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.s1.427

c5.s1.427

A *R.* used to come to him, and, at his request, promised to assist him in *Pitr-yajña*. As the *Çūdra* placed the [stool called] *brsi* towards the south with its head turned towards the west, *R.* told him to place the *brsi* with its head turned towards the east, and to sit with his face turned towards the north, and gave him all directions about the *çrāddha* as laid down in the ordinances, and after the rites had been accomplished *R.* returned to his own abode. After a long time the *Çūdra* ascetic met with his death in those woods, and in his next life took birth in the family of a great king; the *R.* in his next life took birth in the family of a priest, and became well versed in the *Atharvaveda*, etc. (a); the reborn *Çūdra* was installed king after his father’s death. He appointed the reborn *R.* as his priest, and ruled his kingdom righteously; but every day, when he saw his priest, he smiled or laughed. The priest made him swear to tell him the truth, and he was then informed by him about their former births, where the penances of *R.* had all been frustrated by the instruction he had given to the *Çūdra*. In order that he might not obtain a still lower birth in his next life, he caused him to relinquish his present office as priest, make gifts, and observe vows, repairing to many sacred places, and at last, his soul having become purified, living in that very asylum where he had lived in his former birth, practising very severe penances; thus he succeeded in attaining to the highest success (XIII, 10).—§ 727: *Yudhiṣṭhira* enquired after the nature of the man or the woman in whom the goddess of Prosperity always dwells. *Bhīṣma* related the conversation between *Rukmiṇī* (the mother of *Pradyumna* with the *Makara* banner) and the goddess *Çrī*, whom she once asked this question in the presence of *Devakī*’s son (XIII, 11).—§ 728: *Yudhiṣṭhira* enquired which of the two, man or woman, derives the greater pleasure from sexual union. *Bhīṣma* told the old story of the discourse between *Bhaṅgāsvana* and *Çakra*, i.e. *Bhaṅgāsvanopākhyāna* (b), (XIII, 12).—§ 729: *Yudhiṣṭhira* asked how one should act in order to live happily both here and hereafter; *Bhīṣma*’s answer indicating the chief duties of commission and omission (XIII, 13).—§ 730: Asked by *Yudhiṣṭhira*, *Bhīṣma* discoursed about the different names of *Mahādeva* and his puissance, but soon caused *Kṛṣṇa* to take up the topic before the conclave of *R.* with *Vyāsa*, just as *R. Taṇḍin*, the offspring of *Brahmán*, had in days of yore told the 1,000 names of *Mahādeva* before *Brahmán* in *Brahmaloka*. "After twelve years had expired from the time when *Pradyumna* (the son of *Rukmiṇī*) slew the *Asura* *Çambara* in days of yore, my spouse *Jāmbavatī* (seeing the sons of *Rukmiṇī-Pradyumna*, *Cārudeṣṇa*, etc.) asked me to grant her a heroic son, saying: 'By worshipping *Mahādeva* for twelve years and emaciating thyself in observing vows, thou hast begotten the sons *Cārudeṣṇa*, etc., with *Rukmiṇī* (a).' She prayed that *Brahmán*, etc. (b), would protect me; I took leave of *Ahuka*, etc. (γ), and *Garuḍa* bore me to *Himavat*, where I dismissed him; I there saw the asylum (description) of *Upamanyu* *Vaiyāghrapadya*, reverenced by D., G., and K., adorned with *Gaṅgā*, etc. *Upamanyu* directed me to devote myself to penances and gratify *Çiva*, here where D. and R. had in days of yore gratified him, who took his birth as *Dā. Hiranyakāçipu* (b), who was the father of *Mandāra* (c), irresistible even to *Viṣṇu*’s discus *Sudarçana* (d); *Çiva* had granted further boons to the *Dānavas* (or *Asuras*) *Vidyutprabha* (e), *Çatamukha* (f), and to *Brahmán*, etc. (g); the sacrifice *Saptakapāla*, etc. (g)."