THE CURSE AT FAREWELL
19. 6. ‘ Nymphs ’—heavenly dancers and singers (apsaras and kinnari).
21.1. Debjani is spoiling his departure with inauspicious words.
23. 1. It was part of the duty of a drahmachari (student) to tend his teacher’s cows. The teacher accepted him as a son, and fed and taught him freee of charge.
25. 1. Rg, ‘sage,’ may now be regarded as anglicized into rishi.
25.2. The traditional dress of ascetics and students of the forest-schools, as of Rama in his exile, was made of bark.
25. 3. ‘Sacrificial cow ’—cow whose milk was used in sacrifices. In this grave laudation of the cow the poet ts in the line of tradition ; but the reader will feel a touch of half-mockery, I think.
27.1. ‘ Benumati’ means ‘Reedy’ River 5 forested with bamboos.
29.1. Devi— voddess ’—is the title used in addressing a Brahmin lady. In this one place I have given Debjint the benefit. of its literal meaning ; elsewhere it is translated as * lady.’
31.1. By the power of her father’s magic art. See ‘Source of the Plot.”’
33.1. ‘Playmate ’— sakha, the name used by the Vaisnava poets when Ridhi addresses her lover Krishna (Krsna). Literally, * companion.’
§2
52
