229.  By selling the Vedas is meant the charging of fees for teaching them.  As regards the Vedas, the injunction in the scriptures is to commit them to memory and impart them from mouth to mouth.  Hence to reduce them into writing was regarded as a transgression.

230.  In this country to this day, the act of marrying a helpless person with a good girl by paying all the expenses of the marriage, is regarded as an act of righteousness.  Of course, the man that is so married is also given sufficient property for enabling him to maintain himself and his wife.

231.  Articles needed in marriages are, of course, girls and ornaments.

232.  Vapra has various meanings.  I think, it means here a field.  Large waste lands often require to be enclosed with ditches and causeways.  Unless so reclaimed, they cannot be fit for cultivation.

233.  The river Chenab in the Punjab was known in former times by the name of Chandrabhaga.  So the river Jhelum was known by the name of Vitasta.

234.  The sense is that one proceeds to the region of the Apsaras and becomes an object of respect there.

235. i.e., one acquires sovereignty.

236.  It is difficult to understand the connection of the second line of verse 31.  It does not mean enters the eternal region called Andhaka that rests on nothing.  Human sacrifices were performed sometimes in former days.

237.  Nyastani has Gangayam understood after it.

238.  The deities are supported by the offerings made in sacrifices.  These offerings consist of the productions of the Earth and the butter produced by the cow.  The deities, therefore, are said to be chiefly supported by the Earth and the Cow.  The Asuras, by afflicting the Earth and killing kine, used to weaken the deities.

239.  The river Ganga has three courses.  On Earth it is called Bhagirathi or Ganga; in heaven it is called Mandakini; and in the nether regions it is known by the name of Bhogabati.

240.  Devesh is lit. the lord of the deities; but here it means the King or Emperor.

241.  Aranyaih is explained by the commentator as implying courses of conduct leading to Brahmaloka.

242.  The story referred to is this:  King Sagara of the solar (?) race had sixty thousand sons, all of whom were reduced to ashes by the curse of Kapila.  Afterwards Bhagiratha, a prince of the same race, brought down Ganga from heaven for their redemption.

243.  Identical with the universe because capable of conferring the fruition of every wish.  Vrihati—­literally, large or vast, is explained by the commentator as implying foremost or superior.

244.  Madhumatim is explained as conferring the fruits of all good actions.

245.  Viswam avanti iti.  Here the absence of num is arsha.

246.  Bhuvanasya is swargasya.

247.  The construction of this verse is not difficult though the order of the words is a little involved.  Both the vernacular translators have misunderstood it completely.