261. Dasaratha’s son Rama, during his exile, slew the monkey-chief Bali, the brother of Sugriva, while Bali was engaged with Sugriva in battle. Bali had not done any injury to Rama. That act has always been regarded as a stain on Rama.
262. I expand the original to make the sense clear.
263. The first line of the 23rd verse in the Bengal editions, is made the second line of that verse in the Bombay text. There seems to be a mistake, however, in both the texts. Vishnu slew Hiranyakasipu without allowing the latter to say anything unto him. Vide Vishnu Purana. If instead of Hiranyakasipu Harim, the rendering be Hiranyakasipu Haris, the line may then be connected with Bhima’s speech, and the comparison would become more apposite.
264. The Nishadas were and to this day are the lowest caste in India.
265. The Bengal reading is vicious, I adopt the Bombay reading which is Surorgurunsha bhuyopi, meaning, “this preceptor again.” The fact is, Arjuna was Satyaki’s preceptor; Drona, therefore, was the latter’s preceptor’s preceptor.
266. Kimpurushas were fabled creatures, half men and steeds. Not a mountain but had its Kimpurushas, according to the Hindu belief. Yakshas were a sort of superhuman beings inhabiting inaccessible hills and mountains.
267. I adopt the Bombay reading of the 2nd line of 35 and think that Nilakantha explains it correctly.
268. I adopt the Bombay reading.
269. Nilakantha explains this to mean that when he became unconnected with the world, rising superior to everything connected with the world.
270. The terrible.
271. Amritasya yonim, literally, the origin or cause of immortality, i.e., he from whom immortality springs. Hence, as explained by Nilakantha, the phrase means the source of salvation, for those only that are emancipate became immortal as the Supreme Soul itself.
272. i.e., the five attributes perceivable by the five senses, with the five objects of Nature with which they are directly connected or in which they manifest themselves.
273. Having given it away to Rama, his disciple.
274. All these terms imply Death or the Destroyer.