The Curse of Sages’ Sons – The Birth of the Four Birds

Sukṛṣa, the noble sage, had four sons. They were men of humility, reverence, devotion, and obedience, who dedicated themselves to the service of their father. As ascetics with control over their senses, they supplied their father with all necessities—firewood, sacred offerings, flowers, roots, and fruits—thus fulfilling his desires in every way.

One day, a strange bird appeared before the sage. Its body was old and frail, its feathers plucked out, its eyes copper-red, and its limbs trembling with age. With a feeble voice, it cried out to the sage:

“O revered Brāhmaṇa! Hunger torments me unbearably. I have come to you for relief. Once I dwelt atop the lofty Vindhya mountains, but a violent gust, stirred by the wings of a mighty bird, threw me down from the peak. For seven days I lay unconscious, and on the eighth I awoke, consumed by hunger. Please, give me enough food to save my life.”

Hearing this, the sage replied with compassion:

“O bird! Tell me what food pleases you most, and I shall provide it.”

The bird said:

“Only human flesh can truly satisfy me beyond all else.”

The sage instantly understood that this was no ordinary bird, but one that had taken this form with some hidden intent.

With firmness, the sage asked:

“You have passed your youth, entered old age, and yet you still crave the flesh of man? In old age, desires normally subside, but you remain cruel in nature. How can one who is cruel ever find peace?”

But then he thought to himself:

“What use are such words now? I have given my word, and it must be honored.”

He called his sons and said:

“My children, a father is regarded as the highest Guru. If you truly revere me, fulfill my wish. This bird has sought my refuge in hunger. Give your flesh to appease him, and quench his thirst with your blood. This is my command.”

The sons were stricken with fear and sorrow. Trembling, they replied:

“Father! This is an impossible demand. Which wise man would sacrifice his body to feed another creature? We are bound to you as sons, but liberation from a father’s debt does not lie in destroying one’s own body. Such a practice has never been seen nor sanctioned. While alive, one may earn merit through countless acts of virtue. But when the body perishes, all deeds come to an end. Therefore, we cannot obey this command.”

Their refusal enraged the sage. He cursed them, saying:

“Because you defied my command and broke my vow, you shall be burned by the fire of my curse and be reborn as mute birds!”

Thus, the four sons of Sukṛṣa were condemned to take birth as birds.

The sage, resolved to uphold his word, then prepared his own funeral rites. Performing all sacred obsequies upon himself, he turned to the bird and said:

“Now, consume me in peace. I offer my body to you as food. The wise have declared that truthfulness is the true mark of a Brāhmaṇa. Therefore, devour me.”

The bird, however, revealed its true nature:

“O noble sage, assume the state of yogic trance, for I do not consume living beings.”

The sage entered deep meditation, and in that moment, the bird cast aside its disguise and revealed its true form—it was none other than Lord Indra.

Indra bowed before the sage and said:

“O knower of truth! Forgive me. I took this form only to test you. From this day forward, you shall attain mastery over Indra-vidyā. Your austerities and righteous practices will never again face any obstacle.”

Having blessed the sage, Indra departed.

The sons, meanwhile, approached their father in deep repentance. They begged for release from the curse. The sage replied:

“My sons, a curse once uttered cannot be withdrawn. Yet may you retain noble wisdom even in the form of birds.”

Thus were the four transformed into birds, dwelling in the hermitage of Sage Shamīka. They flew from tree to tree, free yet disciplined, inhabiting the holy forests of the Vindhya mountains, sanctified by sacred waters—birds in form, but ascetics in spirit.

✨ This story explains how the cursed sons of Sage Sukṛṣa came to be reborn as the very young birds later found by Sage Shamīka in the Mahābhārata war episode.