While he was performing the sacrifice Indra stole away the sacrificial animal. The animal could not be traced. Hence the priest said to the king: - [1-61-6]
- 'Oh ! king, the animal you have fetched for the ritual has gone astray owing to your incautiousness. Oh ! king, unguarded items of the ritual will themselves become destructive blemishes for that king who is performing the ritual. - [1-61-7]
- Oh ! the best man among men, you have to make great amends for the loss of animal as that animal alone which was intended but now missing shall be used in ritual. Or, a man may be fetched as ritual-animal and only after that the deeds of the ritual can be continued.' [1-61-8]
उपाध्यायवचः श्रुत्वा स राजा पुरुषर्षभ | अन्वियेष महाबुद्धिः पशुं गोभिः सहस्रशः || १-६१-९
O Best of men (Rama) hearing the words of the high priest, the highly intellectual king searched for a human -ritual-animal in exchange for thousands of cows. [1-61-9]