A Test of Dharma
King Śibi was famed for his righteousness. One day, while he sat on his throne, a frightened dove fell into his lap, trembling. A hawk immediately followed, demanding his prey. Śibi promised the dove his protection.
The hawk argued, “If I don’t eat, I die. Will you protect one life by causing the death of another?” Śibi, without hesitation, offered his own flesh equal in weight to the dove. A scale was brought, but no matter how much he cut from himself, the dove always outweighed it.
Finally, Śibi climbed onto the scale himself, offering his whole body. At once, the hawk and dove transformed into demigods — Agni and Indra — who had come to test him. They blessed Śibi and restored his body with celestial power.
Lessons to Be Learned
1. Protection of the Helpless is a Divine Duty
The king, as a kṣatriya, is the guardian of the weak. Śibi did not calculate loss or gain but followed the path of truth and compassion. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.9.26), Bhīṣmadeva praises kings who see all living beings as worthy of protection under dharma.
2. Real Sacrifice Means Offering the Body, Mind, and Soul
Śibi’s sacrifice symbolizes complete surrender. The Lord accepts a devotee who is ready to give everything — not only wealth or limbs, but the self itself, for upholding dharma.
3. Tests are Sent by the Divine to Glorify the Devotee
As seen in the lives of Pṛthu Mahārāja and Prahlāda Mahārāja, divine tests bring out the golden qualities hidden within the heart. Śibi’s glory became immortal through this trial.
