571:1 The great serpent, of whom Balaráma is an incarnation.

571:2 There is no vinous exudation from the Kadamba tree (Nauclea Kadamba), but its flowers are said to yield a spirit by distillation; whence Kádambarí is one of the synonymes of wine, or spiritous liquor. The grammarians, however, also derive the word from some legend, stating it to be so called because it was produced from the hollow of a Kadamba tree on the Gomantha mountain. The Hari Vanśa, which alone makes the Gomantha mountain the scene of an exploit of Krishńa and Ráma, makes no mention of this origin of wine; and the Bhágavata merely says that Váruńí took up her abode in the hollow of a tree. There must be some other authority therefore for this story.

572:3 The Bhágavata and Hari Vanśa repeat this story; the latter very imperfectly; the former adds, that the Yamuná is still to be seen following the course along which she was dragged by Balaráma. The legend probably alludes to the construction of canals from the Jumna, for the purposes of irrigation; and the works of the Mohammedans in this way, which are well known, were no doubt preceded by similar canals dug by order of Hindu princes.

572:4 See page 439.

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Hinduism

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