It so happened, however, that the very robbers
refused to eat the flesh of that vile man. Though cannibals, O monarch,
they would not eat an ungrateful person. For one that slays a Brahmana,
for one that drinks alcohol, for one that steals, for one that has fallen
away from a vow, there is expiation, O king. But there is no expiation
for an ungrateful person. That cruel and vile man who injures a friend
and becomes ungrateful, is not eaten by the very cannibals nor by the
worms that feed on carrion.'
SECTION CLXXIII
"Bhishma said, 'The Rakshasa king then caused a funeral pyre to be made
for that prince of cranes and adorned it with jewels and gems, and
perfumes, and costly robes. Setting fire to it with the body of that
prince of birds, the mighty chief of the Rakshasas caused the obsequial
rites of his friend to be performed according to the ordinance. At that
time, the auspicious goddess Surabhi, the daughter of Daksha, appeared in
the sky above the place where the pyre had been set up. Her breasts were
full of milk.[497] From her mouth, O sinless monarch, froth mixed with
milk fell upon the funeral pyre of Rajadharman. At this, the prince of
cranes became revived. Rising up, he approached his friend Virupaksha,
the king of the Rakshasas. At this time, the chief of the celestials
himself came to the city of Virupaksha. Addressing the Rakshasa king,
Indra said, 'By good luck, thou hast revived the prince of cranes.' The
chief of the deities further recited to Virupaksha the old story of the
curse denounced by the Grandsire upon that best of birds named
Rajadharman.
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