The story of the strange mongoose

The guests who attended Yudhishthira’s horse sacrifice were, one by one, returning to their places with contended face. There was loud acclaim from each throat : “there was nothing in the past to match this sacrifice of the Pandavas, it is unlikely that there will be anything like it in future, too!”

It was then that a voice was heard: “Nothing compared to that of the Brahmin of Kurukshetra who lived by begging for his daily meal (unccha vrutti)!” All eyes turned in the direction of the voice and could find none, but a mongoose. It was an ordinary mongoose except that half of its body appeared golden. The strange animal repeated: “The sacrifice of the Pandavas stands nowhere near that of the Brahmin who lived by begging for his daily meal (unchha vrutti) and , yet, gave away his share of powdered barley!”

The animal spoke clearly in human voice. It was also emphatic in its pronouncement. Many of the great Brahmins who had played vital roles in the sacrifice were still present at that time. They asked him in a surprised tone. “Who are you and why do you say this? We followed he scriptures to the letter in every aspect of the ritual. Every item offered to the fire was pure and the Mantras were correctly chanted by scholars. Gifts were given away so freely that every one left the venue satisfied to the core. We are surprised that, yet, you make this dubious statement”

The mongoose said. “Listen to me carefully. What I said is true and I did not say so with any prejudice. I am going to recount something that I saw and experienced.”

The Brahmin who lived by begging

Then, the mongoose narrated its story. There was a Brahmin in Kurukshetra who lived with his wife, son and daughter-in-law. The whole family spent their time in prayers and ate only once a day at noon, that too, by begging just for that meal (unccha vrutti). They kept nothing for the next day, and gave away anything more than what they needed for that meal.

Then, a severe famine hit the people of the country. There was not enough food to go by even for those who farmed the land. The Brahmin and his family roamed around in the hot sun on empty stomach for food and got nothing for several days in a stretch. But, they remained contended, with their minds deep in thought on god.

A desperately needed meal

Then, after days without food, the Brahmin was lucky to get some barley which they roasted and powdered. What they got was barely enough for the four of them for a meal. Yet, they offered one share to the gods into the fire. Then, the Brahmin thanked god for his kindness and divided what was left equally among the four. They were about to appease their acute hunger with the barley meal.

A guest just in time

Then, there was a knock on the door of their hut. It was a visitor, hungry and haggard, looking for food. A guest any time of the day, especially at meal time, was normally welcome, considered to be god sent. Even when suffering with severe pangs of hunger, the Brahmin welcomed his guest with a smiling face. He gave him the customary water for washing his feet and a mat to sit down. Next, he placed his own share of the barley powder in front of the hungry guest. The visitor ate what was given to him, but, appeared not satisfied.

The partner in sorrow

Then, the Brahmin’s wife, frail with days of fasting, came forwarded and offered her share of meal for giving to the guest. Her husband objected. He said. “Even the low lying creatures take care of their wives. How can I permit you to do this? It is my duty to protect you at all times. I know how hungry you are. I shall be committing a sin, if I let you forsake your meal at this critical time”. But, the good lady persisted. She replied. “As your duly wedded wife, is it not my duty to be with you in happiness and sorrow? Please offer our guest my share of the meal and let him leave our house satisfied.”

The Brahmin had no answer for the wise words of his wife and he fed the guest with his wife’s share of the barley powder. Yet, the visitor appeared still hungry.

The dutiful son

Then, came the Brahmin’s son in front of his father saying, “as your son it is my duty to assist you in all ways in your old age. Your guest is mine, too. Please offer this food to him and let him go satisfied.”

The Brahmin was taken aback by his gesture. He said. “Even when you are a thousand years old, you are just a boy to me and it is my duty to protect you. I cannot let you die of hunger.” But, his son did not budge from his stand arguing that his father’s interest was his, too. Failing to counter his son’s logic with good reason and choking with emotion, the Brahmin offered the share of his son, too, to the guest. And yet, he found the visitor’s face yearning for more.

Ultimately, the daughter-in-law placed her own share of meal in front of the guest insisting that she stood by the common interest of the family.

The Guest in his true form

The guest accepted the last morsel of meal left in the house and got up. Then he said. “I am fully satisfied with the steadfast adherence to the right path (Dharma) by you and your family. Know that I am, in fact, the god of Dharma, who came in person to test your merits. You and your family are free from all human bondage and are ready to ascend to heaven, the world of the evolved souls.

The half luck of the mongoose

At that time a heavenly vehicle appeared on the scene and carried the Brahmin and his family heavenwards.

The mongoose concluded its story saying, “I was in my den watching the entire scene and hearing the whole conversations. When they all left I ventured out and happened to come into contact with the barley powder that was spilled on the ground and with the water that had come in contact with the feet of the visitor. To my surprise, my body turned golden instantaneously. Unfortunately, there was too little left over there to cover even my small body, with the result that it is only part of me that turned into gold. I have been going round all over the land wherever great sacrifices took place and tried to roll my body over the ground there with no luck. I had heard a great deal about the Horse Sacrifice of Yudhishthira also, and arrived here hoping that I may have better luck this time. But, look, not even one more hair of my body has turned golden as a result.”

Thus, concluded the mongoose with golden body its story of a real sacrifice. We shall learn more of sacrifices without killing in the next episode.