Mb117. Asvamedha Yaga Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

A victorious war they fought.
The horse was then brought.
Arjuna came as a victor.
In round-the-country tour.

The sacrifice was to start.
A weasel came to that spot.
Half its body appeared gold.
Its reason, the creature told.

"Princes and priests, listen.
You should learn a lesson.
Yours is not a big sacrifice.
Wealth alone doesn't suffice."

"Modesty is what's required.
This should be acquired.
Like a Brahmin who did,
And lived on charity food."

"One day, he received a guest.
His share of food he gave first.
His wife gave her share next.
His son spared every bit."

"His daughter-in-law gave last.
Thus they served their guest.
They had nothing, that day to eat.
Poor though, they were rich by heart."

"The guest was God of Death,
Who came to know the truth,
To test their charitable mind,
And the depth of it to find."

"Now do you admit, oh king,
Yours is but a showy thing?
All the four died of hunger
Tell me, was it not popular? "

"In that flour, one side I rolled.
Half my body became gold.
The other half to turn gold,
I came to your Yaga field."

"Still half gold my body is
So, yours is a sacrifice,
Not as good as the one,
Done by the poor Brahmin."

Yudhisthira was humbled,
When his ego got tumbled.
He thanked the weasel,
Which served an example.