Changes

The  pigeon almost  cried  with  pleasure  on  listening  to  the  sage advice of his wife. And immediately, he  offered  himself  and  his house  at  the  service  of  that  cruel  guest. He graciously welcomed the  hunter, asked  him  to  feel  free  as  if he  were  in  his  own  house, and lovingly enquired  after  his  needs. The  pigeon  also  reassured him  that he, the hunter, had come to his house and  even an  enemy coming  thus ought  to be  offered  proper  welcome. After all, a tree does not withdraw  its shade  from  the one who  comes  to  it with  the intention  of cutting  it down:  <blockquote>अरावप्युचितं कार्यमातिथ्यं गृहमागते। छेत्तुमप्यागते छायां नोपसंहरते द्रुमः॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.5)</blockquote>The  hunter,  accepting  the  offer  of  hospitality  from  the  pigeon requested  him  to  find  a  way  of saving  him  from  the  biting  cold. The  pigeon  gathered  a  large  heap  of  dry  leaves, and  then flew  to the  blacksmith  to  bring  fire.  Soon  he  had  a  big  blaze  going.  The hunter  luxuriously warmed  himself up on  the  fire.  He  was relieved of the  cold. And  then  he began  to feel  the pangs  of  hunger.  

The  pigeon almost  cried  with  pleasure  on  listening  to  the  sage advice of his wife. And immediately, he  offered  himself  and  his house  at  the  service  of  that  cruel  guest. He graciously welcomed the  hunter, asked  him  to  feel  free  as  if he  were  in  his  own  house, and lovingly enquired  after  his  needs. The  pigeon  also  reassured him  that he, the hunter, had come to his house and  even an  enemy coming  thus ought  to be  offered  proper  welcome. After all, a tree does not withdraw  its shade  from  the one who  comes  to  it with  the intention  of cutting  it down:  <blockquote>अरावप्युचितं कार्यमातिथ्यं गृहमागते। छेत्तुमप्यागते छायां नोपसंहरते द्रुमः॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.5)</blockquote>The  hunter,  accepting  the  offer  of  hospitality  from  the  pigeon requested  him  to  find  a  way  of saving  him  from  the  biting  cold. The  pigeon  gathered  a  large  heap  of  dry  leaves, and  then flew  to the  blacksmith  to  bring  fire.  Soon  he  had  a  big  blaze  going.  The hunter  luxuriously warmed  himself up on  the  fire.  He  was relieved of the  cold. And  then  he began  to feel  the pangs  of  hunger.  

=== Atithipujanam ===

=== Annardham Atmarpana ===

There  was  of  course  no  food  accumulated  in  the  nest  of  the host.  He was  a  pigeon,  who ate as he  picked the grains.  He had no occasion to put away any of the grains he picked for use at a later  time.  For once he felt unhappy about such livelihood of a pigeon.  Of what use was this livelihood that left him with nothing for entertaining the guests at his  door?

There  was  of  course  no  food  accumulated  in  the  nest  of  the host.  He was  a  pigeon,  who ate as he  picked the grains.  He had no occasion to put away any of the grains he picked for use at a later  time.  For once he felt unhappy about such livelihood of a pigeon.  Of what use was this livelihood that left him with nothing for entertaining the guests at his  door?

But, whatever be the kind of livelihood assigned  to him, he could hardly allow a guest  to go hungry. He, therefore, thought for  some time and, quickly making up  his mind, gathered  some more leaves and  let  the  fire  blaze  high  again. He  told  the  hunter  that he  had no food  to offer  him, but requested him to accept his body  instead. With  this request and with the resolve to satiate the hunger of  his guest, he went  around  the fire  thrice and then dropped himself into the blaze.<blockquote>निश्चिता खलु मे बुद्धिरतिथिप्रतिपूजयने॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.22)</blockquote><blockquote>ततः कृतप्रतिज्ञो वै स पक्षी प्रहसन्निव। तमग्निं त्रिःपरिक्रम्य प्रविवेश महामतिः॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.23)</blockquote>The  hunter  was shocked  to the  core  of his being. He  had  seen  the pigeon  so  gladly  sacrificing himself to honour  and satisfy an unworthy guest like him. He could no more bear to continue the life he had  been leading till then.  He quickly released the she-pigeon that he had encaged, and leaving behind  everything - the  stick, the torch, the snare and the cage —he set out on a great journey,  that would  lead to  his death, with the resolve that he would follow the example of the pigeon and bring himself back to the life of dharma by incessant fasting and by undertaking great austerities.

But, whatever be the kind of livelihood assigned  to him, he could hardly allow a guest  to go hungry. He, therefore, thought for  some time and, quickly making up  his mind, gathered  some more leaves and  let  the  fire  blaze  high  again. He  told  the  hunter  that he  had no food  to offer  him, but requested him to accept his body  instead. With  this request and with the resolve to satiate the hunger of  his guest, he went  around  the fire  thrice and then dropped himself into the blaze.<blockquote>निश्चिता खलु मे बुद्धिरतिथिप्रतिपूजयने॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.22)</blockquote><blockquote>ततः कृतप्रतिज्ञो वै स पक्षी प्रहसन्निव। तमग्निं त्रिःपरिक्रम्य प्रविवेश महामतिः॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.23)</blockquote>The  hunter  was shocked  to the  core  of his being. He  had  seen  the pigeon  so  gladly  sacrificing himself to honour  and satisfy an unworthy guest like him. He could no more bear to continue the life he had  been leading till then.  He quickly released the she-pigeon that he had encaged, and leaving behind  everything - the  stick, the torch, the snare and the cage —he set out on a great journey,  that would  lead to  his death, with the resolve that he would follow the example of the pigeon and bring himself back to the life of dharma by incessant fasting and by undertaking great austerities.