Do this and becoming blameless ascend to heaven.' Then
the presiding goddess of the solar disc, viz., Savitri, came to that
sacrifice in her own embodied form and insisted upon that Brahmana in
doing what he desired by that deer to do. Unto that goddess, however, who
thus insisted, the Brahmana replied, saying, 'I shall not slay this deer
who lives with me in this same neighbourhood.'[1288] Thus addressed by
the Brahmana, the goddess Savitri desisted and entered the sacrificial
fire from desire of surveying the nether world, and wishing to avoid the
sight of (other) defects in that sacrifice.[1289] The deer, then, with
joined hands, once more begged of Satya (to be cut in pieces and poured
into the sacrificial fire). Satya, however, embraced him in friendship
and dismissed him, saying, 'Go!'[1290] At this, the deer seemed to leave
that place. But after he had gone eight steps he returned, and said,
'Verily, do thou slay me. Truly do I say, slain by thee I am sure to
attain to a righteous end. I give thee (spiritual) vision. Behold the
celestial Apsaras and the beautiful vehicles of the high-souled
Gandharvas.' Beholding (that sight) for a protracted space of time, with
longing eyes, and seeing the deer (solicitous of sacrifice), and thinking
that residence in heaven is attainable by only slaughter, he approved (of
the counsels the deer had given). It was Dharma himself who had become a
deer that lived in those woods for many years. (Seeing the Brahmana
tempted by the prospect he beheld), Dharma provided for his salvation and
counselled him, saying, 'This (viz.
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