breaths called Prana
and Apana in the bodies of all embodied beings. He has many blazing and
terrible forms. All those forms are worshipped in the world and are known
to Brahmanas possessed of knowledge. Amongst the gods he has many names
all of which are fraught with grave import. Verily, the meanings of those
names are derived from either his greatness or vastness, or his feats, or
his conduct. The Brahmanas always recite the excellent Sata-rudriya in
his honour, that occurs in the Vedas as also that which has been composed
by Vyasa. Verily, the Brahmanas and Rishis call him the eldest of all
beings. He is the first of all the deities, and it was from his mouth
that he created Agni. That righteous-souled deity, ever willing to grant
protection to all, never gives up his suppliants. He would much rather
abandon his own life-breaths and incur all possible afflictions himself.
Long life, health and freedom from disease, affluence, wealth, diverse
kinds of pleasures and enjoyments, are conferred by him, and it is he
also who snatches them away. The lordship and affluence that one sees in
Sakra and the other deities are verily his. It is he who is always
engaged in all that is good and evil in the three worlds. In consequence
of his fullest control over all objects of enjoyment he is called Iswara
(the Supreme Lord or Master). Since, again, he is the master of the vast
universe, he is called Maheswara. The whole universe is pervaded by him
in diverse forms. It is that deity whose mouth roars and burns the waters
of the sea in the form of the huge mare's head!"'"[618]

SECTION CLXII

"Vaisampayana said, 'After Krishna, the son of Devaki, had said these
words, Yudhishthira once more asked Bhishma the son of Santanu, saying,
"O thou of great intelligence, O foremost of all persons conversant with
duties, which, indeed, of the two, direct perception and the scriptures,
is to be regarded as authority for arriving at a conclusion?"

"'Bhishma said, "I think, there is no doubt in this. Listen to me, O thou
of great wisdom! I shall answer thee. The question thou hast asked is
certainly proper. It is easy to cherish doubt. But the solution of that
doubt is difficult. Innumerable are the instances, in respect of both
direct perception and audition (or the scriptures), in which doubts may
arise. Certain persons, who delight in the name of logicians, verily
imagining themselves to be possessed of superior wisdom, affirm that
dir