King Ushinara Refuses to Surrender the Dove

A dove came flying into King Ushinara's court — terrified, trembling, its small body shaking with the effort of escape. It landed before the king and said: I have come to you for refuge. Protect me. Behind it came a hawk. The hawk spoke with precision. It did not threaten. It reasoned. All beings sustain themselves through food, it said. They prosper through food and live because of food. A man can give up many things and still live for many nights. But he cannot live long without food. If I am deprived of my food, my life will leave my body. After my death, my son and wife will perish. While protecting the dove, you are not protecting one life — you are destroying many. Then the hawk made a philosophical argument: Dharma that stands in the way of another dharma is not dharma at all. It is evil dharma. When there is a conflict, you must decide in accordance with what is important and what is unimportant. That should be dharma where there is no conflict. Ushinara listened. Then he answered. This dove is terrified out of fear for you, he said. It has sought shelter with me to protect its life. Do you not see that it would be supreme adharma (unrighteousness) for me to give up this dove, which has sought refuge from fear? It is agitated and trembling. It has come to me for its life. Giving it up merits condemnation. He offered the hawk alternatives. Whatever you desire — cow, bull, boar, deer, buffalo — I will cook it for you. Take your fill from something else. The hawk refused. I do not eat those things. They are not my food. Give up the dove. It is the eternal rule that hawks eat doves. Ushinara made a final offer: Rule over this prosperous kingdom of Shibi. Take everything I own. But I will not give up this bird that has sought refuge with me. The hawk saw that the king would not be moved by argument or by offer. So it proposed a different kind of resolution: cut your own flesh equal to the dove's weight, and give that to me instead. Ushinara accepted.