2023-02-23 18:49:31 by ambuda-bot
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THE CANDIŚATAKA OF BĀŅA
didst discomfit not Mahișa alone, but also others who did
not fight there at all.'
With these witty speeches of her husband (Siva), Siva (Candi)
was delighted.
May Siva (Candi) protect you!
296
Notes. 1. Owing to the muscular effort put forth in drawing a bow, the
shoulders are thrown back, and the trivali, or triple wrinkle over the abdo-
men-considered a mark of beauty in women-is momentarily smoothed
out. This seems to be the explanation of the commentary, which reads:
'For at the moment of despatching an arrow, the abdomen, owing to the
upright position (ardhvottambhana) of the body, becomes free from
wrinkles.' 2. The Middle Region (Madhyadeśa) comprised the north
central part of India. 3. The three sacred syllables (vyährti) are the
names of the first three of the seven worlds-bhar, bhuvas and svar-and
are pronounced after om by every Brāhman on commencing his daily
prayers; cf. Monier-Williams, Skt.-Engl. Dict. s.v. vyährti.
4. The
'others' were the demons Bāṇa, Bali and Prahrada, who are referred to,
punningly, in the words 'noise' (prahrada), 'arrow' (bana), and 'wrinkle'
(bali or vali). According to the commentary, the wit or jest lies in the
conception that Candi discomfited three people who were really not present
in the battle at all. Prahrada was Mahişa's uncle; Bali was grandson of
Prahrada, and father of Bāņa; cf. Bhagavata Purana, 6. 18. 10-19, where
the genealogy of the Däityas is recorded.
V.L. (c) sangrame samtata vo. (d) ye vidyante 'tra; patiparīhāsatuṣṭā
bhavant.
31
merāu me rāudraśṛngakṣatavapuși rușo nāiva nītā nadīnām
bhartāro riktatām yat tad api hitam abhūn niḥsapatno 'tra ko
'pi
etan no mṛṣyate yan mahişa kaluṣitā svardhuni mürdhni
mānyā
sambhor bhindyād dhasantī patim iti śamitārātir ītīr umā vaḥ
'When Meru¹ had its body wounded by thy cruel horns,³ I felt no
anger; and when the (Oceans), the Lords of Rivers,
Were brought to a state of emptiness, that too was agreeable,
[for] then a certain person came to be without a rival;
But this, O Mahișa, is not forgiven-that the revered (Ganges),
River of Heaven, on the head of Sambhu (Siva) should be
defiled."
didst discomfit not Mahișa alone, but also others who did
not fight there at all.'
With these witty speeches of her husband (Siva), Siva (Candi)
was delighted.
May Siva (Candi) protect you!
296
Notes. 1. Owing to the muscular effort put forth in drawing a bow, the
shoulders are thrown back, and the trivali, or triple wrinkle over the abdo-
men-considered a mark of beauty in women-is momentarily smoothed
out. This seems to be the explanation of the commentary, which reads:
'For at the moment of despatching an arrow, the abdomen, owing to the
upright position (ardhvottambhana) of the body, becomes free from
wrinkles.' 2. The Middle Region (Madhyadeśa) comprised the north
central part of India. 3. The three sacred syllables (vyährti) are the
names of the first three of the seven worlds-bhar, bhuvas and svar-and
are pronounced after om by every Brāhman on commencing his daily
prayers; cf. Monier-Williams, Skt.-Engl. Dict. s.v. vyährti.
4. The
'others' were the demons Bāṇa, Bali and Prahrada, who are referred to,
punningly, in the words 'noise' (prahrada), 'arrow' (bana), and 'wrinkle'
(bali or vali). According to the commentary, the wit or jest lies in the
conception that Candi discomfited three people who were really not present
in the battle at all. Prahrada was Mahişa's uncle; Bali was grandson of
Prahrada, and father of Bāņa; cf. Bhagavata Purana, 6. 18. 10-19, where
the genealogy of the Däityas is recorded.
V.L. (c) sangrame samtata vo. (d) ye vidyante 'tra; patiparīhāsatuṣṭā
bhavant.
31
merāu me rāudraśṛngakṣatavapuși rușo nāiva nītā nadīnām
bhartāro riktatām yat tad api hitam abhūn niḥsapatno 'tra ko
'pi
etan no mṛṣyate yan mahişa kaluṣitā svardhuni mürdhni
mānyā
sambhor bhindyād dhasantī patim iti śamitārātir ītīr umā vaḥ
'When Meru¹ had its body wounded by thy cruel horns,³ I felt no
anger; and when the (Oceans), the Lords of Rivers,
Were brought to a state of emptiness, that too was agreeable,
[for] then a certain person came to be without a rival;
But this, O Mahișa, is not forgiven-that the revered (Ganges),
River of Heaven, on the head of Sambhu (Siva) should be
defiled."