Note 55 — UTTARAKĀNDAM (continued 2)

The original has: "Doth not virtue wane." This in English would imply the very reverse what Nārada intends to say. He says: "Doth religion deteriorate?"—i.e. "I hope, religion doth not deteriorate." This is an idiom and natural usage accounts for it, although that usage must in the nature of things be based on a subtle ground of reason.—T.