At the end of the Ashwamadha Yagna performed by Yudhistira,

when it was time to give charity to all people, a strange half

golden mongoose came near the sacrificial pit and rolled it's
body to the sand and then shook his head. Curiously, Yudhistira
asked, " Why are you shaking your head like that, O mongoose?"
To which the half golden mongoose replied, "O king, once there
was a very poor family of four. One day as they sat to eat the
little food they had, an unexpected guest arrived at that time.
They didn't have any leftover food so the man of the family
decided to give his portion of the food to the guest. The guest
being tired, wanted some more of the food so his wife gave her
portion as well. But their guest was so hungry that in turn the
two young children also gave their meals. The guest was then
satisfied. The family, though starving were extremely pleased
and didn't regret their decision at all. When I rolled in the sand
in front of their home, half my body became golden as it is now.
Such was the family's generosity. Since then wherever there has
been a large sacrificial Yagna with charity, I have rolled in the
sand in all those places seeing if the other half of my body will
turn golden too. But O king, no where has it been like the poor
family's household. I now believe no where will the will to give be
so sincere and I will never get a fully golden body."
The fable of mongoose: animal sacrifice or compassion[edit]

Aswamedhika Parva has many fables and tales. One of them is the fable of mongoose at the time of
Aswamedhika yajna (shown).

A mongoose with blue eyes and colored gold on one side, appears during the final Aswamedhika
stages of the fire yajna by Yudhishthira and other kings. The mongoose, in a thundering human
voice, says, "O kings, this animal sacrifice is not equal to the tiny amount of barley by an unccha-
vow ascetic." Yudhishthira does not understand, so asks the mongoose for an explanation. The
mongoose tells them a story:[5] Long ago, there was a terrible famine. The ascetic and his family had
nothing to eat. To find food, the ascetic would do what people on unccha vow do - go to fields
already harvested, and like pigeons pick left over grains from the harvested field to find food.
One day, after many hours of harsh work, the ascetic finds a handful of barley grains. He brings the
grains home and his wife cooks them. Just when his son and daughter-in-law, his wife and he are
about to eat their first meal in few days, a guest arrives. The ascetic washes the guest's feet and
inquires how he is doing. The guest says he is hungry. The ascetic, explains the mongoose, gives
his guest his own share of cooked barley. The guest eats it, but says it was too little, he is still
hungry. The wife of the ascetic hears the guest and offers her own share of cooked barley, even
though she too is starving. The guest eats that too, but says he still feels hungry. The ascetic's son
and daughter-in-law give all their share of cooked barley too. The guest finishes all, then smiles and
re-appears in the form of the god Dharma. The god gives the family a boon and fills their home with
food, saying that it is not the quantity of a sacrifice that matters, but rather the quality of care and
love in the sacrifice, given one's circumstances. The mongoose asks if Yudhishthira is confident that
his animal sacrifice would please the deity Dharma. Before Yudhishthira can answer, the mongoose
disappears.[1]
The Rishis at the yajna ask if animal sacrifice is appropriate, or should they show compassion for all
creatures. Some suggest that seeds of grain be substituted, and the animals be set free. Listening to
the discussion between the Rishis, king Vasu suggests in Ashvamedhika Parva, that large gifts from
a sinful person are of no value, but even a small gift from a righteous person given with love is of
great merit
King Yudhisthira performed a great sacrifice (Yajna) after the battle of Kurukshetra was over. He
gave very rich presents to the priests and to the poor. All were greatly astonished at the grandeur of
this magnanimous sacrifice. They exclaimed with great joy: “We have never seen in our lifetime such
a splendid sacrifice. There had never been such a glorious Yajna in the annals of the world’s history.
Glory to King Yudhisthira! Glory to Arjuna! Glory to the Pandavas and Draupadi!”

A small mongoose appeared on the scene. Half of his body was golden and the other
half was brown. He rolled on the ground where the Yajna was performed. He then
exclaimed with sorrow: “This is no Yajna at all. Why do you praise this sacrifice in
such glowing terms? You are all hypocrites and liars.”

The people replied: “What! You silly mongoose! Have you not realized the glory of this Maha Yajna?
Thousands of poor people have become very rich. Millions of people have been sumptuously fed.
Jewels and clothes have been distributed in abundance.

The world has never witnessed such a wonderful sacrifice. Get thee gone, O miserable wretch, O
foolish mongoose!”

The mongoose replied: “My dear sirs, do not be annoyed with me unnecessarily. Just hear
my words with patience.”

There was a poor Brahmin in a small village. He lived in a small hut with his wife, son and daughter-
in-law. There was a great famine (akaal). The whole family suffered for months. They were
starving for days together. One day, the poor man brought some rice and daal. When they were
ready to take their meals, they heard a voice at their door. The Brahmin opened the door and found a
guest.

He said: ‘O venerable guest, come inside. Take your seat and your food.’ He gave his portion of the
food to the guest.

The guest said: ‘Sir, my hunger is not satisfied. I am starving for the last fifteen days.’

The wife said to her husband: ‘My lord, here is my share. Kindly give him this portion of
food. I am thy Ardhaangini. It is my duty to share with you the weal and woe of life.
The Shastras and Smritis d- eclare like this emphatically.’

The guest ate this portion also, but still his hunger was not appeased.
The son said: ‘Dear father, I must do my duty to you, otherwise people will criticize me. I must please
you in the fulfillment of your holy wish. Give him my share also.’

The guest ate this and yet he remained unsatisfied.

The wife of the son said: ‘O venerable father-in-law, you have all performed the greatest
self-sacrifice. I must also join in this Yajna. Kindly give him my portion too.’

The guest ate this portion and was fully satisfied. He then blessed the poor Brahmin and his family
and departed in great joy.

These four persons died of starvation the same day. A few grains of rice were found on
the ground. I rolled myself on those particles. Half of my body became golden. Since
then I have been travelling all over the world to find out another Yajna like that.
Nowhere have I found one. Nowhere have I been able to convert the other half of my
body into gold.

This sacrifice of Yudhisthira has not turned the other half of the body into gold. That is
the reason why I say that this is no sacrifice at all. Have you understood my point well?
Do not become angry. Truth can never hurt the feeling of others.”

The priests and others who enjoyed the Yajna of Raja Yudhisthira were put to shame. They hung
down their heads in shame. They realized now what true sacrifice was, that it should be
free from pride and vanity.

Mark here the glory of the poor Brahmin and his remarkable spirit of self-sacrifice! He was an ideal
householder. He was an ideal Karma Yogi. He reached the same state of Kaivalya as that of
a Brahma Jnani or a Raja Yogi.