The Pigeons' Gift: A Story of Hospitality and Redemption
King Yudhishthira, curious about the importance of protecting those who seek refuge, asks Bhishma, the wise elder, to explain. Bhishma, known for his storytelling, agrees and launches into a tale filled with moral lessons.
The story unfolds in a vast forest. Here lived a vicious fowler, a man as dark as a raven with eyes like blood. He resembled the god of death himself, Yama, with long legs, short feet, and a pronounced mouth. Shunned by everyone for his cruel profession – killing birds for a living – he wandered the forest alone. This fowler, a source of fear for all creatures, spent his days setting traps and selling the flesh of innocent birds. Blinded by his actions for years, he never grasped the sinfulness of his life.
One fateful day, while the fowler was deep in the forest, a monstrous storm erupted. Trees swayed violently, threatened to be uprooted by the wind's fury. Dense clouds choked the sky, punctuated by flashes of lightning that resembled a turbulent sea filled with ships. The god of rain, with his overflowing bounty, unleashed a torrent that flooded the land. The terrified fowler, shivering with cold and fear, desperately searched for higher ground but found none. The forest paths were submerged, and the storm's wrath had claimed the lives of many birds, leaving their lifeless forms scattered on the ground. Panic gripped the entire forest as creatures, big and small, roamed in search of safety. The fowler, his limbs stiff with cold, could neither find shelter nor move forward.
In this desperate state, he spotted a female pigeon lying on the ground, rendered immobile by the cold. Despite his own misery, the sinful man captured the helpless bird and caged it. Even in his own suffering, he inflicted pain on another creature. Driven by a cruel habit, he committed this sin even at a time when empathy would have been the natural response.
In the same tree where the cold fowler sought refuge, lived a male pigeon with beautiful feathers. His wife had gone out to find food that morning but hadn't returned yet. As night fell and his wife remained missing, the pigeon became worried.
He lamented, "The storm and rain today were terrible! Why haven't you returned yet, my dear wife? Where could you be? Is everything okay?" Without his wife, their nest felt empty. He worried about his wife's safety and well-being.
The caged pigeon heard the male pigeon's sad cries and thought to herself, "My husband thinks so highly of me! What a blessing to have such a devoted spouse."
Filled with sadness but determined to help, the caged pigeon spoke to her husband. "Listen to me, my love. Here's what you should do. This cold and hungry fowler is right next to our home. We should offer him hospitality. Refusing a suppliant in need is just as sinful as killing a cow, the most sacred animal. You're a wise bird, and you know what our duty is as pigeons. We've heard that householders who do good deeds, even small ones, are rewarded with endless happiness in the afterlife. You have a wife and children to think about. So, forget about saving me and focus on doing the right thing. Offer food to the fowler and win his favor. Don't grieve for me – it's not that important! "
Bhishma continued, "The pigeon's wife's words, filled with wisdom and kindness, deeply moved the male pigeon. Tears welled up in his eyes as he realized what he had to do. Even though the fowler was a bird killer, the pigeon followed the proper rituals to welcome him. He addressed the fowler, 'Welcome! Please tell me how I can assist you. Don't hesitate to ask. Consider this your home. Tell me quickly what you need and what would please you. I ask this sincerely, for you've sought shelter here. Even enemies deserve hospitality when they come seeking refuge. Just like a tree offers shade even to someone who intends to chop it down, we must take care of those seeking shelter, especially when we lead a family life following the five daily rituals. The scriptures say that failing to perform these rituals while living a family life leads to misfortune in both this world and the next. So, tell me clearly what you need, and I'll do my best to fulfill it. Don't be sad.'"
Hearing the pigeon's words, the fowler replied, "I'm stiff with cold. Can you help me get warm?" The pigeon immediately gathered dry leaves and flew off with one in his beak to fetch fire. He found a place with fire, took a small ember, and hurried back. He built a fire with the leaves and said to his guest, "Warm yourself by the fire, don't be afraid." The fowler agreed and started warming his cold limbs. Feeling revived, the fowler said, "Now I'm hungry. Can you get me some food?"
The pigeon replied, "I don't have any stored food. " Shamefaced, the pigeon pondered his situation and what he could do. Soon, a plan formed in his mind. He addressed the bird killer, "I will satisfy your hunger. Wait a moment." He built another fire and, filled with determination, said, " I heard from wise sages, gods, and ancestors that offering hospitality is a great virtue. Please be kind to me. I truly want to honor you as my guest." With this resolve, the noble pigeon walked around the fire three times and then, with a brave smile, flew right into the flames!
The sight of the pigeon selflessly jumping into the fire overwhelmed the fowler with regret. "Oh, what a cruel and foolish man I am!" he cried. "This is a terrible sin that will burden me for years to come!" Filled with self-loathing, he repeated, "I am a worthless, wicked person. My choices are always sinful! Why did I abandon a decent life to become a bird killer? This noble pigeon has shown me the error of my ways by sacrificing itself. I must give up everything – my wife, my sons, even my own life – to atone for this sin. The pigeon has taught me the importance of duty. From now on, I will deny myself all comforts. I will devote myself to religious practices that lead to the afterlife. This pigeon, by giving up its own body, has shown me the true meaning of honoring a guest. Following its example, I will dedicate myself to righteousness from now on. Righteousness is the ultimate protection for all living things. I will strive to be as righteous as this noble pigeon, the greatest bird of all!"
With this newfound determination, the once-cruel fowler embarked on a spiritual pilgrimage, vowing to follow strict religious rules for the rest of his life. He abandoned his tools of the trade – the staff, the iron rod, the nets, and the cage – and even released the female pigeon he had captured.
Bhishma continued, "The female pigeon, heartbroken over her husband's sacrifice,
Filled with grief, the devoted female pigeon threw herself into the fire. But then, she saw her husband – alive and adorned with jewelry! He sat in a heavenly chariot, surrounded by many noble and virtuous beings. He looked radiant, dressed in beautiful clothes and ornaments. Around him were countless celestial chariots carrying those who did good deeds on earth. The male pigeon, now in his own celestial chariot, ascended to heaven. Rewarded for his righteous act, he continued to live happily with his wife by his side."
Bhishma continued, "The king, witnessing the pigeon couple on their heavenly chariot, felt regretful about his own situation. 'I must perform similar acts of devotion like the pigeon to reach such a destination!' he thought. Determined, the former fowler, who used to survive by killing birds, embarked on a spiritual pilgrimage with no return. He fasted, living only on air, and abandoned all worldly attachments in his desire to reach heaven.
A raging wildfire swept through the forest, tragically taking the life of the former hunter one day.
Consumed by the flames, the fowler was finally purified of all his sins and achieved a great reward. Free from his past mistakes, he found himself in heaven.
Through their virtuous acts, the pigeon, his devoted wife, and even the reformed fowler all ascended to heaven. Their righteous deeds led them to a blessed afterlife.
Even though the story uses the concept of achieving a good afterlife as a motivator, the core message applies to our daily lives. We should be kind and helpful to others, and strive to live with integrity.
Importance of Hospitality: The story emphasizes the importance of offering refuge and helping those in need, even enemies. The fowler, despite being a bird killer, is welcomed by the pigeon couple. This act of kindness ultimately sets the fowler on the path to redemption.
Virtue and Selflessness: The pigeon couple demonstrates incredible selflessness by prioritizing the guest's (fowler's) needs over their own. The story highlights the value of good deeds and living a virtuous life. Both the pigeons and the reformed fowler are rewarded for their good actions.
The Fowler's Transformation: The fowler's initial cruelty towards birds is acknowledged. However, the story emphasizes that it's never too late to change. Witnessing the pigeons' selflessness awakens a sense of guilt and regret in the fowler. He abandons his sinful profession and undergoes severe penance to atone for his past actions.
A Second Chance: The story offers a message of hope. The fowler's sincere remorse and his commitment to a righteous path ultimately lead him to a better place. Even someone who has committed serious mistakes can be forgiven and find redemption through genuine change.
It's a Journey: The fowler's reformation isn't instantaneous or easy. The story describes the hardships he endures – fasting, facing wild animals, and the forest fire. This emphasizes that changing for the better often requires dedication and perseverance.
This aspect of the story teaches us that everyone makes mistakes, but what truly matters is the willingness to learn, regret our wrongdoings, and actively strive to become a better person.
References:
https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a142.htm
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