381. This lake is at a great height on the Himalayas.
382. The spirits of those two immortal sages are supposed to dwell for ever, in that retreat in the enjoyment of true happiness.
383. i.e., Hope is slender; while things unconnected with Hope are the reverse.
384. The sense is that such persons should always be distrusted. Yet there are men who hope for good from them. Such hope, the sage says, is slenderer than his slender body.
385. The word maya repeated in verses 14 to 18 is explained by Nilakantha as having the sense of mattah. The meaning, of course, is very plain. Yet the Burdwan translator has strangely misunderstood it. K.P. Singha, of course, gives an accurate version.
386. For the king's disregard of the sage in former days.
387. The distress, which Yudhishthira felt at the thought of the slaughter in battle.
388. i.e., this is not a subject upon which one can or should discourse before miscellaneous audiences.
389. i.e., by ingenious contrivances a king may succeed in filling his treasury, or his best ingenuity and calculations may fail.
390. i.e., with a pure heart.