03.131
The hawk said.
O king, all the rulers of the earth say that you alone are of righteous soul. Why then do you intend to perform an action that is contrary to dharma? (03-131-1)
O king, food is prescribed for one tormented by my hunger; do not eat out of greed for righteousness, for you have abandoned righteousness.
The king said.
O great Brāhmaṇa, this twice-born, appearing terrified, seeking protection and afraid of you, has come to my presence, craving for his life. (03-131-3)
Thus, for the pigeon who has come here seeking protection, withholding it is the greatest unrighteousness; why do you see it otherwise, O hawk? (03-131-4)
When the quivering and agitated pigeon is seen by the hawk, he comes to me seeking to preserve his life; to abandon him now would be blameworthy. (03-131-5)
The hawk said.
O king, all beings originate from food. Through food, they grow, and by that, living creatures exist. (03-131-6)
One may live for a long time even for the sake of something difficult to abandon; but, having abandoned food, it is not possible to survive for long. (03-131-7)
O lord of people, today my life-forces, deprived of food, will leave my body and take the path of no return. (03-131-8)
If I am killed, O righteous one, my son and wife will perish. By protecting the dove, you will cause many lives to perish. (03-131-9)
That which harms righteousness is not true dharma; it is false dharma. Only that which does not conflict with righteousness is actually dharma, O truthful hero. (03-131-10)
O king, among adversaries, having considered the relative gravity and lightness (of actions), he should perform that duty where no obstacle exists. (03-131-11)
O king, having perceived the respective importance in discerning dharma and adharma, base your decision of dharma upon that which has the greater merit. (03-131-12)
The king said.
You speak with much auspiciousness, O best of birds. Suparṇa, king of birds, are you a knower of dharma and of this doubt? For thus, indeed, you utter many wonderful words imbued with dharma. (03-131-13)
I perceive that nothing is unknown to you. How do you consider the abandonment of one seeking refuge to be right? (03-131-14)
Your effort for the sake of food and this bird—another way is also possible to gain food, even more, by you. (03-131-15)
Whether it is a bull, a boar, a deer, or even a buffalo, let that be done today for your sake, or anything else you desire. (03-131-16)
The falcon said;
O great king, I do not eat boar, nor oxen, nor various kinds of deer; what will food or eating such things do for me? (03-131-17)
O best of Kṣatriyas, that which is ordained by fate as food for me—release that, O king, and give me only this pigeon. (03-131-18)
Hawks eat pigeons—this is the eternal order. O king, do not, having known the path, ascend the (frail) banana trunk. (03-131-19)
The king said.
Rule the prosperous kingdom of the Śibis, honored by flocks of birds. Or, O hawk, I will give you whatever you desire; anything at all. Except for this bird, O hawk, who has come seeking refuge. (03-131-20)
O best among birds, by what act you would release this (pigeon), tell (me) that; I will do it, but indeed I will not give up the pigeon. (03-131-21)
The hawk said.
O King Uśīnara, if you truly have affection for the pigeon, then cut flesh from your own body and place it with the same weight as the pigeon. (03-131-22)
O king, when your flesh becomes equal to that of the pigeon, then that should be given to me; that will be my satisfaction. (03-131-23)
The king said.
O hawk, I regard this as a favor that you request from me; therefore, today I will give you my own flesh, weighed on a scale. (03-131-24)
Lomaśa said.
Then, the king, who knew the highest dharma, cut off his own flesh and weighed it together with the pigeon, O son of Kunti, O mighty one. (03-131-25)
When weighed in the balance, the pigeon was found to be heavier. Then, having cut off pieces of flesh, King Uśīnara gave them. (03-131-26)
When there was no meat placed by the pigeon equal to (his own weight), then he, having cut off his own flesh, himself ascended the scale. (03-131-27)
The hawk said.
I am Indra, O knower of dharma; this pigeon is the receiver of oblations. We both have come to you at the sacrificial altar, wishing to inquire about dharma. (03-131-28)
O Lord of men, the fact that your flesh was cut off from your limbs—this shining fame of yours will surpass the worlds. (03-131-29)
O king, as long as people speak of you in the world, your eternal fame and worlds will endure. (03-131-30)
Lomaśa said.
That is the house of the Pāṇḍava king, the great-souled one. See this together with me — it is holy and frees from sin. (03-131-31)
O king, here the gods, sages, and eternal ones are always seen by Brāhmaṇas who are virtuous and great souls. (03-131-32)
