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After the victory over the Kauravas, Pandu's son Yudhishtra was coroneted as emperor and was ruling the kingdom. During this time he performed the Ashwamedha Yãga in which he offered various ‘dãnas’. All the participants of the yãga were immensely satisfied. Everybody praised that the Ashwamedha yãga performed by Yudhishtra was unequalled and unexcelled.

At this time a mongoose entered the yãgasala. One half of its body was grayish in colour while the other half was golden in colour. The mongoose fell and rolled on the ground. Getting up, it said, " Everybody in this yãgasala are lying knowingly or unknowingly. Immediately everybody in the hall cried out," We have not lied intentionally".

Then the mongoose narrated, "Some time back there was a terrible famine in the neighbouring country. Many people died in that famine. There was lack of food. Even in such distress a schoolteacher proved to be a man of charity. His family was suffering from pangs of hunger. A devoted student offered him some wheat flour. Four ‘rotis’ were made with this flour. His family comprised of four members namely, himself (the teacher), his wife, son and daughter-in-law. When each of them took a roti and was about to eat it another hungry person came there. Immediately the teacher welcomed him and offered him his roti . The guest's hunger was not satiated. The teacher's wife offered her share to the guest. Even then his hunger was not satiated. Immediately the son and the daughter-in-law offered their share. With that the guest's face showed satisfaction. He blessed the family and left. The sacrifice performed by them even at the time of death was whole-hearted.

The Devas who were amazed by what they saw brought a chariot to the earth and took all the four to Devaloka where there is no hunger or thirst. Having witnessed this scene I fell and rolled on the place where the rotis had been prepared. The sanctity of the wheat flour scattered on the ground turned one part of my body into gold! I sought and came to the yãgasalai to see if the other part of my body would also turn golden. But, having rolled here the other part of my body has not turned golden. Therefore, the yãga of this Dharmaputra is not equal to the selfless sacrifice of the school teacher".

All were astounded to hear this. All of them accepted that the extravagant yãga of Yudhishtra was not equal to the sacrifice of the schoolteacher.

Therefore, Children! It is good to give in charity when one is prosperous. But do you not realize that to be charitable in poverty even if it had to done by sacrificing ones life is best of all?

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