A blue-eyed golden mongoose!

(Ashwamedhika Parva of Mahabharata)

With great curiosity, King Janmejaya asked, ‘O Rishi! Tell me, was there any wonderful incident that occurred in the Ashwamedhika sacrifice of my grandsire?’

Rishi Vaishampayana said, ‘O noble king of Kuru race! Truly, one amazing thing happened which was not expected by anyone!’ Thus, the rishi narrated the story that happened then——————

The grand ceremony of Ashwamedhika Yajna was over and the Rishi's, the munis, the Brahmanas and all the poor, the blind and the helpless being gratified praised the profound gifts given by King Yudhishthira. Flowers were showered on the head of king Yudhishthira! At that very moment a blue-eyed, half golden mongoose came to that place where all assembled. The mongoose said in a human voice that was loud and deep as thunder, ‘O king! This great sacrifice is not equal to a prastha of powdered barley that was given by a Brahmin who observed Unchha vow in Kurukshetra!’

Hearing the harsh words of the mongoose, all the Brahmins, Rishi's and other people were surprised! They asked him whence he came and what authority he had to censure the sacrifice in such a manner. The Brahmanas told him that the sacrifice was followed according to the injunctions of the scriptures with proper mantras. The twice-born class, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, the Surdas and all other people have been pleased with the profound gifts given by king Yudhishthira! They said, ‘You have come into the midst of highly learned Brahmanas! And you dared to criticise the sacrifice and us! You must explain yourself!’

The blue-eyed mongoose humbly said, ‘O foremost of Brahmanas! Truly, I have said this sacrifice is not equal in merit to the gift of a prastha of a powdered barley! I have not uttered it out of pride or arrogance but the wonderful incident was seen and experienced by me only! Because of that incident, half of my body turned into gold. Listen to me now with full attention————

A poor Brahmana with his family-wife, son and daughter-in-law lived in Kurukshetra. He practiced penances and observed Unchcha vow. He adopted the mode of life like a pigeon. Whatever grains of corn were left on the field after harvesting, that he collected from the field, and with that much food the whole family satisfied their hunger. And he used to eat every day at the sixth division ( a specific time of day when the king follows a disciplined eating practice. According to Dharma Shastras says the sixth hour is a designated time when a student is allowed to eat.) If by any chance, there was nothing to eat then the Brahmana would fast for that day and eat on the next day at the same time. The  Brahmana was virtuous and controlled his senses.  

Once a dreadful famine took place there! It continued for a long time! No where the food was available. The whole kingdom became void of food stores and people suffered a lot without food! The Brahmana with his family also suffered a lot but he didn't give up his observance of unchha vow. Once in the month of Jaistha, when the Sun was in the meridian scattered its radiant heat, this Brahmana went to the field and picked up some grains of corn like the pigeons! He brought it back home and then made it powdered. It was called Saktu. These ascetics (Brahmana and his family members) finished their prayer, libation on the sacred fire and other daily rituals, then divided that little measure of powdered barley  among themselves. Suddenly they heard a knock at the door when they were about to eat. Beholding the guest, they became glad and paid their respect. All of them were of pure hearts without malice and pride. They had also conquered the wrath controlling their senses! 

After offering water they said, ‘O sinless one! This is the Arghya for thee! Wash your feet and accept that Kush grass as your seat. O foremost of regenerate persons! Accept this clean Saktu  acquired by lawful means.’ Thus, the Brahmana offered his share first to the guest rahmana.

That guest Brahmana accepted it and ate it but his hunger was not satisfied with that much of a prastha of powdered barley offered by that puissant Brahmana! Seeing the guest Brahmana still hungry, the wife of that Brahmana said to her husband, ‘O lord! It is said in the Sastras that a guest is like God! We are householders. It is our duty to satisfy the guest. Let my share also be given to him. Let our guest be gratified and let him then go wherever he wants to.’ 

The Brahmana in the observance of Unchha vow felt pity for his wife who was already afflicted by hunger for many days and turned into mere skin and bone. Being learned he said, ‘O beautiful one! It is my duty to protect you at any cost. Verily, a man who fails to protect his wife  earns infamy here  and goes into Hell hereafter! You should not offer your portion as you are equally afflicted with hunger.’ 

Somehow the wife convinced her puissant husband with the words from scriptures that the guest should anyhow be gratified. At last, this Brahmana agreed and offered her portion to the guest. The guest Brahmana ate that but still his hunger was not appeased! Beholding the noble act of their parents, the son and the noble-hearted daughter-in- law too followed in their footsteps. At last, the guest Brahmana’s hunger was fully satisfied! 

The guest took his own form and said, ‘O Brahmana! I am  extremely happy with your simple gift-  a prastha of  powdered barley! The fruit of a mere gift which was obtained by lawful means following the path of righteousness is far better than the fruit of a hundred Horse sacrifices!  ! I am the deity of righteousness. I found no one who could be equal with you! Behold, O sinless ones! The celestial Rishi's, the Gandharvas, and the celestial messenger are praising you, struck with wonder at your gift! Your Pitris are eagerly waiting for you. O sinless one, because of your acts of piety, of your pure heart, of your penances and vows, you have conquered the Brahman region! Hunger kills one’s wisdom and drives off the mind from righteous understanding! But, in this dire situation being afflicted with hunger, you have not neglected your observance of vows and duty towards others! O you of excellent vows, your devotion, your gift has won the Brahman region! O twice-born Brahmana, with your family ascend the celestial car and go to heaven! After that the deity of Righteousness disappeared!’

O Rishi's! After their departure, I came out of my hole. When my body touched that mire caused by the water given to his guest Brahmana and with the particles of that powdered barley dropped on the ground, my head became gold! O twice-born ones, from that day onwards, just for converting the rest of my body into gold, I visited so many hermitages of ascetics and so many sacrifices performed by the kings. 

Hearing the great Horse-sacrifice of Kuru King Yudhishthira, I rushed here with great hope! Alas! The other half of my body didn't turn into gold! I was disappointed and uttered those words that- This sacrifice is not equal to a prastha of powdered barley that had been given by the brahmana! Having said these words to the assembled Brahmanas, the mongoose disappeared from their views.’

Rishi Vaishampayan narrated the wonderful incident that took place during king Yudhishthira’s Horse-sacrifice! 

Janamejaya said, ‘O Rishi! Who was that mongoose that spoke in a human voice?’

Rishi Vaishampayan said, ‘O king! Once Rishi Jamadagni desired to do Shraddha of his Pitris. He brought his Homa-cow and milked her himself. The milk was kept in a pure vessel. The deity Dharma became very curious to test the patience of Bhrigu Vamsi- Rishi Jamadagni as he heard about the short-temper of them.  Assuming the form of Anger, Dharma entered into the vessel and spoiled the milk. With his ascetic power, Jamadagni came to know who the spoiler was but was not at all  enraged with him! 

Dharma deva took his own form and appeared before the rishi! Very humbly, he asked his (Jamadagni) forgiveness. With a smile, Rishi assured him that neither he got angry nor he had any grudge against him. He asked Dharma Deva (Anger form) to present himself before highly blessed Pitris for whom the milk was kept! But, Pitris cursed him to become a mongoose for his misdeeds. Dharma Deva (Anger form) repeatedly asked for their forgiveness and to reduce their curse. Thus, Pitris told him, ‘You would be free from your curse, the day you speak disrespectfully of Dharma!’

Thus, he was wandering all the places where sacrifices were performed and knowing Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, he (mongoose began censuring the great sacrifice) cited the example of a prastha of powdered barley! After that the mongoose disappeared there in everyone's presence! Dharma Deva was freed from the Pitris curse!

This story teaches excellent lessons———

God is never pleased with so many large or costly gifts, but He is pleased with gifts of even worthless things if acquired by lawful means!

A gift should be given with pure love and devotion!

Chariety is one of the best forms of service to mankind!