Markandeya said: One day the celestials resolved that they should go to the earth and try the virtue of the ruler of earth, Shivi. Saying “very well” Agni and Indra went (to earth).

Agni, assuming the form of a region flew away from Indra who pursued him in the form of a hawk.

The pigeon fell on the lap of the king Shivi who was seated on a costly seat.

Thereupon the priest thus spoke to the king," Afraid of the hawk, this pigeon has come to you for his life with the intention of saving it.

The learned men have said that the fall of pigeon on one's lap forebodes a great danger. The king who understands men should save himself by giving away wealth.”

Thereupon the pigeon thus spoke to the king. "Afraid of the hawk and desirous of saving my life, I have come to you for the safety of my life. I am a Rishi. Assuming now the form of a pigeon I have come to you to seek the protection of my life. I consider you my life.

Know me as one who is learned in the Vedas, as one leading the life of a Brahmachari, as one who possesses selfcontrol and asceticism. Know me also as one who have never spoken a harsh word to his preceptor, as one possessed of every virtue and as one that is sinless.

I recite the Vedas, I know their prosody, I have studied all the Vedas letter per letter. I am not a pigeon. Therefore do not given me up to the hawk. Giving up a learned and a noble man is never a good gift."

Thereupon the hawk spoke Thus to the king.

Creatures are not at once born in their own order. You may have been in a former birth begotten by this pigeon. O king, it is not proper for you to interfere with my food by protecting this pigeon.

The King said : Has any one seen before that birds speak the pure speech of man? knowing what the pigeon says and also what the hawk says, what is good for us to do?

He, who gives up a frightened creature seeking protection of his enemies, does not get protection when he is in need of it. The clouds do not shower seasonably for him and the seeds, though sown, do not grow for him.

He, who gives up an afflicted creature seeking protection of its enemies, sees his offspring die in childhood. The forefathers of such a man can never live in heaven. The very celestial decline to accept his havya, the libation of ghi poured by him into the fire).

He who gives up an afflicted creature seeking protection of his enemies is struck by the thunderbolt hurled by the celestial with Indra at their head. Being a very narrowminded person, the food he eats is unsanctified and he soon falls from the celestial pigeon.

O hawk, let Shivis put before you a bull cooked with rice in the place of this pigeon. Let them carry meat in abundance to the place where you like (to take them).

The Hawk said : O king, I do not ask for a bull or any other meat or meat more than what is in that pigeon. He (the pigeon) is my food today ordained by the gods. Therefore give him up to me.

The king said: Let my men see and carefully carry the bull to you with its every limb entire. Let that bull be the ransom for this frightened creature. Do not kill this pigeon.

O hawk, I will give up my own life, but I will not give up this pigeon. Do you not see this creature looks like a sacrifice with the Soma juice? O blessed one, do not take so much trouble for it; I will never give up this pigeon.

O hawk, if it pleases you order me to do something which may be agreeable to you and for doing which the Shivi people may praise me and bless me in joy. I promise that I shall do whatever you will tell me to do.

The Hawk said : O king, if you give me as much flesh as would be equal in weight to this pigeon, flesh cutting off from your right thigh, then can the pigeon be saved by you, then would you do what would be agreeable to me and what the Shivi people would speak in high terms of praise.

Thereupon he cut off a piece of flesh from his right thigh and weighed it with the pigeon, but the pigeon weighed heavier.

He cut off another piece of flesh, but still the pigeon weighed heavier. Then he cut off pieces of flesh from all parts of his body and placed them on the scale, but the pigeon still weighed heavier.

Thereupon the king himself got on the scale; he did not feel the least grief for it. Seeing this the hawk then and there disappeared exclaiming "saved”. Thereupon the king said,

"O bird, O pigeon, I ask you, let the Shivi people know who this hawk is. None except the lord of creation can do what he did. O exalted one, reply to my question.

The Pigeon said: O son of Suratha, I am the smoke-bannered deity, Vaishvanara (Fire). The hawk is the husband of Sachi, the wielder of thunder (Indra). You are the foremost of men, we came to try you.

O king, these pieces of flesh that you have cut off from your body with your sword to save me, have made gashes in your body. I shall make these marks auspicious. They will be handsome, golden-coloured and sweet-scented.

Earning great fame and being respected by ! the celestial, you will long rule over these men. A son will be born to you from your side who will be named Kapotaraman.

You will get out of your own body this son named Kapotaraman. You will see him become the foremost heroes of the Saurathas blazing in fame and possessing exceeding bravery and great beauty.