loud and deep as thunder.
Repeatedly uttering such deep sounds and thereby frightening all animals
and birds, that proud denizen of a hole, with large body, spoke in a
human voice and said, "Ye kings, this great sacrifice is not equal to a
prastha of powdered barley given away by a liberal Brahmana of
Kurukshetra who was observing the Unccha vow." Hearing these words of the
mongoose, O king, all those foremost of Brahmanas became filled with
wonder. Approaching the mongoose, they then asked him, saying, "Whence
hast thou come to this sacrifice, this resort of the good and the pious?
What is the extent of thy might? What thy learning? And what thy refuge?
How should we know thee that thus censurest this our sacrifice? Without
having disregarded any portion of the scriptures, everything that should
be done has been accomplished here according to the scriptures and
agreeably to reason, with the aid of diverse sacrificial rites. Those who
are deserving of worship have been duly worshipped here according to the
way pointed out by the scriptures. Libations have been poured on the
sacred fire with the aid of proper mantras. That which should be given
has been given away without pride. The regenerate class have been
gratified with gifts of diverse kinds. The Kshatriyas have been gratified
with battles fought according to just methods. The grandsires have been
gratified with Sraddhas. The Vaisyas have been gratified by the
protection offered to them, and many foremost of women have been
gratified by accomplishing their desires. The Sudras have been gratified
by kind speeches, and others with the remnants of the profuse wealth
collected on the spot. Kinsmen and relatives have been gratified by the
purity of behaviour displayed by our king. The deities have been
gratified by libations of clarified butter and acts of merit, and
dependants and followers by protection. That therefore, which is true, do
thou truly declare unto these Brahmanas. Indeed, do thou declare what is
agreeable to the scriptures and to actual experience, asked by the
Brahmanas who are eager to know. Thy words seem to demand credit. Thou
art wise. Thou bearest also a celestial form. Thou hast come into the
midst of learned Brahmanas. It behoveth thee to explain thyself." Thus
addressed by those regenerate persons, the mongoose, smiling, answered
them as follows. "Ye regenerate ones, the words I have uttered are not
false. Neither have I spoken them from pride. Tha