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.s7.293.5

c5.s7.293.5

Indra, as a worm, began to pierce his thigh, on which was lying the head of the sleeping Rama; therefore he did not move. But Rama, witnessing his patience, discovered that he was not a brahman, and cursed him, saying that this weapon would never, in the time of need, when the hour of his death came, occur to his memory. He had forgotten the weapon, but would, notwithstanding, slay Arjuna; he suspected Çalya of secret friendship with the Pandavas; he would employ the Brahma weapon, which Arjuna would never be able to escape, if only the wheels of Karna's chariot did not sink into the earth that day; he would not take fright at Yama himself with his rod, or Varuna with his noose, or Kubera with his mace, or Indra with the thunderbolt. "Once upon a time, while wandering for the sake of practising with my bow Vijaya, I had heedlessly struck the calf of a brahman's homa cow; the brahman cursed me, saying that my wheel would sink into the earth in a battle when I was in great danger. The kings of the Lunar race offered to give that brahman 1,000 kine and 600 bulls, but in vain," etc. (VIII, 42). Karna said that it was in vain that Çalya tried to frighten him (ζ) (VIII, 43). Karna said that in Dhrtarashtra's abode the brahmans used to give accounts of various delightful regions and many kings of ancient times; an old brahman had said, blaming the Madrakas and the Bahikas, that they should be avoided as being out of the pale of virtue and living away from Himavat, etc.