554.  It is difficult to identify what plants are meant by Karanjaka and Suvarachala.

555.  Bhanda includes utensils of copper and brass such as plates and cups and jars and jugs.  Broken utensils, to this day, are regarded inauspicious.  They are rejected, as a rule, by every family.  Kali (Evil?) has his abode in them, meaning that such utensils cause quarrels and disputes.  Broken bed-steads also are regarded as capable of causing loss of wealth.  Cocks and dogs should never be kept or reared in a house.  The roots of trees afford shelter to scorpions and snakes and venomous insects and worms.  One should not, therefore, plant trees or allow them to grow up within one’s abode.

556.  A Brahmana’s fire should never be ignited by a Sudra.  Women also should never be allowed to assist at Sraddhas for arranging the offerings.

557.  Pramathas are the ghostly companions of Mahadeva.  Literally, the name implies smiters.

558.  Anujnatah literally implies permitted.  These creatures, i.e., the kine, were permitted by me, means, perhaps, that they became my favourites.  Brahman, it is said, solicited Maheswara to accept some kine in gift.  The latter did accept some, and adopt from that time the device of the bull on his flag.

559.  Sambhrama here means, probably, joy, or that gratification which shows itself in horripilation.  It may also mean alacrity.

560.  Upavasa here, as explained by the commentator, is used for Indriyajaya or subjugation of the senses.

561.  He who takes his meals at the proper hours is said to observe fasts.  He who avoids sexual congress with other women and associates with only his wedded spouse and that at her season, is said to observe Brahmacharya.

562.  To sell the Vedas or any kind of knowledge is a great sin.

563.  The correct reading of the latter half of the first line is nabaram natirogratah.  The commentator explains, this means that ’there is nothing inferior to it or beside it or before it.’  In the first part of the first line it has been said that there is nothing superior to it.  The sense is that it includes all, being as comprehensive as Brahman.

564.  Samprakshalas are those Rishis who wash all their utensils daily so that nothing is stored for them for the next day.  Asmakuttas are those that use only two pieces of stone for husking their grain.  Dantolukhalas are those that use their teeth for purposes of husking the grain they eat.

565.  Swasarirapa-jivishu implies persons that do not stand in need of the services of others for the support of their bodies.

566.  The great forests are called Virasthana for cowards cannot enter or reside in them.

567.  Marum samsadhya implies abstention from even air and water as food or means of subsistence.

568.  It should be noted that the word Vira in the various compounds in which, it occurs here, does not mean heroes of war.  On the other hand, it signifies heroes of righteousness and penances.  The path of heroes is the forest, for cowards cannot go there.  The attitude of heroes (Virasana) is a kind of attitude for Yogins to sit in.