Page 46 - Śrī Pañcatantra - Eng

304 Glosssary

Devotee—a surrendered servant of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead.

Dharma—(1) religiosity (the first of the four Vedic goals of
human life); (2) religious duty.

Dharma-śāstra(s)—codes (written by Manu and other Vedic
sages) which regulate human life and also form the basis of the
ancient Vedic judicial system.
Dhīra—one who is able to remain peaceful and undisturbed
by circumstances.

Dhobi—a washerman.
Dhotī—a traditional Vedic garment for men consisting of a
single woven cloth.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra, King—the blind king who ruled in Hastināpura
(the territory around present-day Delhi) five thousand years
ago. His son Duryodhana had caused a colossal war between
the two groups of cousins (Kurus and Pāṇḍavas). This conflict
is the central theme of the epic Mahābhārata.
Dhruva Mahārāja—one of the sons of King Uttānapāda who
wished to surpass the previous generations with the size of his
kingdom and was directed by his mother toward the worship
of Lord Viṣṇu in great austerity.

Durgā—the predominating deity of material nature and
consort of Lord Śiva.

Duryodhana—Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s evil son plotting against the
Pāṇḍavas to usurp their share of the Kuru kingdom.

Dvija—(lit. “twice-born”) another Sanskrit term for a brāhmaṇa.
“Second birth” refers to initiation into chanting of sacred Vedic
mantras.
Gaddī—(lit. “the seat”) the position of a leader of a religious
group.