Scales of Sacrifice

Long before Lord Rama's reign, lived a king named Shibi who belonged to the lunar dynasty.He was a just ruler and was loved by his subjects. One day as Shibiwas strolling in the garden, he came across a dove sitting on the grass. Blood was oozing through its wings and the bird was unable to fly. As the king picked up the bird to tend to its wounds, an eagle appeared before him.

"Oh King. The dove you are holding is my prey and food for my young ones. I urge you to give it back to me".

"As a king, it is my duty to protect my subjects - be it humans, animals or birds. Ask me anything else that will satisfy your hunger and it will be given”, replied the king.

“In that case , nothing would be more relishing than your flesh equal to the weight of the dove”, demanded the eagle.

The king agreed. A balance was brought and the dove was placed in one of the plates. With a knife in hand, the king chopped portions of flesh from his thigh and started putting them in the other plate. Surprisingly, the dove weighed heavier than he had thought and the scales tilted in the bird's favor. Finally, in an ultimate act of sacrifice, the bleeding king sat on one of the scales and offered himself to the eagle.

In an instant the two birds disappeared and in their place stood Indra (God of the heavens) and Agni (the fire God). They wanted to test the virtue of Shibi and his devotion to his subjects. Pleased with him, the Gods blessed Shibi even as the wounds healed instantly. Shibi emerged unscathed from the grisly test of character.

He/she is a true leader who defends his/her team, group or followers to the hilt by putting himself/ herself at risk; not leaving them high and dry when they are in dire need of his/her intervention.

And to think , it was a mere bird and a helpless one at that!!

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