181.5hastad vamena: K, B1, B2, Dn1 and Dn4 all read hast’/avapena, although this makes little sense. Nilakantha interprets hast’/ avapena as follows: “hast’ / avapo hasta / nigadas tena nigaditah, “hast’/avapo means they are bound by an iron chain around the hands.” He states that this refers to the expulsion of heretics from a kingdom, whereupon they wander the wilderness in fear due to their hands being bound (sranto nastikah rastrad duri/krtah vyal’/adimatsu vanesu gacchanti, nigadita/hastatvac ca vyal’/adin varayitum a/saktah atyantam udvegam prapnuvant’ ityarthah). I have followed a variant reading recorded by Nilakantha (and found in the apparatus to the Critical Edition rather than the edition of Kinjawadekar): hastad vamen’ eti va pathah. hastad vama/pathen’ eti: “by the left hand means by the left-handed path.” The commentator Arjunamisra records a similar variant (hasta/vamen’ eti va pathah), and two Bengali manuscript read something similar (hasta(/a)/vamena). A contrast with hasta/daksinam “the right-handed (path)” of 181.6 is probably intended. In Brahminic thought, anything “lefthanded” is considered deviant.

182.5In Hindu mythology both Bharad·vaja and Bhrigu are seers, the latter being the ancestor of the Bhrigus (a mythical race of beings and/or one of the ancient Brahminical families). Bharad·vaja is believed to have authored a number of hymns in the Rig Veda.

182.13Van Buitenen (1957: 15–25) has pointed out that in early theistic circles the term aham/kara indicated the first utterance “I!” (aham) or “I am!” (aham asmi) of Brahma upon awakening from his cosmic slumber. This utterance of is thought to initiate world creation, whereas during Brahma’s sleep the world remains in an unmanifest and uncreated form. The principle that creation depends on speech is also found in the ancient Brahminic principle that name and form are inseparable.

182.16Known by the name “the utterance I!:” the term aham/kara has already been mentioned in the latter half of 182.13, and its second appearance in this creation tract creates some confusion. According to the apparatus of the Critical Edition, ________