ORIENTAL SERIES.

MlMANSA- VARTTIKA-MRICHCHHAKA 77. 209
MlMANSA-VARTTIKA. A work on the Munansa philosophy
by Kumaiila Bha/fa.
MINJIKA (mas.) and MINJIKA (fern.). Two beings who,
according to the Maha-bharata, sprang from the seed of Eudra,
wliich was spilt upon a mountain. They are to be worshipped
by those who desire the welfare of children.
MITAKSHAEA. A commentary by Yijnaneswara on the
Smnti or text-book of Yajnawalkya. The authority of this
book is admitted all over India, with the exception of Bengal
proper. The portion on inheritance has been translated by
Colebrooke, and into French by Orianne. The text has been
printed in India.
MITHILA. A city, the capital of Yideha or North Bihar,
which corresponds to the modern Tirhut and Puraniya, between
the Gandakl and Kosi rivers. It has given its name to one of
the five northern nations of Brahmans (see Brahman), and to a
school of law. It was the country of King Janaka, and the
aame of his capital, Janaka-pura, still survives in " Janakpoor,"
on the northern frontier.
MITEA. Probably connected with the Persian Mithra, A
form of the sun. In the Vedas he is generally associated with
Yarumt, he being the ruler of the day and Yaruna the ruler of
the night They together uphold and rule the earth and sky,
guard the world, encourage religion, and chastise sin. He is
one of the Adityas or sons of Aditi.
MITEA-SAHA. A king called also Kalmasha-pada (q.v.).
MLECHHAS. Foreigners, barbarians, people not of Aryan
race.
MOHA-MUDGAEA, Hammers for ignorance. 3 A
poem
in explanation of the Yedanta philosophy. It has been printed
and translated by Neve.
MJS/CHCHHAKAIi '
The toy-cart.' A drama in ten acts
by King $udraka, supposed to be the oldest Sanskrit drama
extant, and to have been written in the first or second century
A.D. The country over which /Sudraka reigned' is not known.
This play, says Wilson, its translator, " is a curious and interest-
of national manners . . . free from all exterior
ing picture
influence or adulteration. It is a portrait purely Indian. It
represents a state of society sufficiently advanced in civilisation
to be luxurious and corrupt,' and is
certainly very far
o
from