Sadhyas are mentioned in
stanza 72 (see note 5). 11. The argha (sometimes spelled arghya),
which I have rendered as oblation,' is defined in Yajñavalkya's Smrti
(ed. in 2 vols. by H. N. Apate, Poona, 1903-1904), 1.289: dürvasarşapa-
puspanām dattva 'rgham ('rghyam) pürnam añjalim, 'having given as an
oblation a full handful of dürva grass, mustard and flowers.'
'with very joyful mind.'
cipated' are the yogins.
12. Lit.
13. According to the commentary, the 'eman-
14. The term pakşapatat, which I have ren-