nto a large and mighty elephant. One day, Indra, assuming the form of
king Dhritarashtra, seized that mighty elephant which was as huge as a
hill and from whose rent temples the juice was trickling down. Beholding
the elephant dragged away, the great ascetic Gautama of rigid vows
addressed king Dhritarashtra and said, 'O ungrateful Dhritarashtra, do
not rob me of this elephant. It is looked upon by me as a son and I have
reared it with much pain. It is said that between the righteous,
friendship springs up if only they exchange seven words.[452] Thou
shouldst see, O king, that the sin of injuring a friend does not touch
thee! It behoveth thee not, O king, to take away by force this elephant
that brings me my fuel and water, that protects my asylum when I am away,
that is exceedingly docile and obedient to his instructor, that is mindful
of doing all the offices that his preceptor commands, that is mild and
well-broken, and that is grateful and very dear to me! Indeed, thou
shouldst not bear it away, disregarding my protestations and cries!'

"'"Dhritarashtra said, 'I shall give thee a thousand kine, a hundred
maid-servants, and five hundred pieces of gold. I shall also, O great
Rishi, give thee diverse other kinds of wealth. What use can Brahmanas
have with elephants?'

"'"Gautama said, 'Keep, O king, thy kine and maid-servants and coins of
gold and various gems and diverse other kinds of wealth! What, O monarch,
have Brahmanas to do with wealth?'

"'"Dhritarashtra said, 'Brahmana, have no use for elephants. Verily, O
learned Brahmana, elephants are meant for persons of the royal order. In
taking away an animal, viz., this foremost of elephants, for my use as
vehicle, I cannot be regarded as committing any sin. Do thou cease
obstructing me in this way, O Gautama!'

"'"Gautama said, 'O illustrious king, repairing even to that region of Yama
where the righteous live in joy and the sinful in grief, I shall take
from thee this my elephant!'

"'"Dhritarashtra said, 'They that are destitute of (religious) acts, they
that have no faith and are atheists, they that are of sinful souls and
are always engaged in gratifying their senses, only they have to go to
the region of Yama and endure the misery he inflicts. Dhritarashtra shall
go to a higher region, and not thither!'

"'"Gautama said, 'The region of Yama is such that men are there controlled.
No untruth can be told there. Only truth prevails in that place. There
the we