Reading Notes - Mahabharata Part D

   Mahabharata Online: Public Domain Edition

Author: Multiple

Part D: The Mongoose
  • A mongoose appears, his body is half golden and he spoke
  • His audience was confused and so he began to tell a story
  • He told the story of a Brahmin who lived off of corn and ate it once a day at a fixed hour
  • A famine occurred, forcing the man his wife, and kids to grow weak until they were living skeletons
  • One day the brahmin had sum barley and divided it into 4 portions to get ready to eat
  • Right before eating a guest arrived and they welcomed him with water and a seat
  • The brahmin gave him his share of food and the guest ate it but was still hungry
  • The wife then brought her share to her husband and ended up giving it to the guest as well
  • Though the guest's hunger was still not appeased
  • Next, the son brought his share as he wanted to share in his fathers hungry
  • The guest took the sons share and was still hungry
  • The last person remaining was the daughter in law, reluctant at first gave her share to the guest as well
  • At last, the guest arose and it was shown that it was Dharma whom they had fed
  • The god praised and blessed them and gave permission for them to rise in happy peace to heaven
  • The mongoose has walked to where some barley had fallen and his body turned to gold from the magic power of their sacrifice
  • The mongoose had sought a sacrifice of equal merit and found none not even that of Yudhishthira with all of his gold and gems


(Source: PDE Mahabharata)

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