Footnote 69:[(return)] Nilakantha explains both Dhriti and Dwitiya in a spiritual sense. There is no need, however, of a spiritual explanation here. By Dhriti is meant steadiness of intelligence; by Dwitiya lit, a second. What Yudhishthira says is that a steady intelligence serves the purposes of a helpful companion.
Footnote 70:[(return)] Nilakantha explains this correctly, as I imagine, by supposing that by 'sacrifice' is meant the spiritual sacrifice for the acquisition of pure knowledge. In the objective sacrifice which one celebrates, the Sama, the Yajus, and the Rik mantras are all necessary. In the subjective sacrifice the acquisition of true knowledge, life and mind are as necessary as the mantras from the Sama and the Yajur Vedas in an objective one. And as no objective sacrifice can do without the Riks, being principally dependent on them, so the subjective sacrifices for acquiring true knowledge can never do without prayerfulness, which, I imagine, is represented as the Riks. To understand this passage thoroughly would require an intimate acquaintance with the ritual of a sacrifice like the Agnishtoma or any other of that kind.
Footnote 71:[(return)] Some texts read apatatam for uvapatam. If the former be the correct reading, the meaning would be—'What is the best of things that fall?' Nilakantha explains both avapatam nivapatam in a spiritual sense. By the first he understands—'They that offer oblation to the gods,' and by the second, 'They that offer oblations to the Pitris.' The necessity of a spiritual interpretation, however, is not very apparent.
Footnote 72:[(return)] Yudhishthira has the authority of the Srutis for saying that the one pervading element of the universe is air.
Footnote 73:[(return)] The word used in the question is dik, literally, direction. Obviously, of course, it means in this connection way. Yudhishthira answers that the way which one is to tread along is that of the good.
Footnote 74:[(return)] The Srutis actually speak of space as water. These are questions to test Yudhishthira's knowledge of the Vedic cosmogony.
Footnote 75:[(return)] The Srutis speak of the cow as the only food, in the following sense. The cow gives milk. The milk gives butter. The butter is used in Homa. The Homa is the cause of the clouds. The clouds give rain. The rain makes the seed to sprout forth and produce food. Nilakantha endeavours to explain this in a spiritual sense. There is however, no need of such explanation here.
Footnote 76:[(return)] What Yudhishthira means to say is that there is no special time for a Sraddha. It is to be performed whenever a good and able priest may be secured.
Footnote 77:[(return)] That is, tranquillity of mind, self-restraint, abstention from sensual pleasures, resignation, and Yoga meditation.
Footnote 78:[(return)] That is, hunger, thirst, sorrow, bluntness of mortal feeling, decrepitude, and death.