[1] They would not go near for fear of disturbing it. Wild elephants are timid, so there is more probability in this story, than in that of the Trojan horse. Even now scouts who mark down a wild beast in India, almost lose their heads with excitement.
[2] I. e., they sat in Dharna outside the door of the palace.
[3] Perhaps we should read samantataḥ one word.
[4] Sattva, when applied to the forest, means animal, when applied to wisdom, it means excellence.
[5] Vetála is especially used of a goblin that tenants dead bodies. See Colonel R. Burton’s Tales of Vikramáditya and the Vampire. They will be found in the 12th book of this work. In the Vth Chapter of Ralston’s Russian Folk-Tales will be found much interesting information with regard to the Slavonic superstitions about Vampires. They resemble very closely those of the Hindus. See especially p. 311. “At cross-roads, or in the neighbourhood of cemeteries, an animated corpse of this description often lurks, watching for some unwary traveller whom it may be able to slay and eat.”
[6] Cp. the way in which the Ritter Malegis transmutes Reinold in the story of Die Heimonskinder (Simrock’s Deutsche Volksbücher, Vol. II, p. 86). “He changed him into an old man, a hundred years of age, with a decrepit and misshapen body, and long hair.” See also p. 114. So Merlin assumes the form of an old man and disguises Uther and Ulfin, Dunlop’s History of Fiction, translated by Liebrecht, p. 66.
[7] Such people dance in temples I believe.
[8] Mr. Growse writes to me with reference to the name Lohajangha—“This name still exists on the spot, though probably not to be found elsewhere. The original bearer of the title is said to have been one of the demons whom Kṛishṇa slew, and a village is called Lohaban after him, where an ancient red sandstone image is supposed to represent him, and has offerings of iron made to it at the annual festival.
[9] Ráginí means affectionate and also red.
[10] Ataví is generally translated “forest.” I believe the English word “forest” does not necessarily imply trees, but it is perhaps better to avoid it here.