Chapter 143

“Yudhishthira said, ‘O grandsire, O thou of great wisdom, O thou that areconversant with every kind of scripture, tell me what the merit is of onewho cherishes a suppliant that craves for protection.’

“Bhishma said, ‘Great is the merit, O monarch, in cherishing a suppliant.Thou art worthy, O best of the Bharatas, of asking such a question. Thosehigh-souled kings of old, viz., Sivi and others, O king, attained togreat bliss in heaven by having protected suppliants. It is heard that apigeon received with respect a suppliant foe according to due rites andeven fed him with his own flesh.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘How, indeed, did a pigeon in days of old feed asuppliant foe with his own flesh? What also was the end, O Bharata, thathe won by such conduct?’

“Bhishma said, ‘Listen, O king, to this excellent story that cleanses thehearer of every sin, the story, viz., that Bhrigu’s son (Rama) hadrecited to king Muchukunda. This very question, O son of Pritha had beenput to Bhrigu’s son by Muchukunda with due humility. Unto him desirous oflistening with humility the son of Bhrigu narrated this story of how apigeon, O monarch, won success (entitling him to the highest heavenlybliss).’

“The sage said, ‘O mighty-armed monarch, listen to me as I narrate tothee this story that is fraught with truths connected with Virtue,Profit, and Pleasure. A wicked and terrible fowler, resembling theDestroyer himself, used in days of old to wander through the greatforest. He was black as a raven and his eyes were of a bloody hue. Helooked like Yama himself. His legs were long, his feet short, his mouthlarge, and his cheeks protruding. He had no friend, no relative, nokinsman. He had been cast off by them all for the exceedingly cruel lifehe led. Indeed, a man of wicked conduct should be renounced from adistance by the wise, for he who injures his own self cannot be expectedto do good to others. Those cruel and wicked-souled men that take thelives of other creatures are always like poisonous snakes, a source oftrouble to all creatures. Taking his nets with him, and killing birds inthe woods, he used to sell the meat of those winged creatures, O king(for livelihood). Following such conduct, the wicked-souled wretch livedfor many long years without ever understanding the sinfulness of hislife. Accustomed for many long years to sport with his wife in the forestin the pursuit of this profession, and stupefied by destiny, no otherprofession was liked by him. One day as he was wandering through theforest intent on his business, a great storm arose that shook the treesand seemed about to uproot them. In a moment dense clouds appeared on thesky, with flashes of lightning playing amidst them, presenting the aspectof a sea covered with merchants’ boats and vessels. He of a hundredsacrifices having entered the clouds with a large supply of rain, in amoment the earth became flooded with water. While yet the rain fell totorrents, the fowler lost his senses through fear. Trembling with coldand agitated with fear, he roved through the forest. The killer of birdsfailed to find any high spot (which was not under water). The paths ofthe forest were all submerged. Inconsequence of the force of the shower,many birds were deprived of life or dropped down on the ground. Lions andbears and other animals, availing themselves of some high spots they hadfound, lay down to rest. All the denizens of the forest were filled withfear in consequence of that frightful storm and shower. Frightened andhungry they roamed through the woods in packs, small and large. Thefowler, however, with limbs stiffened by cold, could neither stop wherehe was nor move. While in this state he eyed a she-pigeon lying on theground, stiffened with cold. The sinful wight, though himself in the samepredicament, beholding the bird, picked her up and immured her in a cage.Himself overwhelmed with affliction, he scrupled not to overwhelm afellow-creature with affliction. Indeed, the wretch, through force ofhabit alone, committed that sin even at such a time. He then beheld inthe midst of that forest a lordly tree, blue as the clouds. It was theresort of myriads of birds desirous of shade and shelter. It seemed tohave been placed there by the Creator for the good of all creatures likea good man in the world. Soon the sky cleared and became spangled withmyriads of stars, presenting the aspect of a magnificent lake smilingwith blooming lilies. Turning his eyes towards the clear firmament richwith stars, the fowler began to advance, still trembling with cold.Beholding the sky cleared of clouds, he cast his eyes on all sides andseeing that night was already upon him, he began to think, ‘My home is atgreat distance from where I am.’ He then resolved to pass the night underthe shade of that tree. Bowing down to it with joined hands, he addressedthat monarch of the forest, saying, ‘I am a suppliant for the shelterunto all the deities that have this tree for their resort.’ Having saidthese words, he spread some leaves for a bed, and laid himself down onit, resting his head on a stone. Though overwhelmed with affliction, theman soon fell asleep.'”