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.s1.443.7

c5.s1.443.7

Asked by Yudhishthira (who refers to XIII, 137), Bhishma discoursed on the five kinds of gifts: from desire of merit, from desire of profit, from fear, from free choice, and from pity; Brahmán has said that one should always make gifts according to one's power (XIII, 138).—§ 768: Yudhishthira, complaining of the distress of the time, asked Bhishma to discourse on religion and profit in the presence of Krishna and all the kings. Vaiçampāyana said that Bhishma recited the discourses on the puissance of Vishnu in days of yore (and the doubt of Rudra and his spouse). Once Krishna observed a vow for twelve years in order to obtain a son; Nārada, etc. (a), came there with Si., etc. (description of their seats); fire issued from the mouth of Krishna and consumed the summit of the mountain with all its living creatures, then it came back and touched his feet; he cast a benignant look upon the mountain, which once more became adorned and peopled as before. Asked by R., Krishna explained that, in consequence of his penances, his soul became transformed into fire and repaired to Brahmán (who told it that half of the energy of Çiva would take birth as Krishna's son), and then went back; “I now ask you to tell me something that is highly wonderful, which you have heard of or seen on earth or in heaven.” R. glorified Krishna, and asked by them, Nārada described the wonderful incident on Himavat, “which was witnessed by R. on their tīrthayātrā” (XIII, 139). Bhishma said: Then R.