(E) The Story of King Shibi (responsible leadership)
Once upon a time, there lived a great king called Shibi. He was extremely kind and charitable, for which he became famous. His fame spread throughout the globe and news of his magnanimity reached even the heavenly realms. The Lord of Heaven, Indra, wanted to test King Shibi to see if he was as great as his fame suggested. So he and another demigod, Agni (the god of fire), came down from heaven. Agni assumed the form of a dove and Indra, that of a fierce hawk. Agni flew in front, fluttering his wings as if terrified and Indra followed at a distances, as if in hot pursuit. They flew straight towards the king’s palace.
Shibi was in the garden distributing charity to the poor. The frightened and fluttering dove came and perched upon the wrist of Shibi, looking at him with tearful and imploring eyes. Shibi immediately took her in his hands. Gently stroking her back he said, “Fear not, O dove, I will save you from all harm.”
At that moment, the hawk appeared – and he was angry. He tried to snatch the dove away from the king’s grasp. But the king firmly raised his other hand and obstructed the attacker. The hawk glared at the king and demanded, “This dove is my natural quarry. I had been pursuing it from morning-time. Why do you obstruct me from my rightful food, O king?”
Surprised at hearing the hawk speak like a human, Shibi replied, “I do not know who you are, O hawk who can speak like a man. This poor frightened dove has sought my shelter. It is my duty to protect her from all harm. I won’t allow you to snatch her away from me and make her your meal.”
The hawk replied, “Raja, you are renowned as a kind person. It is certainly your duty to protect those in distress. But is your kindness limited only to this dove? What about me? Am I not equally entitled to claim your pity and protection? I am a carnivore, and can live only by eating the meat of small birds. By depriving me of my food, are you not condemning me to die? Is this your dharma, your religious duty?”
The king was taken aback. The hawk not only spoke like a human being but could argue like one! Evidently, Shibi concluded, he had a duty, as king, towards all his citizens – in this case, both the dove and the hawk. He became locked in thought. After a lengthy pause, he replied gravely, “My dear hawk, what you say is true. I won’t deprive you of your food. But, at the same time, I can’t abandon this poor frightened dove. Will you accept my offer of some other flesh as a substitute?”
“Very well, king”, replied the hawk. “I have no objection as long as my hunger is satisfied. But you must give me flesh exactly equal in weight to that of the dove. I won’t accept less.” And he further added, with a sarcastic tone, “But from where will you get substitute flesh? Will you take another life to save the life of this dove?”
Shibi responded deftly, “Absolutely not! I won’t even think of harming another life. Be sure, I will give you my own flesh.” The monarch then turned to his attendants, ordering them to fetch a set of scales. They carried in the balance and erected it before the king. Shibi gently placed the dove on one pan. He drew out his sword and slicing off small portions of his flesh placed them on the other side. But how strange! The dove, which looked so small and frail in the pan, easily outbalanced it! King Shibi went on cutting portion after portion from his body and placing it in the balance but to no avail. At last, with little flesh remaining, and amazed at the weight of the dove, Shibi cast aside his sword and mounted the pan. Now the balance was perfect! Rejoicing that he was at last able to fulfil his promise, Shibi turned to the hawk and said, “O hawk, my weight is equal to the weight of the dove. Please eat me and leave the dove.”
As he proclaimed these words, there was cheering applause from the gods who gathered in the sky to witness the test. They beat heavenly drums and cascaded flower petals upon the king. Then Indra and Agni shed their assumed bodies, and stood before the king in their divine and radiant forms. Shibi gazed at them, incredulous.
Indra said, “O kindly king, know that we are Indra and Agni come down from heaven to test you. You have indeed proved yourself to be greater than your fame. You will be blessed with long life and vast riches. Your name will endure in this world as long as the Sun and the Moon remain in orbit. So saying, Indra touched Shibi with his palm and all the wounds vanished from Sheba’s body and he stood there as strong as ever. With great devotion, He bowed to the two deities, who blessed him and returned to their respective abodes.