SECTION CXXXVII

“Yudhishthira said, ’O Bharata, of the two things charity and devotion, do thou condescend to tell me, O sire, which is the better in this world?  Do thou, by this, remove a great doubt from my mind.’

“Bhishma said, ’Do thou, listen to me as I recite the names of the princes who having been devoted to virtue, and having cleansed their hearts by penances and practised gifts and other acts of piety, undoubtedly attained to the different celestial regions.  The Rishi Atreya revered by all, attained, O monarch, to the excellent celestial regions, by imparting the knowledge of the unconditional Supreme Being to his pupils.  King Sivi, the son of Usinara, by offering the life of his dear son, for the benefit of a Brahmana, was translated from this world to heaven.  And Pratardana, the king of Kasi, by giving his son to a Brahmana, secured to himself unique and undying fame in this as well as in the other world.  Rantideva, the son of Sankriti, attained to the highest heaven by duly making gifts to the high-souled Vasishtha.  Devavriddha too went to heaven by giving a hundred-ribbed and excellent golden umbrella to a Brahmana for a sacrifice.  The worshipful Amvarisha too has attained to the region of the gods, by making a gift of all his kingdom to a Brahmana of great power.  King Janamejaya of the solar race, went to the highest heaven by making a gift of ear-rings, fine vehicles, and cows to Brahmanas.  The Royal sage Vrishadarbhi went to heaven by making gifts of various jewels and beautiful houses to Brahmanas.  King Nimi of Vidarva, attained to heaven with his sons, friends and cattle, by giving his daughter and kingdom to the high-souled Agastya.  The far-famed Rama, the son of Jamadagni, attained to the eternal regions, far beyond his expectation, by giving lands to Brahmanas.  Vasishtha, the prince of Brahmanas, preserved all the creatures at a time of great drought when the god Parjjanya did not bestow his grateful showers upon the earth, and for this act he has secured eternal bliss for himself.  Rama, the son of Dasaratha, whose fame is very high in this world, attained to the eternal regions by making gifts of wealth at sacrifices.  The far-famed royal sage Kakshasena, went to heaven by duly making over to the high-souled Vasishtha the wealth which he had deposited with him.  Marutta, the son of Parikshita and the grandson of Karandhama, by giving his daughter in marriage to Angiras, immediately went to heaven.  The highly devout king of Panchalal Brahmadatta, attained the blessed way by giving away a precious conch-shell.  King Mitrasaha, by giving his favourite wife Madayanti to the high-souled Vasishtha, ascended to heaven.  Sudyumna, the son of Manu, by causing the proper punishment to be inflicted upon the high-souled Likhita, attained to the most blessed regions.  The celebrated royal sage Saharachitta went to the blessed regions, by sacrificing his dear