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An Ahom (Shan) Legend of Creation (from an old MS.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

W. W. Cochrane
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Type
Miscellaneous Communications
Information
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society , Volume 43 , Issue 4 , October 1911 , pp. 1132 - 1142
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1911

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References

page 1135 note 1 The translation before me says, “He had no mouth to speak. He had no head, no name, no arms, and no hands.” But his name has already been given, and a few lines below “he opened his eyes”, “he thought in himself” (lit. in his belly). That Indra was a huge paunch is an indecorous and unnecessary supposition.

page 1137 note 1 In both of the translations referred to these words were translated “ambrosia”, which is quite good, but I prefer “elixir”, as coming perhaps a little nearer the meaning here: nam, “water”; pu, “grandfather” or “old age”; lawk, “to shed as a skin”; a serpent, for instance, is supposed by the Shans to renew its life when it sheds its skin. Hence, the meaning is clear: “the life-renewing liquid.”

page 1140 note 1 I have written these names as descriptive phrases rather than as proper names with capital letters and literal translations as: Ai-Lang-Dön-Hseng-Hong - Saw-Hpa - Lai - Nang, “ Elder - Brother - House - Moon- Gem-Illustrious-Spoon-Celestial-Reigning,” which is too Oriental, and in English may mean much or nothing and is ugly to boot.