206 A GRAMMAR OF THE
The following is a translation of these Sanscrit lines:—
ഒരു മാസം കൊണ്ട പിതൃക്കൾക്ക ഒരു പകലും രാവും ഭ
വിക്കും.
One month makes a day and night of the spirits of departed men.
ഒരു വൎഷം കൊണ്ട ദെവകൾക്ക ഒരു പകലും രാവും.
A year makes a day and night of the gods.
ദെവകളുടെ പന്തീരായിരം സംവത്സരം കൊണ്ട ഒരു ദൈ
വയുഗം
12,000 years of the gods, make an age of the gods.
ദൈവയുഗം രണ്ടായിരം കൊണ്ട ബ്രഹ്മമാകുന്ന പകലും
രാവും അവ തന്നെ മനുഷ്യൎക്ക രണ്ട കല്പങ്ങളാകുന്നു.
2,000 ages of the gods, make a day and night of Bramum, these
are two Culpas of men.
OF THE YUGAS.
7. A space of time equal to one Divine Age, is divided into four ages,
supposed to be in constant revolution like the Seasons of the year. These
periods probably refer to imaginary dates of some remote conjunctions of
the heavenly bodies, assumed by ancient Astronomers merely to assist
their computations; but which has given rise to the absurd, indecent, and
monstrous fables with which the Puranas abound, and which are received
among the people as solemn realities. These യുഗങ്ങൾ are named
കൃതയുഗം, ത്രെതായുഗം, ദ്വാപരയുഗം, കലിയുഗം; answering
to the Golden, Silver, Brazen and Iron ages of European Mythology.
The fourth, കലിയുഗം, in which we live, embraces a period of 432,000
years, of which, to the current year A. D. 1840-1, 4941 have elapsed.
OF SOLAR TIME.
8. The Solar year, which commences on the Sun's entrance into Aries, is
divided into 12 parts or months, whose names are derived from the signs
of the Indian Zodiac.
When these names are used, the word മാസം month must be added;
sometimes instead of മാസം, ഞായർ, one of the names of the Sun, is
added; as മകരഞായർ, January month; but this latter form is nearly
obsolete.
