Changes

One  day,  while  he  was  going  about  his  business  of  dispensing death  in  the  forest,  suddenly there  arose  a  vicious  storm.  Mighty winds began  to fell the trees, the  sky was overcast with dense  clouds, and  the  darkness  was broken  only  by the  occasional  glow  of  lightning.  Soon  it began  to  rain.  And  in  no  time  the  whole  earth  was covered  deep  in  water.

One  day,  while  he  was  going  about  his  business  of  dispensing death  in  the  forest,  suddenly there  arose  a  vicious  storm.  Mighty winds began  to fell the trees, the  sky was overcast with dense  clouds, and  the  darkness  was broken  only  by the  occasional  glow  of  lightning.  Soon  it began  to  rain.  And  in  no  time  the  whole  earth  was covered  deep  in  water.

The hunter  almost fainted  in  that incessant rain  and  the  sudden cold. He  lost his way. And  while moving around  wildly without  direction, he  could not  even  make out the mounts and  the  ditches in the forest. Around him he  saw droves of birds and herds  of  animals running  around  in great fright. Birds hid  themselves in their nests, animals sought out the  safety of  dry  high  lands.  But many perished  in  the  rain  and  cold.  The hunter  was  also  half-dead  with  cold.  He  could neither stand,  nor walk. <blockquote>स तु शीतहतैर्गात्रैर्न जगाम न तस्थिवान्। ददर्श पतितां भूमौ कपोतीं शीतविह्वलाम्॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.143.25)</blockquote><blockquote>''sa tu śītahatairgātrairna jagāma na tasthivān। dadarśa patitāṁ bhūmau kapotīṁ śītavihvalām॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.143.25)''</blockquote>In this state he saw a she-pigeon lying on the ground. Suffering from severe cold, she  was unable to move or fly. The hunter too was in an  equally helpless condition. But, even then, by sheer  force of habit, he picked her up and  consigned her to the cage. Used to living in sin, he could  think  of nothing better even in  his hour  of intense  suffering.

The hunter  almost fainted  in  that incessant rain  and  the  sudden cold. He  lost his way. And  while moving around  wildly without  direction, he  could not  even  make out the mounts and  the  ditches in the forest. Around him he  saw droves of birds and herds  of  animals running  around  in great fright. Birds hid  themselves in their nests, animals sought out the  safety of  dry  high  lands.  But many perished  in  the  rain  and  cold.  The hunter  was  also  half-dead  with  cold.  He  could neither stand,  nor walk. <blockquote>स तु शीतहतैर्गात्रैर्न जगाम न तस्थिवान्। ददर्श पतितां भूमौ कपोतीं शीतविह्वलाम्॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.143.25)</blockquote><blockquote>''sa tu śītahatairgātrairna jagāma na tasthivān। dadarśa patitāṁ bhūmau kapotīṁ śītavihvalām॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.143.25)''</blockquote>In this state he saw a she-pigeon lying on the ground. Suffering from severe cold, she  was unable to move or fly. The hunter too was in an  equally helpless condition. But, even then, by sheer  force of habit, he picked her up and  consigned her to the cage. Used to living in papa (पापम्), he could  think  of nothing better even in  his hour  of intense  suffering.

Then,  all of a sudden, he  saw a big tree. Its  foliage  was thick,  dense and  dark  like  a cloud. Numerous  birds, seeking shade, shelter  and fruit,  had  made  it their home. It seemed  as  if the tree,  like  a  saint, had  taken  form  only for  the  purpose  of serving others.  As soon  as the hunter saw that tree, the clouds began  to break, and bright  stars began  to shine  through.

Then,  all of a sudden, he  saw a big tree. Its  foliage  was thick,  dense and  dark  like  a cloud. Numerous  birds, seeking shade, shelter  and fruit,  had  made  it their home. It seemed  as  if the tree,  like  a  saint, had  taken  form  only for  the  purpose  of serving others.  As soon  as the hunter saw that tree, the clouds began  to break, and bright  stars began  to shine  through.

Thus, unable to bear the pain of separation, the she-pigeon too jumped into the  fire. Soon  she was united  with  her  husband,  and  the  two of them  together  ascended to the heavens in  a celestial chariot, escorted by hundreds  of crores of men  of great virtue, each  of whom was sitting in his own celestial chariot.

Thus, unable to bear the pain of separation, the she-pigeon too jumped into the  fire. Soon  she was united  with  her  husband,  and  the  two of them  together  ascended to the heavens in  a celestial chariot, escorted by hundreds  of crores of men  of great virtue, each  of whom was sitting in his own celestial chariot.

The  hunter, overcoming all temptations, entered a deep and inhospitable  forest, full of thorny shrubs and savage beasts. Soon he was consumed by a great forest-fire, which cleansed him of all his sins; and thus he too found a distinguished  abode in the heavens.

The  hunter, overcoming all temptations, entered a deep and inhospitable  forest, full of thorny shrubs and savage beasts. Soon he was consumed by a great forest-fire, which cleansed him of all his papas; and thus he too found a distinguished  abode in the heavens.

Thus did the  sage pigeon-couple  serve their guest, and fulfilled  the dharma  of  [[Grhasthashrama (गृहस्थाश्रमः)|grhasthashrama]]. Their  commitment  to  dharma  was,  of course,  extraordinary.  Through  such  commitment  they not only earned  a  place  for  themselves  in  the  heavens,  but  also  brought  a violent person,  like  the hunter,  back  to  righteousness  and  opened the path  of heavens  for  him.

Thus did the  sage pigeon-couple  serve their guest, and fulfilled  the dharma  of  [[Grhasthashrama (गृहस्थाश्रमः)|grhasthashrama]]. Their  commitment  to  dharma  was,  of course,  extraordinary.  Through  such  commitment  they not only earned  a  place  for  themselves  in  the  heavens,  but  also  brought  a violent person,  like  the hunter,  back  to  righteousness  and  opened the path  of heavens  for  him.