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1xxxiv
LAWS OF MANU.
for the repose of created beings for the repose of created beings and the day for exertion.
and the day for exertion. 16. A month is a day and a 66. A month is a day and a night of the manes, but their night of the manes, but the division (is as follows): the division is according to bright (fortnight) is their fortnights. The dark (fortday for active exertion, the night) is their day for active dark (fortnight) their night exertion, the bright (fortfor sleep.
night) their night for sleep. 17. A year is a day and a 67. A year is a day and a night of the gods; the division night of the gods; the division is (as follows): the half year is (as follows): the half year during which the sun progresses during which the sun progresses to the north will be the day, that to the north will be the day, that during which it goes southwards during which it goes southwards the night.
the night. 18. Counting the sum of years (consisting) of those human days and nights which have been mentioned above, I will
68. But hear now the brief declare (the duration of) a day!
(description of) the duration of and night of Brahman.
a night and day of Brahman 19. I will declare severally
and of the several ages (of the and in due order the totals of world) according to their order. the years in the Krita, Treta, Dvâpara, and Kali ages?
20. They declare that the 69. They declare that the Krita age (consists of four Krita age (consists of) four Thousand years (of the gods); thousand years of the gods ; the twilight preceding it con- the twilight preceding it consists of as many hundreds, and sists of as many hundreds, and the twilight following it of the the twilight following it of the same number.
same number. 21. In the (other) three ages, 70. In the (other) three ages,
annan.
1 The reading of the Mahâbhârata is obviously faulty, as it is well known that the dark fortnight is, according to the Hindus, the day of the manes. The fault has probably arisen by an accidental transposition of the words suklah and krishnah. The second var. lect. of the Mah. tayoh punah for tu pakshayoh is less intelligible than Manu's, because a substantive is required to which suklah and krishnah can be referred.
• It is a particularly significant fact that in spite of the great difference between the two works, both show the intercalation of a fresh exordium.
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