One day, the bird-catcher spread his blanket under a tree and sat there with his heavy bamboo pole, waiting for a bird to come and sit on a nearby tree. Just then, a small bird came running and hid inside his blanket, chirping loudly.
This small bird was not a bird that anyone would buy to keep as a pet. So, bird-catcher got up and thought he should chase it away from his blanket. At that moment, he saw a hawk flying above. He understood that the hawk was about to swoop down to catch and eat small bird, and that was why the frightened bird had hidden in his blanket.
Compassion arose in the bird-catcher’s heart. He threw stones and chased the hawk away. Once the hawk left, bird came out of the blanket and flew away.
A few days later, the bird-catcher fell ill and died. Yama’s messengers seized him and took him to Yamaloka (the realm of Yama). There, fires were burning in many places and huge cauldrons of boiling oil were set on stoves.
Sinners were roasted in fire and boiled in oil. Yama’s messengers whipped some sinners, chopped others with axes, and inflicted many terrifying punishments.
As soon as the bird-catcher arrived, hundreds and thousands of birds gathered there and cried out, “He trapped and sold us without any fault of ours. We will gouge out his eyes and tear his flesh apart!”
Bird-catcher began trembling with fear. Just then, a small bird arrived. Folding her wings in prayer, she said to Yama, “O Lord! He saved my life from the hawk. Please forgive him.”
Yama replied, “He is a great sinner. All these birds will tear him apart, then he will be burned and cut with axes. But this little bird has come to save him. He once showed compassion to her. Therefore, send him back to the world and let him live for one more year.”
Yama’s messengers brought the bird-catcher’s soul back. At that time, his family had taken his body to the cremation ground and were about to place it on the funeral pyre. Suddenly the bird-catcher came back to life. He began to move and speak. His family was overjoyed and returned home with him.
Bird-catcher remembered Yama’s words. He gave up catching birds and made his brothers give up the trade as well. He began working as a labourer.
Every morning and evening, he scattered grains for birds. Many birds came daily to eat the grains. He now prayed to God every day and chanted God’s name. Through this, all his sins were washed away. After one year, when he died, he went to heaven.
Learning:
We too should never cause pain to any living being. We should show compassion to all creatures. God is pleased with those who show mercy to all life.
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