________________
MARCH, 1902.]
THE SPRING MYTH OF THE KESAR SAGA.
V.
1. 'adug 'adugs pala, while it so continued; see I. 7, 8, 9, note.
1. rgyal lham, king of the gods. As a rule rgyal lham is only used in conjunction with the word Kesar, which fact explains the m; rgyal lham Kesar is accordingly, the king of the gods, or Kesar.'
2. andhe bandhe; as I found out a few days ago, a word bandhe is in general use. A bandhe is a lama who has not yet been to Lhassa. A bcndhe is not considered as a full lama; andhe I am inclined to consider as an introductory play of syllables to bandhe. According to Dr. Lanfer there exists a possible connection between andhe and the Mongol anda, friend.
155
3. Khamba Khampsa, a man from Khams. These people are noted for their fondness of travel. The word khamba has on this account come to mean almost 'vagabond' in Ladakh.
3. khangnguma, little house. The article ma is used here similarly to the emphatic article bo in other cases.
4. Itsangmkhan, beggar, seems to be derived from slongba.
9. 'akholma, boiling; adjective, formed from 'akholba.
11. btagga, bound; contracted from btagpa, perf. partic. passive. Similarly btangnga in 13, and blugga in 15.
11-16. Dr. Lanfer points out the translation of this song is not always quite literal. He is quite right. Thus in 12 the literal translation should be: In four directions four enemies will fall. In 16 Dr. Lanfer suggests the word 'breast' instead of heart. Apparently that part of the breast which covers the heart is meant.
12. rabbshi, four enemies. The 6 of the second syllable, otherwise silent, is sounded with the first syllable. If an r follows a mute, the mute frequently disappears. Thus ra instead of dgre.
17. hung, an interjection, used to accompany great exertion. It is perhaps formed from the well-known hum.
21. phalong or phabong phalong, rock.
22. korang, do whirl! 'ang yang; see Imperative, Ladakhi Grammar.
=
24. skorres, to whirl. res is perhaps the infinitive termination, which is used instead of ces in the dialects of the side-valleys. Correspordingly rig instead of cig in VI. 20, VII. 40. On the other hand res may be a substantive, meaning 'turn. It is my turn, it is his turn.'
27. logs, quite, all at once, in Ladakhi.
27. yachu, tendon; Ladakhi for chuba.
28. skyerugs, hip-cloth, girdle; Ladakhi for skarags.
29. yogahing, the same as yogshing, poker.
29. munte, fainted; the word is related to munpa, darkness. When a man faints, everything becomes dark around him.
30. phaspun, father's brother. This word has come to mean in Ladakh one who looks after the corpse, and is used exclusively in this sense. It probably refers to the custom that in ancient times certain relatives had to provide for the burning of the corpse. Such an office of the phaspun seems to be touched on in IX. 9, where is Kesar stripped of his humble form by them. In the Saga the word has evidently not yet obtained its contemptuous colouring.
30. shayin, will revenge. The word shaces is never used alone, but always in connection with mi, man.
