Apaddharmanushasana Parva — The merit of a person who supports a beseeching men

Yudhishthira said O grandfather, O you of great wisdom, O you who are a master of scriptures, tell me what the merit is of one who supports a person seeking his protection.

Bhishma said Great is the merit, O king, in supporting a suppliant. It is worthy of you, O best of the Bharatas, to ask such a question.

Those great kings of yore, viz., Shivi and others, o king, acquired supreme heavenly bliss by having supported suppliants.

We have heard that a pigeon received reverentially a suppliant enemy according to due rites and even fed him with his own flesh.'

Yudhishthira said How, indeed, did a pigeon in days of yore feed a suppliant enemy with his own flesh? What end, O Bharata, did he win by such conduct.

Listen, O king, to this most Beautiful story which cleanses the hearer of every sin, and which Bhrigu's son (Rama) had recited to king Muchukunda.

This very question, O son of Pritha, had been put humbly to Bhrigu's son by Muchukunda.

The son of Bhrigu described this story to him of how a pigeon, O king, won success.

The sage said O mighty-armed king, listen to me as I describe to you this story containing lessons of Virtue, profit, and Desire.

A wicked and dreadful fowler, resembling the Destroyer himself, used in days of yore to wander through the great wilderness.

He was black as a raven and his eyes were blood red. He looked like Yama himself. He had long legs, short feet, large mouth, and protruding cheeks.

He had no friend, no relative, no kinsman. He had been discarded by them all for the exceedingly cruel life he led.

Indeed, a wicked man should be shunned from a distance by the wise, for he who injures his ownself cannot be expected to do others good.

Those cruel and wicked men who destroy the lives of other creatures are always like venomous snakes, a source of trouble to all creatures.

Taking his nets with him, and killing birds in the forests, he used to sell the meat, О king.

Thus working, the wicked wretch lived for many long years without ever understanding the sinfulness of his life.

He was in the habit of sporting with his wife in the forest for many long years in the pursuit of this profession, and stupefied by destiny, he liked no other profession.

One day as he was wandering through the forest carrying on his business a great storm took place that shook the trees, almost uprooting them.

In a moment dense masses of clouds set in the sky, accompanied with lightning and presenting the view of a sea covered with merchant boats and vessels.

The god of a hundred sacrifices having entered the clouds with a profuse supply of rain, the Earth became flooded with water in a moment.

While the rain fell in torrents, the flower lost his sense from fear. Trembling with cold and stricken with fear, he roamed through the forest.

He could not find any elevated spot (which was not under water). The paths of the forest were all under water.

For the force of the rain, many birds dropped down dead on the ground. Securing some elevated spots they had found, lions and bears and to her animals lay down to rest.

All the dwellers of the forest were stricken with fear for that dreadful storm and rain. Terrified and hungry, they roved through the forest in small and large packs.

With limbs benumbed by cold, the fowler, however, could neither stop where he was, nor could he move. While in this state he saw shepigeon lying on the ground, benumbed with cold.

Beholding the birds, the sinful person, though he himself himself was in better circumstances, picked her up and put her in a cage. Himself afflicted with distress, he did not hesitate to overwhelm a fellow-creature with painful affliction.

Indeed, through force of habit alone, the wretch committed that sin even at such a time. He then saw in midst of that wood a huge tree blue as the clouds. no

It was the refuge of numberless birds seeking shade and shelter, as if it were placed there by the Creator for the behoof of all creatures like a good man in the world.

Soon the sky cleared and became spangled with myriads of stars appearing like a splendid lake smiling with blooming lilies.

Looking at the clear sky, rich with stars, the fowler began to advance, still trembling with cold. Seeing the sky cleared of clouds, he looked around and finding that he had already been benighted, he began to think.

My house is at a great distance from where I am!-He then thought of passing the night under the shade of that tree.

Bowing down to it with clasped hands, he addressed that king of the forest, saying,-I seek refuge with all the gods who have this tree for their resting place.

Having said so, he spread some leaves for a bed, and laid himself down on it, placing his head on a stone. In spite of his being overwhelmed with affliction, the man soon fell asleep.