Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.3606

c9.3606

3) *Indra testing Uśīnara.* Uśīnara was a just and liberal-minded King. Indra decided to test the King regarding his liberality. He got Agnideva (fire-god) for his help. Indra took the form of a Kite and Agni that of a dove. Both flew down to Uśīnara as if the Kite was chasing the dove. Uśīnara agreed to protect the dove. The Kite argued with the King that it was not meet and right on his part to rob him of his lawful food. The King agreed to give any other kind of flesh to the Kite. But the Kite would have none of them. Finally the Kite agreed to accept the flesh of the King instead, equal to the weight of the dove. The King cut more and more flesh from his body, but it could not weigh equal to the dove. At last the King himself got into the balance. Then the gods had pity on the King and the Kite and the dove appeared in their real form and blessed the King and then they returned to heaven. (M.B. Araṇya Parva, Chapter 131). In Mahābhārata a story like this occurs about King Śibi also.