[7] More properly of egotism, which is the literal sense of the term: its peculiar function is अभिमान Abhimana, or “selfish conviction; a belief that in perception or meditation I am concerned; that the objects of sense concern me; in short, that I am” (Colebrook’s Essays).—D. S.
[8] Derived from Mahat, “great,” महत् also the intellectual principle and तत्व Tatva, “essential nature—the real nature of the human soul, considered as one and the same with the divine spirit animating the universe;” the philosophical etymology of this word best explains its meaning, Tat, “that; that divine Being;” and त्वं Twam, “thou:”—“that very God art thou.” Tatva also means “reality, truth, substance,” opposed to what is illusory or fallacious (Wilson).—D. S.
[9] भूर्लोक Bhúrlóka.
[10] भुवर्लोक Bhuvarlóka.
[11] सुरलोक Suralóka, “the heaven of Indra, and residence of the celestials.”
[12] महर्लोक Maharlóka, “a region;” said to be one Crore, or a million of Yojanas above the polar star, and to be the abode of those saints who survive the destruction of the world.
[13] जन लोक Jana-lóka, “the region where the sons of Brahmá and other pious men reside.”
[14] तप लोक Tapa-lóka, “the abode of Ascetics.”
[15] सत्य लोक Satya-lóka, “the abode of Brahma and of truth.”
[16] Here begin the seven divisions of the infernal regions:—अतल लोक Atala-lóka, “the region immediately below the earth.”