93. My finger burning with the glow of love.
However offensive to our notions of good taste, it is certain that, in Hindú erotic poetry, a hot hand is considered to be one of the signs of passionate love. Compare Othello, Act III. Scene 4. 'Give me your hand: this hand is moist, my lady—hot, hot, and moist.'
94. The airy vapours of the desert.
A kind of mirage floating over waste places, and appearing at a distance like water. Travellers and some animals, especially deer, are supposed to be attracted and deceived by it.
95. Himálaya.
The name of this celebrated range of mountains is derived from two Sanskrit words, hima, 'ice' or 'snow' (Lat. hiems), and álaya, 'abode.' The pronunciation Himalaya is incorrect.
96. As [S']iva did the poison at the Deluge.
At the churning of the ocean, after the Deluge, by the gods and demons, for the recovery or production of fourteen sacred things, a deadly poison called Kála-kúta, or Halá-hala, was generated, so virulent that it would have destroyed the world, had not the god [S']iva swallowed it. Its only effect was to leave a dark blue mark on his throat, whence his name Níla-kantha. This name is also given to a beautiful bird, not wholly unlike our jay, common in Bengal.
97. Palace of clouds.
The palace of King Dushyanta, so called because it was lofty as the clouds.