Translators of the Popol Wuj do not agree on how to interpret the role of this aged figure, who is sometimes called "nimac" or "zaquínímac" (Ximénez 4r, 7r), for the masculine element ("el viejo"), and "nima sis" or "zaquíníma zíz" for the feminine ("la vieja"). Here we gloss two major interpretations by translators Sam Colop and Alan J. Christenson.
En la nota 173 Colop explica, “En el diccionario de Basseta encontramos ajxulu como “adivino”, equivalente a ajq´ij. Conforme a Coto (1983: 140), xulu son “unos demoñuelos o familiares que se les aparecían junto a los ríos”. Conforme a Varea (1997: 358), “al que curaba con estos diablillos, llamaban aj-q´ij, aj-xulu”. Todo indica que Xulu es el “sacerdote del agua”. Pak´am parece derivar de pak´alik, “dar vuelta”, “boca arriba”, cuyo significado sería darle vuelta a lo que se mira. D.
Christenson (2007: note 26, page 54) observes, "Xpiyacoc is the male deity, while Xmucane serves as the divine female principal that brings about the creation. The derivation of the name Xpiyacoc is problematic.
Wuqub' Kame [Seven Death] is one of the principal lords of Xibalba along with Jun Kame [One Death]. Tedlock (1996: 251) explains that the name of Wuqub' Kame is a reference to the day number seven and day name Kame on the K'iche' calendar. For more information, see the entry on "Jun Kame and Wuqub' Kame" in Temas Relacionados, to the right.
Christenson (2007: note 150, page 78) notes that "The scarlet macaw (Ara macao) is a large species of parrot with beautiful, bright-red plumage. Seven Macaw is portrayed as a boastful individual whose ultimate downfall is ordained by Heart of Sky because of the excessive pride he had in his glorious appearance."
En el actual idioma k'iche', se escribe el título "corazón del mar", según apunta Sam Colop en su versión poética del texto (1999: 2), "Uk'ux Palo." De forma paralela, el título "corazón del lago", el cual también se refiere al poder del dios creador Q'ukumatz, será "Uk'ux Cho."