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A Pound Of Flesh

 

There was a famous and pious king named Sibi. Once, while he was performing a sacrifice, a pigeon came there and asked him to save it's life. Sibi noticed a hawk in the vicinity of the sacrifice too. He then promised to save the pigeon and asked the hawk to leave it alone. But the hawk said it would die of starvation if it does not eat anything. Sibi told the hawk that he would give up anything as a substitute including his kingdom except the pigeon since it had sought his protection. The hawk then said, if protecting the pigeon was so important to him, he had to give up a piece of flesh equal to the weight of the pigeon from his right thigh. The king agreed. Soon, a weighing machine was set up with the pigeon on one side and a piece of flesh from the king's right thigh on the other. But, to everyone's amazement, the pigeon was heavier! So, the king offered more and more portions of his flesh, but still the pigeon weighed more! Soon, he offered his entire body and the hawk disappeared. King Sibi became whole again. Lord Indra then arrived there and told Sibi that he had disguised himself as the hawk and Lord Agni had disguised himself as a pigeon to test him. Indra then blessed king Sibi.




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