FROM BENARES. 455 



11. The moon is descended from the ocean of milk. A ray of glory from 

 the eye of the holy saint Atri, was so effulgent, that the eastern quarter could 

 not endure it: it was accordingly thrown into the ocean where it became the 

 moon. When the gods and infernals churned the ocean for the liquor of 



immortality, the moon was one of the fourteen inestimable gems produced. 

 In Hindu mythology Soma, or the moon, is a male deity ; the legend is fully 

 detailed in the Mahabharata. 



J 2. Navarashtra a country in the south of India mentioned in the chap- 

 ter of the Mahabharat detailing Sahadeva's conquests. 



13. Indra is the protecting deity of the eastern region. 



14. Airavata; the name of Indra's elephant; he was produced from the 

 ocean of milk when churned by the gods and infernals. (See note 11th.) 



15. The whole of this verse is a play on words : the effect is lost in the 

 translation. The hills in former days were supposed to have wings, and to 

 amuse themselves by flying about, reducing to powder all countries in which 

 they might alight. Indra in order to preserve the world from utter des- 

 truction, clipped their wings with his thunderbolt, and fixed them in their 

 present positions, excepting the mountain Mainaka which took refuge in 

 the ocean. 



16. Hammira, a king of Sakambhari, or Mewar. He was by this a great 

 tyrant. Mention is made of him in an inscription dated 1220 of the Sum- 

 but sera (Anno Domini ] IG3,) by Col. Wilford in his essay on Vikramaditya 

 and Salivahana. 



17. Trivikrama, a name of Vishnu; it signifies " three steps or pace-,." 

 The demon Bali had forcibly taken away the kingdom of the deities; A Jiti, 

 the mother oi the gods, at the injunction of her husband Kasyapa, fasted 



