Page:TheBirth of the War-God.djvu/93



CANTO FIRST. The Hindú Deity of War, the leader of the celestial armies, is known by the names Kártikeya and Skanda; he is represented with six faces and corresponding arms, and is mounted upon a peacock.

Himálaya.] Mansion of Snow; from hima, snow, and álaya, mansion. The accent is on the second syllable.

Prithu.'] It is said that in the reign of this fabulous Monarch, Gods, Saints, Demons, and other supernatural beings, drained or milked from the Earth various treasures, appointing severally one of their own class as the recipient, or Calf, to use the word of the legend. Himálaya was thus highly favoured by the sacred Mount Meru, and the other hills. The story is found in the sixth chapter of the Harivansa, which forms a supplement to the Great Bhárat.

Still the fair pearls, &c.] It was at any rate the poetical belief of the Hindus that Elephants wore these precious jewels in their heads.

'Till Heavenly Minstrels, &c.] A class of demi-gods, the Songsters of the Hindú Paradise, or Indra's Heaven.

There magic herbs, &c]. Frequent allusion is made by Kálidás and other Sanskrit poets to a phosphoric light emitted by plants at night. We are not unacquainted with this phenomenon even in our own climate.

E'en the wild kine, &c.] The Chouri, or long brush, used to whisk off insects and flies, was with the Hindús what the sceptre is with us. It was usually made of the tail-hairs of the Yak, or Bos Grunniens; thus the poet represents these animals as doing honour to the Monarch of Mountains with these emblems of sovereignty.

The Seven Great Saints.] The Hindú name of the constellation Ursa Major, They will appear as actors in the course of the poem.