544. i.e., even if he seeks to avoid it.

545. i.e., becomes his inseparable associate.

546.  What is meant is that if once the consequences of the acts of a past life are exhausted, the creature (with respect to whom such exhaustion takes place), is freed from all vicissitudes of life.  Lest, however, such creatures become emancipated, the orthodox view is that a balance is always left of both merit and demerit, so that a new birth must take place and the consequences of what is thus left as a balance must begin to be enjoyed or suffered.  This is not referred to here, but this is the view of all orthodox Hindus.

547.  The first word of this verse is diversely read.  The reading I adopt is samunnam meaning drenched in water.  If it be samjuktam it would mean united, with filth, of course.  Another reading is samswinnam, meaning ‘drenched with sweat.’  Nilakantha explains upavasah here as equivalent to the renunciation of all earthly possessions.  Ordinarily it means ‘fasts.’

548.  This verse occurs in the Santi Parva.  It is difficult to understand in what sense it is said that the track of the virtuous cannot be marked.  Perhaps, it is; intended that such men do not leave any history or record behind them, they having abstained from all kinds of action good or bad.

549.  Manasa means ‘appertaining to the mind,’ or rather, the Will.  Mahat literally means great.

550.  Veda is here used in the sense of Knowledge and Power.

551.  Sarvabhutatmakrit is explained by Nilakantha thus.  He who is Sarvabhutatman is again bhutakrit.  On the authority of the Srutis the commentator adds,—­ye ete pancha akasadayodhatavo-dharana-karmanah sa eva Brahma.

552.  The word Devah here is evidently used in the sense of luminous or shining ones and not in that of gods or deities.

553.  The Rishis supposed that the pouring of water created the air instead only of displaying it.

554.  All created things are called Bhutas, but the five principal elements, viz., fire, air, earth, water, and space, are especially called Bhutas or Mahabhutas.

555.  This is certainly curious as showing that the ancient Hindus knew how to treat diseased plants and restore them to vigour.

556.  K.P.  Singha wrongly renders this verse.  The Burdwan translator is right.

557.  Both the Bengal and the Bombay texts read bhutani.  The correct reading, however, appears to be bhutanam.

558.  The word for duct is Srotas.  It may also be rendered ‘channel.’  Very like the principal artery or aorta.

559.  Notwithstanding much that is crude anatomy and crude physiology in these sections, it is evident, however, that certain glimpses of truth were perceived by the Rishis of ancient times.  Verse 15 shows that the great discovery of Harvey in modern times was known in ancient India.