Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v1.c5.s2.3

v1.c5.s2.3

¹ In the *Mahābhārata*, Vana Parva, the story is narrated something like this: Indra and Agni, to test the fidelity of Prince Śibi to the laws of righteousness, assume the forms of hawk and pigeon. The latter (Agni), pursued by the former (Indra), seeks and receives Prince Śibi’s protection. The hawk demands the pigeon as his lawful prey, but the Prince replies, ‘He that giveth up an affrighted creature seeking protection, unto its foe, doth not obtain protection when he is in need of it himself. O Hawk, let the people of Śibi’s tribe place before thee a bull cooked with rice instead of this pigeon.’ The hawk declares that it is not the law of his nature to eat such things. The Prince then says that he will not give up the pigeon, but he will give anything else in his power which the hawk may demand. The hawk replies that he can only accept a quantity of the Prince’s own flesh equal in weight to the pigeon’s body. Śibi gladly accedes to this substitution. The Prince cuts off a piece of his flesh that appears large enough, but it is insufficient; he cuts again and again, but still the pigeon outweighs his piled-up flesh. Finally, all his flesh gone, the Prince gets into the scale himself. The two gods then resume their divine shape, and announce to Śibi that for the sacrifice he has made he will be glorified in all worlds throughout eternity. For the full version see *Mahābhārata*, Vana Parva (English translation by P. C. Roy), pp. 596–9 (Calcutta, 1884).