An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s1.425

c5.s1.425

Asked by *Yudhiṣṭhira* if any householder had ever succeeded in conquering *Mṛtyu* by virtue, *Bhīṣma* recited the ancient story *Sudarçanopākhyāna* (b), "To a householder there is no higher divinity than the guest; the blessings of an honoured guest are more efficacious than the merit of 100 sacrifices. Whenever a deserving guest seeks the hospitality of an householder and is not honoured by him, he takes away [with him] all the virtues of the latter, giving his sins [in return]." Blessing upon the reader (XIII, 2).—§ 721: *Yudhiṣṭhira* asked how the *Kṣattriya* *Viçvāmitra* attained to the position of a *brahman* and the 100 sons of *Vasiṣṭha*, etc. (a), and comparing the instance of *Mataṅga*, who was born as a *Caṇḍāla* and could not attain to *brahman*hood (XII, 3). *Bhīṣma* related how in olden times *Viçvāmitra* attained to the position of a *brahman* and *B.-r*, i.e. *Viçvāmitropākhyāna* (b), (XIII, 4).—§ 722: *Yudhiṣṭhira* wished to know the merits of compassion and the characteristics of devout men. *Bhīṣma* recited the ancient story of the discourse between *Indra* and the parrot (in the territories of the *Kāçi* king) who did not desert the blasted tree wherein it had been born, though the tree had withered, being pierced by a fowler with a poisoned arrow. The parrot, by his penances, knew *Indra* (who came in the shape of a *brahman*), and, being granted a boon, made *Indra* revive the tree; and after death he came to the region of *Indra* (XIII, 5).—§ 723: *Yudhiṣṭhira* enquired which of the two, Exertion and Destiny, is more powerful. *Bhīṣma* related the ancient story of the conversation of *Vasiṣṭha* and *Brahmán*, in which *Brahmán* showed the necessity of exertion, notwithstanding the force of destiny, under reference to the example of the gods, etc. (a); *Janamejaya*, who followed in the footsteps of *Indra*, was checked and put down by the gods on account of his having killed a *brahman* woman; the *viprarṣi* *Vaiçampāyana* was put down by the gods for killing a *brahman* by ignorance and a child (XIII, 6).—§ 724: Asked by *Yudhiṣṭhira*, *Bhīṣma* related the various fruits of various good acts. The *Kuru* princes became filled with wonder at his doctrine, as narrated by *R.* of old (XIII, 7). *Yudhiṣṭhira* enquired who should be honoured and who liked, etc.; *Bhīṣma*’s answer about the duty of honouring good *brahmans* (XIII, 8).—§ 725: *Yudhiṣṭhira*’s enquiry about the misery that awaits those who refuse to make gifts to *brahmans* after having promised to give them. *Bhīṣma* set forth the various kinds of misery that await such men, citing the old narrative of the discourse between a jackal and an ape: While both were human beings they were intimate friends; after death one of them became a jackal and the other an ape, the former because he had not given to a *brahman* what he had promised to give, the latter because he had given to a *brahman* what he had promised to give. *Bhīṣma* heard this from his preceptor and from *Kṛṣṇa* (XIII, 9).