Chapter 149

“Bhishma said, ‘The fowler, O king, happened to see that pair whileseated on their celestial car. Beholding the couple he became filled withsorrow (at the thought of his own misfortune) and began to reflect uponthe means of obtaining the same end. And he said to himself, ‘I must, byausterities like those of the pigeon, attain to such a high end!’ Havingformed this resolution, the fowler, who had lived by the slaughter ofbirds, set out on an unreturning journey. Without any endeavour (forobtaining food) and living upon air alone, he cast off all affectionsfrom desire of acquiring heaven. After he had proceeded for somedistance, he saw an extensive and delightful lake full of cool and purewater, and adorned with lotuses and teeming with diverse kinds ofwater-fowl. Without doubt, the very sight of such a lake is capable ofslaking the desire for drink of a thirsty person. Emaciated with fasts,the fowler, however, O king, without casting his eyes upon it, gladlypenetrated a forest inhabited by beasts of prey, having ascertainedpreviously its wide extent. After he had entered the forest he becamemuch afflicted by sharp pointed thorns. Lacerated and torn by prickles,and covered all over with blood, he began to wander in that forestdestitute of men but abounding with animals of diverse species. Sometimeafter, inconsequence of the friction of some mighty trees caused by apowerful wind, a widespread bush fire arose. The raging element,displaying a splendour like to what it assumes at the end of the Yuga,began to consume that large forest teeming with tall trees and thickbushes and creepers. Indeed, with flames fanned by the wind and myriadsof sparks flying about in all directions, the all-consuming deity beganto burn that dense forest abounding with birds and beasts. The fowler,desirous of casting off his body, ran with a delighted heart towards thatspreading conflagration. Consumed by that fire the fowler became cleansedof all his sins and attained, O best of the Bharatas, to high success.The fever of his heart dispelled, he at last beheld himself in heaven,shining in splendour like Indra in the midst of Yakshas and Gandharvasand persons crowned with ascetic success. Thus, indeed, the pigeon andhis devoted spouse, with the fowler, ascended to heaven for theirmeritorious acts, The woman who thus follows her lord speedily ascends toheaven and shines in splendour there like the she-pigeon of whom I havespoken. Even this is the old history of the high-souled fowler and thepigeon. Even thus did they earn a highly meritorious end by theirrighteous acts. No evil befalls the persons who listens every day to thisstory or who recites it every day, even if error invades his mind.[437] OYudhisthira, O foremost of all righteous persons, the protection of asuppliant is truly a high act of merit. Even the slayer of a cow, bypractising this duty, maybe cleansed of sin. That man, however, willnever be cleansed who slays a suppliant. By listening to this sacred andsin-cleansing story one becomes freed from distress and attains to heavenat last.'”