What does「ゝ」mean?

Question

Now, I've been at least trying to read 竹取物語, and in the second sentence of my version it shows a odd symbol that I've yet to see.

野山にまじりて、竹を取りつゝ、萬づの事に使ひけり。

The symbol in question is the 「ゝ」 what does it mean? And what happens to the sentences translation as a result of it?

Answer 1

ゝ is used to indicate previous hiragana is repeated. In your example, you can regard the sentence to be exactly the same as below.

野山にまじりて、竹を取りつつ、萬づの事に使ひけり。