Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.763

c4.763

3) Bhīṣma and the Arayanna. Śiśupāla, before his death, blabbered a lot of unbecoming things about Bhīṣma, who was partial to his Śiśupāla’s enemies. And, he related the story of an Arayanna to elaborate the stand taken by the aged Bhīṣma. An aged Haṃsa (Arayanna) which once dwelt on the sea-coast preached to all the other birds much about ethical actions. The birds felt great respect for the Arayanna. They flew across the sea in search of prey after entrusting their eggs to the Arayanna. The old Arayanna grew fat on those eggs. There was one intelligent bird among the lot, and when it looked for the eggs they were not to be found. That bird informed its colleagues about the treacherous conduct of the Arayanna. The birds organised themselves and attacked the Arayanna to death. Oh! Bhīṣma, the same will be your end also. (M.B., Sabhā Parva, Chapter 41, Verses 30-41).