Shanti Parva 272.7
Rahular Itihasa / M. N. Dutt · Shanti Parva Chapter 272 · Verse 7
Sanskrit Original
अकामया कृतस्तत्र यज्ञो होत्रनुशासनात्। शुक्रस्य पुनराजातिः पर्णादो नाम धर्मवित्॥ तस्मिन् वने समीपस्थो मृगोऽभूत् सहवासिकः। वचोभिरब्रवीत् सत्यं त्वयेदं दुष्कृतं कृतम्॥ यदि मन्त्रागहीनोऽयं यज्ञो भवति वै कृतः। मां भोः प्रक्षिप होत्रे त्वं गच्छ स्वर्गमनिन्दितः॥
Although reluctant she still celebrated that sacrifice at the command of her husband who had become its Hotri. In that forest, near to the Brahmana's hermitage, lived a neighbour of his, viz., the virtuous Parnada of Shukra's race, having assumed the form of a deer. He addressed that Brahmana, whose name was Satya. in open words and said to him:-You would be acting very improperly, if this sacrifice of yours were accomplished being defective in Mantras and other particulars of ritual! I, therefore, ask you to kill and cut me into pieces for making libations therewith on your sacrificial fire! Do this and becoming blameless go to heaven!