Wednesday 31 August 2016

Dove and the Eagle

Lomesh then said to Yudhistira - Listen to the story of the eagle and the dove. This land was once the kingdom of Shibi, in whose land all were in perfect harmony. There was a king there called Ushnir. Indra wanted to test him. After talking to Agni, Indra took the form of an eagle and Agni took the form of a dove.
The king was performing a sacrifice when a dove came to him, asking for shelter. The dove was being chased by an eagle. The king gave shelter to the dove. The eagle then came and said this was not justice. The dove was his meal.
The king said the dove had asked for protection, fearing its life, and as a king it was his duty to protect the bird.
The eagle said it was dying of hunger and needed food immediately else it would die. The king said he would arrange for food for the bird. The eagle said it only hunted and ate doves. If the king was so interested in protecting the dove, then the king should cut off his own flesh and offer that to the eagle.
If that amount of flesh was equal in weight to that of the dove, then he would go happy. 

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