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[Footnote 2: The original story perhaps antedates the Brahmanic Brahm[=a). But, for all one knows, when the poem was first written Brahm[=a] was already decadent as chief god. In that case two strata of religious belief have been formally super-imposed, Vishnuism and Çivaism.]
[Footnote 3: While agreeing with Telang that the original G[=ijt[=a) is an old poem, we cannot subscribe to his argument (SBE. VIII. p. 19) that the priority of the S[=a]man over the Rig Veda is evidence of antiquity; still less to the argument, p. 21, from the castes.]
[Footnote 4: Compare Manu, i. 7: "He the subtile, indiscernible, eternal, inconceivable One, who makes all creatures."]
[Footnote 5: Possibly the original opening of another poem.]
[Footnote 6: The avatars of Vishnu are meant. The very knight to whom he speaks is later regarded (in South India) as incarnate god, and today is worshipped as an avatar of Vishnu. The idea of the 'birth-stories' of the Buddhists is thought by some scholars to have been connected historically with the avatars of Vishnu.]
[Footnote 7: This is one of the notes struck in the later Upanishads, the doctrine of 'special grace,' originating perhaps still earlier in the V[=a]c hymn (see above).]
[Footnote 8: That is, one that also has no desires may act (without desiring the fruit of action.)]
[Footnote 9: This is a S[=a]nkhya division.]