Talk:Lunar Dynasty:The Sacrifice of King Śibi
By Vishal Agarwal
King Shibi ruled the kingdom of Ushīnara (modern Kangra and Hoshiarpur areas of India). Oneday, he was performing a grand yajna. Indra and Agni decided to test him. They respectively assumed the form of a hawk and a dove. The hawk started chasing the dove to kill it and eat it. Terrified, the dove landed into the lap of King Shibi and asked him to protect it from the hawk’s attack.
The hawk on the other hand countered, “This dove is my food. Therefore King, you cannot snatch my food from me by offering protection to his dove.”
King Shibi said, “There is no greater Dharm than to offer protection to a creature whose life is in danger. As a King, it is my duty to protect the weak. All other Dharmas are minor compared to risking one’s own life to protect the innocent.”
The hawk replied, “But your Dharm is depriving me of its food. If you do not want to release this dove, which is my food, then give me some other meat. I eat only meat.”
The King replied, “Well, in that case I will cut my own flesh and offer it to you.”
A weighing balance was procured. The pigeon sat on one of the pans. King Shibi started cutting flesh from his own hands and legs and placed it on the other pan. Unfortunately, the pigeon seemed unusually heavy. The King commented, “As a King, I am blessed if my entire body can be used to save the life of someone else. What is the use of my riches if I cannot protect my subjects?”
Saying this, as everyone looked in horror, he sat himself on the other pan. Instantly, the two pans weighed equal!
The hawk and the dove assumed their real forms as Indra and Agni. Indra blessed Shibi and said, “We had come here to test you. Despite great challenges and personal sacrifices, you did not deter from the main duty of a King, which is to protect his weaker subjects from the atrocities of the more powerful. In your life, you have never been jealous of the powerful, and have never insulted the weak. And now, you were ready to give up your own life for a humble bird. Great men like you deserve to be in heaven after their earthly life is over.”
King Shibi ruled as a just King for several years. After his death, his soul reached heaven. The story of King Shibi shows how the great Hindu emperors in ancient India did not hesitate to give up their own life to protect every creature in their kingdom because they considered it their duty.