Once there lived a hunter. He was
very wicked and killed animals mercilessly. He appeared like Yama, the His if
death and his kith and kiln hatred him. The hunter went to the forest everyday
for hunting.
In the forest, there lived a
beautiful pair of doves. The doves loved each other very much and had built
their nest on a tree.
On day the male dove went in
search of food and the female dove was alone. He caught the female dove and
caged it. While he was searching for more prey, the weather went bad and there
was a strong thundershower.
The hunter was drenched and
started searching for shelter. He saw a large tree and stood under the tree
while it rained. It was the same tree where the doves nested.
It was already night when the rain
stopped, so the hunter decided to spend the night under the tree. He prayed,
'The spirit of tree, and creatures who live on this tree, I seek shelter under
this tree. I am drenched and caught by cold and hunger. I pray to protect me
during night'.
While the hunter sat under the
tree, the male dove waited for the female dove in their nest. He said, 'The
weather was bad and it was already night, but my wife has not returned home. I
am lonesome and very much worried'.
When the female bird heard her
husband talking to himself about his worries, she called him out.
The female dove said, 'I was
caught and caged by the hunter who is resting under the tree now. He has sought
shelter under our tree in this rough weather. He is your guest and hence, you
should treat him well. Don't hate him because he kills animals and has caged
me. I am caged maybe due to my past deeds. It is said; pain, illness, poverty,
imprisonment are fruits of one's past deeds. So we should our moral values and
welcome him'.
The male was not only enlightened;
he was deeply moved to hear his vitreous and humble wife. He assured her that
he would keep her words.
The male dove benevolently flew to
the hunter and said, 'Friend, you have sought shelter under our tree. Let me
know if you need anything'.
The hunter was relieved to hear
the male dove and said, 'O kind dove! I am gratified to hear you. Could you
help me to protect from this extreme cold?'
So the male dove gathered some dry
leaves and twigs. He brought burning coal from the near village and set a small
fire for the hunter to warm himself.
The male dove said, 'Friend, warm
yourself from this fire. I know you are hunger, but it is unfortunate that I am
unable to find food for you to satisfy your hunger. But I offer you myself as
you are my guest. It would be indeed kind of you to accept me as your food'.
The male dove flew into the fire
and died.
The hunter was deeply moved by the
bird's benevolent gesture. His heart was filled with pity, guilt and remorse.
The hunter was enlightened and he gained his conscious, 'For all these years, I
have been mercilessly killing animals and birds. As with any evil person, I
have a troubled mind.
Today my conscious is tormenting
me for my misdeeds. It is certain that I will go to hell for my wrong deeds.
But, this virtuous bird has left an example of sacrifice and morality for me'.
The remorseful hunter pledged to
refrain from killing. He decided to give up the materialistic pleasures and the
hunting thrills he engaged in. He lifted the cage and released the female dove.
When the female dove the charred
body of her husband, she wailed. The grieving bird, could not think of living
without her husband. She threw herself into the fire and died.
The doves met in heaven after
dying. They were blessed with divine forms for their good deeds.
The hunter renounced the worldly
ways and became a hermit. But his conscious kept hurting him. So one day when
he saw a wild fire, he sacrificed himself in it. The sacrifice relieved him of
his sins and went to heaven after death.
Moral: Self sacrifice is the
highest sacrifice.
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