82. Some of the Bengal texts have Panchalanam for Pandavanam.
83. The form of the 2nd line is a negative interrogative, implying,—’I hope the Kurus did not abandon him.
84. This comparison, lengthy as it is, is not sustained throughout with the usual felicity of Vyasa. In several parts it is undoubtedly faulty. Slight variation of reading also occur here and there, without affecting the sense materially.
85. Gachchhato durgam gatim. The Bombay edition reads Gachchhanto etc., etc. The meaning then would be—“who protected the wings, themselves making the last painful journey?
86. The Burdwan Pundits make Mahavalas an adjective of Putras. A better construction would be to take it as referring to Bhishma.
87. Ghatayitwa is, literally, causing to be slain.
88. The words “high-souled” and also “through whose boon bestowed of me occur in the 9th sloka following.
89. Vyotthiopatti vijananam, Vyutthita is a very doubtful word.
90. Literally, “in Indra’s abodes,” i.e. Amaravati.
91. A Kshatriya failing bravely in fight at once goes to the highest regions of bliss.
92. Nilakantha in a long note explains that Magha Vishayagas Somas cannot mean that Soma or the Moon entered the constellation called Magha. He quotes numerous slokas scattered throughout the Mahabharata that throw light, directly or indirectly, on the question of the opening day of the battle, and shows that all these lead to a different conclusion. What is meant by the Moon approaching the region of the Pitris is that those who fall in battle immediately ascend to heaven; of course, they have first to go to the region of Pitris. Thence they have to go to the lunar region for obtaining celestial bodies. All this implies a little delay. Here, however, in the case of those that would fall on the field of Kurukshetra, they would not have to incur even such a little delay. Chandramas or Soma approached the region of Pitris so that the fallen warriors might have celestial bodies very soon, without, in fact, any necessity, on their part, to incur the delay of a journey to the lunar region prior to their ascension to heaven with resplendent bodies.
93. There are nine planets in all the Pauranic astronomy. Of these Rahu and Ketu are regarded Upagrahas, and hence, of grahas there are only seven. Thus Nilakantha, and the Burdwan pundits have made a mess of this line.
94. The Bengal texts read Bhanumanudito divi. The Bombay reading is Bhanumanudito Ravis. If the latter be adopted, Bhanuman would be an adjective of Ravis.
95. Purvais Purvatarais is literally—“They of old and still older times”; for Sanatanas some editions read Srutijas (qualifying panthas). Srutija means arising from the Srutis or as laid down in the Srutis.
96. Chamupatis is the Bengal reading. The Bombay text reads Chamupari. If the latter reading be adopted, the meaning would be, “at the head of the (Kuru) army.”