97. Palace of clouds.

The palace of King Dushyanta, so called because it was lofty as the clouds.

98. The foreman of a guild belonging to Ayodhya.

The chief of a guild or corporation of artisans practising the same trade.  Ayodhya, or the Invincible City, was the ancient capital of Ramachandra, founded by Ikshwaku, the first of the Solar dynasty.  It was situated on the river Sarayu in the north of India, and is now called Oude.

99. My ancestors Must drink these glistening tears, the last libation.

Oblations to the spirits of the deceased are offered by the nearest surviving relatives soon after the funeral ceremonies; and are repeated once in every year.  They are supposed to be necessary to secure the well-being of the souls of the dead in the world appropriated to them.  The oblation-ceremony is called [S’]raddha, and generally consisted in offering balls made of rice and milk, or in pouring out water, or water and sesamum-seed mixed.  These ceremonies are still regarded as essential to the welfare of deceased persons, and their celebration is marked by magnificent feasts, to which relations and a host of Brahmans are invited.  A native who had grown rich in the time of Warren Hastings spent nine lakhs of rupees on his mother’s [S’]raddha; and large sums are still spent on similar occasions by wealthy Hindus (see my ‘Brahmanism and Hinduism,’ p. 306).

100. The mother of the great Indra.

That is, Aditi, the wife of Ka[s’]yapa, with whom, in their sacred retreat, [S’]akoontala was enjoying an asylum.

101. Distinguishes the milk from worthless water.

The Hindus imagine that the flamingo (a kind of goose) is the vehicle on which the god Brahma is borne through the air; and that this bird, being fond of the pulpy fibres of the water-lily, has been gifted by him with the power of separating the milky from the watery portion of the juice contained in the stalk of that plant.

102. Matali.

The charioteer of Indra.  In the pictures which represent this god mounted on his usual vehicle—­an elephant called Airavata—­Matali is seen seated before him on the withers of the animal, acting as its driver.  In the plays, however, Indra is generally represented borne in a chariot drawn by two horses, guided by Matali.

103. Kalanemi.

A Daitya or demon, with a hundred arms and as many heads.

104. Narada.

A celebrated divine sage, usually reckoned among the ten patriarchs first created by Brahma.  He acted as a messenger of the gods.

105. Tinged with celestial sandal from the breast.

The breast of Indra was dyed yellow with a fragrant kind of sandal-wood (hari-chandana); and the garland by rubbing against it, became tinged with the same color.  Wreaths and garlands of flowers are much used by the Hindus as marks of honorary distinction, as well as for ornament or festive occasions.  They are suspended round the neck.