Yudhishthira then sat naked in his throne, and each one who had drawn holy water poured a quantity over his head; and they poured what remained over the head of the sacred white horse.
Nákula held the horse's head, and said: “The horse speaketh.”
Those who were about him asked in loud voices: “What doth the horse reveal?”
Said Nákula: “Thus speaketh the horse—‘In other such ceremonies the horse which is sacrificed departs unto Swarga[290], but I shall rise far above Swarga, because that Krishna is here’.”
Then Dhaumya, having washed the horse, gave a scimitar to Bhima with which to strike off the head at a single blow. But ere this was done, Dhaumya pressed an ear of the holy animal, and milk flowed forth. Then he said to Bhima: “Pure indeed is the horse; verily the gods will accept the sacrifice. Strike now, O strong one.”
Bhima raised the scimitar and severed the head, which immediately ascended unto heaven and vanished from before the eyes of all. Great was the wonder and the joy of the assembled multitude.
Krishna and other rajahs and sages then cut open the horse's body, from which a bright light issued forth. They found that the animal was pure, and Krishna said unto Yudhishthira: “This, thy sacrifice, is acceptable unto Vishnu.”
Draupadi was made Queen of the Sacrifice, and mantras were chanted, and she was adored and given rich offerings, because of her virtue and her wisdom.
The body of the slain steed was divided, and the flesh gave forth the odour of camphor. Priests lifted portions in their ladles and placed these on the sacrificial fire, and they made Soma. And Rajah Yudhishthira and all his brethren stood in the sin-cleansing smoke and breathed its fragrance.
Dhaumya cried out, as he laid a piece of flesh on the altar fire: “O Indra, accept thou this flesh which hath turned to camphor.”