30. The belief is that a man remains childless in consequence of his sins. If these sins can be washed away, he may be sure to obtain children.
31. I give, in the affirmative form of speech, the three mental acts that are directed to be avoided. In the original, these are given in the negative form. Absence of coveting the possessions of others is the act that is directed to be followed. So compassion for all creatures is prescribed; and, lastly, the belief is directed to be entertained that acts have fruits, for the Vedas declare as such. He that does not believe that acts have fruits disbelieve the very Vedas which of course, is a sinful act.
32. The sense is this: wealth is always agreeable to all persons but Vasudeva is more agreeable than wealth. This attribute of being more agreeable than wealth itself, that is being agreeable to all the universe,—is due to the favour of Mahadeva. The commentator explains it in an esoteric sense, coming to the conclusion that arthat priyataratwancha means the attribute of becoming the Soul of all things in the universe.
33. The allusion is to Krishna's penances for gratifying Mahadeva in order to obtain a son. The son so obtained,—that is, as a boon from Mahadeva, was Pradyumna begotten by Krishna upon Rukmini, his favourite spouse.
34. It is not necessary to explain these names here. They have been fully explained in previous portions and will be explained later on in this very chapter.
35. Such verses are explained by the esoteric school in a different way. Bhavanam is taken as standing for Hardakasam, i.e., the firmament of the heart; adityas stand for the senses. The meaning then becomes,—'How can one that is merely a man comprehend Sambhu whom the senses cannot comprehend, for Sambhu dwells in the firmament of the heart and cannot be seen but by the internal vision that Yoga supplies.' Some texts read 'nidhanamadim meaning end and beginning.'
36. It is said that for obtaining a worthy son, Krishna underwent the austerest of penances on the breast of Himavat, with a view to gratifying the god Mahadeva. The son obtained as a boon from Mahadeva was Samva, as would appear from this and the succeeding verses. Elsewhere, however, it is stated that the son so obtained was Pradyumna begotten upon Rukmini. The inconsistency would disappear if we suppose that Krishna adored Mahadeva twice for obtaining sons.
37. Dhava is Anogeissus latifolia. Wall is Conocarpus latifolia Roxb.
Kakubha is otherwise called Arjuna which is identified with Terminalia
Arjuna, syn. Pentaptera Arjuna. Kadamva is Nauclea cadamba, Roxb.
Kuruveka is Barleria cristata, Linn. Ketaka is Pandanus odoratissimus,
Linn. Jamvu is Eugenia Jambolana. Patala is Stereospermum suaveolens syn.
Bignonia suaveolens, Roxb. Varunaka is Crataea, religiosa, syn. Capparis
trifoliata, Roxb. Vatasanabha is Aconitum ferox, Wall. Vilwa is Aegle
Marmelos. Sarala is Pinus longifolia, Roxb. Kapittha is Feronia
Elephantum. Piyala is Buchanania latifolia. Sala is Shorea robusta.
Vadari is Zisyphus jujuba. Kunda is Balanites Roxburghii, Punnaga is
Callophyllum inophyllum. Asoka is Saraca. Indica, Linn, syn Jonesia
Asoka, Roxb. Amra is Mangifera Indica. Kovidara is Bauhinia, accuminata
Linn. Champaka is Michelia Champaka, Linn. Panasa is Artocarpus
integrifolia, Linn.
38. Ganga is represented as the daughter of Rishi Jahnu, and hence is she known by the name of Jahnavi. What is meant by Jahnavi having been always represent there is that the goddess always stayed there in spirit, desirous of conferring merit upon those that would reverence her.
39. i.e., never searching for food but taking what they saw, and never using their hands also.