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—Swami Sivananda—
A wicked fowler used to roam about in a forest. His work was to lay nets, catch birds and sell them.
One day a terrible storm began to blow with thunder and heavy rain. The fowler with limbs benumbed by cold was standing underneath a tree. At that time a female pigeon dropped down benumbed from the tree under which the fowler was standing. He caught hold of the pigeon and threw it into his basket.
The mate of the pigeon was not on the tree at that time. When the mate came after a little while, he was grieved very much at the absence of his partner. The she-pigeon spoke from the basket, "I have been caught by the fowler. Now I shall say to you what is good for you. This fowler is stricken with cold and hunger. Treat him hospitably. Do not grieve for me. Adore and please the fowler."
After hearing these words, the male pigeon honoured the fowler and said to him, "Tell me what shall I do for you?"
The fowler replied, "I am benumbed with cold. Just make arrangements for warming me."
The bird collected a number of dry leaves on the ground and taking a leaf in his beak quickly went away for fetching fire. He went to a place where fire was kept and got a little fire and returned. He then set fire to those dry leaves, fanned it with its wings into a good flame and asked the fowler to warm himself.
The fowler began to warm his limbs. He said to his host, "Hunger is distressing me. I wish you to give me some food."
The bird said, “I have no means of appeasing your hunger. We, dwellers of the jungle, always live upon what we get at the moment." But in a moment an idea flashed in his mind. He said to the fowler, "I shall please you. Wait for a moment." He lighted up a fire with the help of some dry leaves and, filled with joy, said, "I have heard that there is a great merit in honouring a guest." The great bird then entered the flames of the fire.
The fowler began to think, "I am highly ruthless and blamable. I am a mean wretch. This noble pigeon has taught me a great lesson by sacrificing his life and has shown how a guest should be adored. Taught by his example I shall hereafter practise righteousness." He threw away his nets and liberated the she-pigeon that he had caught.
The she-pigeon wept profusely and bewailed thus: "Useless is life to me. O dear husband, now that I am separated from you, what chaste woman is there who would like to live without her husband?"
Filled with sorrow and bewailing thus, she threw herself into the burning fire.
Soon a Vimana (celestial chariot) came and carried the two birds to the land of God.
Hospitality and the protection of a suppliant (one who asks humbly for something) are indeed great acts of merit.
(Abridged)
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