ORIENTAL SERIES.

MUDRA-RAKSHASAMUNDAKA. 211
clared that Mudgala would go bodily to heaven, and the mes-
senger of the gods arrived with his heavenly car. The sage,
before accepting the invitation, desired to be informed of the
joys and ills of heaven. After hearing a full explanation, he
found that the enjoyments of heaven must come to a close, so
he declared that he " had no desire for heaven, and would seek
only that eternal abode where there is no sorrow, nor distress,*
nor change." He dismissed the messenger of the gods, and
began to practise ascetic virtues, becoming indifferent to praise
and blame, regarding clods, gold, stones, and gold as alike.
Pure knowledge led to fixed contemplation; and that again
imparted strength and complete comprehension, whereby he
obtained supreme eternal perfection in the nature of quietude
(nirvana).
MITDRA-BAKSHASA. 'The signet of the minister/ A
drama by Yisakha-datta. This play has an historical interest, for
Chandra-gupta, the Sandracottus of Greek writers, is a leading
character in it. The date of its production is apparently the
eleventh or twelfth century A.D. It is one of the dramas trans-
lated by Wilson, who says, " The author was not a poet of the
sphere of Bhava-bhuti or Kali-dasa. His imagination rises not to
their level, and there is scarcely a brilliant or beautiful thought
in the play. As some equivalent for the want of imagination,
he has a vigorous perception of character and a manly strain of
sentiment, that are inferior only to elevated conception and deli-
cate feeling. He is the Massinger of the Hindus. The language
of the original partakes of the general character of the play ; it is
rarely beautiful or delicate, but always vigorous, and occasion-
ally splendid-"
MUGDHA-BODHA- A standard Grammar by Vopadeva,
written towards the end of the thirteenth century. It has been
edited by Bdhtlingk, and there are several Indian editions.
MUKA. A Danava, son of Upasunda, He assumed the form
of a wild boar in order to kill Arjuna, but was himself killed by
/Siva in his form of the Kirata or. mountaineer.
MUKHAGNL '
Fiery-faced.' Spirits or goblins with faces
of fire, perhaps meteors,
MTIZVPA.
c
Bald. 1 An appellation of Ketu. Name of a
demon slain by Durga.
MUJVDAKA. Name of a Upanishad (q.v.) translated by