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.s1.429

c5.s1.429

conversation was over, Yudhiṣṭhira touched Bhīshma's feet with his head, and then resumed his questions relating to morality and righteousness. Yudhiṣṭhira asked which countries, retreats, mountains, and rivers are foremost in point of sanctity. Bhīshma related the old narrative of a conversation between a brahman who was a śiloñcha-vṛtti (subsisting upon gleanings) (or śilavṛtti) householder and a siddha (crowned with ascetic success) R., who roamed over the earth and once had passed the night in the house of the śilavṛtti, who, when they had conversed on subjects connected with the Vedas and Upanishads, asked him this very question, and was instructed by him about the superior sanctity of Gaṅgā. Then the siddha ascended the firmament, and the śilavṛtti sought the protection of Gaṅgā and attained to great success. Yudhiṣṭhira, etc., were filled with delight. Blessing upon the reader (XIII, 28).—§ 735: Yudhiṣṭhira asked how a Kshatriya, Vaiśya, or Śūdra may acquire the position of a brahman. Bhīshma said that the brahmanhood cannot be acquired except by birth, relating an old story of a conversation between Matanga and a sho-ass, i.e. Indra-Matanga-saṃvāda (b), (XIII, 27-29).—§ 736: Yudhiṣṭhira mentioned that in former times the position of a brahman was acquired by Viśvāmitra, and asked how king Vitahavya in ancient times succeeded in obtaining brahmanhood. Bhīshma told the Vitahavya-pākhyāna (b), (XIII, 30).—§ 737: Asked by Yudhiṣṭhira as to who are worthy of reverent homage, Bhīshma repeated the old narrative of the discourse between Nārada and Vāsudeva, who asked him the above question. Nārada answered: "I worship them who constantly worship Varuṇa, etc." (a), (XIII, 38).—§ 738: Asked by Yudhiṣṭhira about the merits of those persons who grant protection to living creatures, Bhīshma told the Śyenakapotākhyāna (b), (XIII, 32).—§ 739: Asked by Yudhiṣṭhira which act is the most important of all those that have been laid down for a king, Bhīshma said it was the worship of brahmans; they are older than P., D., men, U., and Rā., and incapable of being vanquished by D., P., G., Rā., As., or Pc.; it is owing to the absence of brahmans that the Kshatriya tribes, the Cakas, etc. (a), have become degraded into the state of Śūdras; the great R. have said that brahmanicide is a heinous sin (XIII, 33); they have Soma for their king; "this was said to me by Nārada"; Āditya, etc. (β), enter the body of the brahman and take what the brahman eats; in the house where brahmans (γ) who have conquered Kshatriyas; "in this connection the old story of the conversation between Vāsudeva and the Earth," who instructed the former, told; examples of discomfiture arising from acts hurtful to the brahmans (δ), (XIII, 34). Bhīshma's characterisation of brahmans; the Mekalas, etc. (ε), and numerous other tribes have become degraded to the state of Śūdras through the wrath of the brahmans; having displeased the brahmans, As. have been obliged to take refuge in the ocean; through the favour of the brahmans one attains to the heavens of heaven; comparisons with the gods; the brahmans are incapable of being subjugated by the gods; Bhīshma told the old history of the conversation between the guise of an ascetic-Cambara, who ascribed his success to his feeling towards the brahmans, and the fallen D. and As. in the nether world, after instruction from