[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.sorensen-1904) › c5.s1.425 # 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 An Index to the Names in the Mahābhārata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s1.425 - **Language:** English ### [c5.s1.425](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.sorensen-1904.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). - [Previous: c5.s1.424](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.sorensen-1904.c5.s1.424) - [Next: c5.s1.426](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.sorensen-1904.c5.s1.426) - [Up: c5.s1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.sorensen-1904.c5.s1) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.sorensen-1904.c5.s1.425](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.sorensen-1904.c5.s1.425) · Pramāṇa