2023-02-23 18:49:25 by ambuda-bot
This page has not been fully proofread.
THE CANDIŚATAKA OF BĀŅA
269
rendering here suggested, we shall have to suppose that Mahişa was wont
to use it as a rubbing-post. 4. The explanation of 'unawares' (ajñānāt)
seems to be as follows: The foot of Siva (Candi) cannot believe that
Mahişa is present; first, because of the absence of any bellowing; sec-
ondly, because so powerful a demon would certainly have inflicted a much
more serious wound than the slight scratch it has received; and in the
third place, though the foot does see Mahişa, it mistakes his dark body
for the familiar Vindhya. Being thus unconscious of Mahişa's presence,
it 'unawares,' or 'unwittingly,' takes away his life. This appears to be
the idea of the commentator, who concludes: 'Thus the error arose from
the triple cause that has been mentioned.'
V.L. (a) B nudati jite. (b) B ślişyachṛngakşitepi, emended by Bühler
to ślişyacchṛngakşatât prakşaradasṛji.
3
jāhnavyā yā na jātā 'nunayaparaharakṣiptayā kṣālayantyā
nūnam no nūpureṇa glapitaśaśirucā jyotsnayā vā nakhānām
tām śobhām ādadhānā jayati navam ivā 'laktakam piḍayitvā
pādenāiva kṣipantī mahişam asurasādānaniṣkāryam āryā
[There is a beauty of Candi's foot]' that was not produced by the
purifying Jahnavi (Ganges), when sent by Hara (Siva),
intent on conciliating her,
Or indeed through her anklet that dims the luster of the moon,
or through the gleam of her toe-nails.
[But] Arya (Candi) acquired this beauty in her victory, by
crushing Mahisa and tossing him aside merely with her foot
<As worthless through the taking away of his life-juice>, like a
fresh lac-branch <which becomes worthless through the
taking of its sap>.*
[In this stanza the usual benediction is omitted.]³
Notes. 1. Three of the recognized means of adorning the feet among
the ancient Hindus were anklets, polishing the toe-nails, and staining with
red lac-dye. If we bear this in mind, the meaning of the stanza seems to
be as follows: The beauty of foot which the wife of Siva never acquired
by anklet or toe-nail, or by washing in the Ganges (also a wife of Siva),
whose stream was sent by him to pacify her jealousy, she does acquire
when, as Arya or Candi, she slays the demon Mahişa and receives the red
stain of his blood, which, like lac, gushes over her foot as she stamps on
him and crushes out his life. 2. The Ganges was brought down to earth
269
rendering here suggested, we shall have to suppose that Mahişa was wont
to use it as a rubbing-post. 4. The explanation of 'unawares' (ajñānāt)
seems to be as follows: The foot of Siva (Candi) cannot believe that
Mahişa is present; first, because of the absence of any bellowing; sec-
ondly, because so powerful a demon would certainly have inflicted a much
more serious wound than the slight scratch it has received; and in the
third place, though the foot does see Mahişa, it mistakes his dark body
for the familiar Vindhya. Being thus unconscious of Mahişa's presence,
it 'unawares,' or 'unwittingly,' takes away his life. This appears to be
the idea of the commentator, who concludes: 'Thus the error arose from
the triple cause that has been mentioned.'
V.L. (a) B nudati jite. (b) B ślişyachṛngakşitepi, emended by Bühler
to ślişyacchṛngakşatât prakşaradasṛji.
3
jāhnavyā yā na jātā 'nunayaparaharakṣiptayā kṣālayantyā
nūnam no nūpureṇa glapitaśaśirucā jyotsnayā vā nakhānām
tām śobhām ādadhānā jayati navam ivā 'laktakam piḍayitvā
pādenāiva kṣipantī mahişam asurasādānaniṣkāryam āryā
[There is a beauty of Candi's foot]' that was not produced by the
purifying Jahnavi (Ganges), when sent by Hara (Siva),
intent on conciliating her,
Or indeed through her anklet that dims the luster of the moon,
or through the gleam of her toe-nails.
[But] Arya (Candi) acquired this beauty in her victory, by
crushing Mahisa and tossing him aside merely with her foot
<As worthless through the taking away of his life-juice>, like a
fresh lac-branch <which becomes worthless through the
taking of its sap>.*
[In this stanza the usual benediction is omitted.]³
Notes. 1. Three of the recognized means of adorning the feet among
the ancient Hindus were anklets, polishing the toe-nails, and staining with
red lac-dye. If we bear this in mind, the meaning of the stanza seems to
be as follows: The beauty of foot which the wife of Siva never acquired
by anklet or toe-nail, or by washing in the Ganges (also a wife of Siva),
whose stream was sent by him to pacify her jealousy, she does acquire
when, as Arya or Candi, she slays the demon Mahişa and receives the red
stain of his blood, which, like lac, gushes over her foot as she stamps on
him and crushes out his life. 2. The Ganges was brought down to earth