Vikram and Vaitaal Stories-2 - Notes (Keral Version)
"Captain Sir Richard R Burton's Vikram and the Vampire: classic Hindu tales of adventure, magic and romance" / edited by his wife Isabel Burton. [etext Conversion Project, Nalanda Digital Library, NIT Calicut, Kerala State, India]

Notes

--"Vikram" means valor, or prowess.

10--Nine languages are well known - Sanskrit, Praakrit, Naag, Paishaach, Gandharv, Raakshas, Ardhmagaadi, Apa and Guhyak. Mention of all of them may be found in the work of Pingal.

13--The time was propitious to Savan. While Vikramaaditya lived, Maghaa, another king, cause to write a poem after his name. He is said to have paid to learned men a gold piece for each verse, which amounted a total of 52,801 which was a huge sum in those days - which preceded those of "Paradise Lost". Around the same time, there was a third king named Karnaatak was patronizing the learned men who rose to honour at Vikram's court. Dhaavak, a poet of the same time, received from the King Shreeharsh a magnificent present of 100,001 for the poem "Ratn Maalaa".

14--It is said that that there were 8 Vikramaaditya, the last of whom established the era. (Consult Lassen's "Anthologia"; and H H Wilson's "Essay on Vikram (New)", ix, 117).

15--History tells us a different tale. Indra and the King of Dhaaraa gave the kingdom to Bhartrahari - another son of Gandharvsen by a handmaiden. For some time the brothers lived together the arose a quarrel. So Vikram was dismissed from the court and wandered around in poverty. Once he offered his services to a wealthy merchant of Gujaraat. Later Bhartrahari disgusted with the world on infidelity of his wife, to whom he was ardently attached, became a religious devotee and left the kingdom to its fate. Then Vikram came to Ujjayinee and assumed the kingship. He conquered many regions - Utkal (Udeesaa), Bang (Bangaal), Kachchh, Gujaraat, Somnaath, Dehlee etc. He was slain by Shaalivaahan.

24--Or Avantee, or called Padmaavatee. It is the first meridian of the Hindu who found their longitude by observation of Lunar eclipse calculated for Lankaa or Ceylon. The Clepsydra was used for taking time.

28--This part of the introduction reminds of the two royal brothers and their false wives in the introduction of the "Arabian Nights", The fate of Bharatrahari Raajaa, however, is historical.

29--In the original "Dev" - a supernatural being or Demon. This part of the story is told in seceral versions. According to some, Vikram was surprised to, when entering the city, seeing a grand procession at the house of potter, and a boy being carried away on an elephant to the grief of the parents. The King asked the reason of the grief and was told that the wicked Dev who guarded the city was in habit of eating a person daily. The King asked to take the boy down and he himself sat on it and entered the palace and he was presented as the food to that Demon, displayed his powers to him.

127--Tam is the natural state of the matter. Raj is passion acting upon nature, and Sattwa is excellence. These are three Gun or qualities of matter.

138--The Hindu Mercury - God of rascals. [This explanation has been given by Richard Burton, but we know that Kaartikeya is the son of Shiv Jee and the Army Chief of Devtaa]

161--Yam Raaj is the Hindu Pluto - also called the Just King. He judges the dead. Whose souls go to him in 4 hours and 40 minutes, that is why a corpse cannot be burned till after that time

168--This story is perhaps the least interesting in the collection. It is similar to the story of nursery tales that the Princess who was so highly born and delicately bred, that she could feel the three peas laid beneath a straw mattress and a four feather beds.

172--The Jogee or Yogee - who follow Patanjali school of Yog, and who by their ascetic practices acquire the power to control elements. Vulgarly, they are Shiv worshippers. The Janganee also adore Shiv and carry about Ling. The Sanyaasee are mendicants and followers of Shiv. They never touch fire or metal. They take up the staff. They are different from Vairaagee who are worshippers of Vishnu who strongly oppose the worshippers of gods who accept bloody offerings or sacrifices.

180--Samudra (sea) Devtaa - the Indian Neptune.

185--It is said to have discharged balls, each of 6,400 pounds in weight

186--Garud - A kind of Mercury [This explanation has been given by Richard Burton, but we know that Garud is the ride bird of Vishnu]

187--The celebrated burning springs of Baku, near the Caspian Sea. There are many other "fire mouths".