The story of Indra and a compassionate parrot

This story appears in the Dana-dharma Parva of Anushasana Parva.

Yudhishthira said,

“O you that know the truths of Dharma, I wish to hear of the merits of compassion, and of the characteristics of devout men. Do you, O sire, describe them to me.”

Bhishma said,

“In this connection, this ancient legend, the story of Vasava and the high-minded Shuka, is cited as an illustration.”

In the territories of the king of Kashi, a fowler, having poisoned arrows with him went out of his village on a hunting excursion in search of antelopes. Desirous of obtaining, meat, when in a big forest in pursuit of the chase, he discovered a drove of antelopes not far from him, and discharged his arrow at one of them. The arrows of that fowler of irresistible arms, discharged for the destruction of the antelope, missed its aim and pierced a mighty forest-tree. The tree, violently pierced with that arrow tipped with virulent poison, withered away, shedding its leaves and fruits. The tree having thus withered, a parrot that had lived in a hollow of its trunk all his life, did not leave his nest out of affection for the lord of the forest. Motionless and without food, silent and sorrowful, that grateful and virtuous parrot also withered away with the tree.

The conqueror of Paka (Indra) was struck with wonder upon finding that high-souled, and generous-hearted bird thus uninfluenced by misery or happiness and possessing extraordinary resolution. Then the thought arose in Shakra's mind,

“How could this bird come to possess humane and generous feelings which are impossible in one belonging to the world of lower animals? Perchance, there is nothing wonderful in the matter, for all creatures are seen to evince kindly and generous feelings towards others.”

Assuming then the shape of a Brahmana, Shakra descended on the Earth and addressing the bird, said,

“O Shuka, O best of birds, the grand-daughter (Shuki) of Daksha has become blessed (by having you as her offspring). I ask you, for what reason do you not leave this withered tree?”

Thus questioned, the Shuka bowed unto him and thus replied:

“Welcome to you O chief of the gods, I have recognised you by the merit of my austere penances.”

“Well-done, well-done!” exclaimed the thousand-eyed deity. Then the latter praised him in his mind, saying, “O, how wonderful is the knowledge which he possesses!” Although the destroyer of Bala knew that parrot to be of a highly virtuous character and meritorious in action, he still enquired of him about the reason of his affection for the tree.

“This tree is withered and it is without leaves and fruits and is unfit to be the refuge of birds. Why do you then cling to it? This forest, too, is vast and in this wilderness there are numerous other fine trees whose hollows are covered with leaves and which you canst choose freely and to your heart's content. O patient one exercising due discrimination in your wisdom, do you forsake this old tree that is dead and useless and shorn of all its leaves and no longer capable of any good.”

The virtuous Shuka, hearing these words of Shakra, heaved a deep sigh and sorrowfully replied unto him, saying

“O consort of Shachi, and chief of the gods, the ordinances of the deities are always to be obeyed. Do you listen to the reason of the matter in regard to which you have questioned me. Here, within this tree, was I born, and here in this tree have I acquired all the good traits of my character, and here in this tree was I protected in my infancy from the assaults of my enemies. O sinless one, why are you, in your kindness, tampering with the principle of my conduct in life? I am compassionate, and devoutly intent on virtue, and steadfast in conduct. Kindliness of feeling is the great test of virtue amongst the good, and this same compassionate and humane feeling is the source of perennial felicity to the virtuous. All the gods question you to remove their doubts in religion, and for this reason, O lord, you have been placed in sovereignty over them all. It behoves you not, O thousand-eyed one, to advise me now to abandon this tree for ever. When it was capable of good, it supported my life. How can I forsake it now?”

The virtuous destroyer of Paka, pleased with these well-meant words of the parrot, thus said to him:

“I am gratified with your humane and compassionate disposition. Do you ask a boon of me.”

At this, the compassionate parrot craved this boon of him, saying, “Let this tree revive.” Knowing the great attachment of the parrot to that tree and his high character, Indra, well-pleased, caused the tree to be quickly sprinkled over with nectar. Then that tree became replenished and attained to exquisite grandeur through the penances of the parrot, and the latter too, at the close of his life, obtained the companionship of Shakra by virtue of that act of compassion. Thus, by communion and companionship with the pious, people attain all the objects of their desire even as the tree die through its companionship with the parrot.