The Death of Tarkṣya – Liberation from Vapu’s Curse

In our previous issue, we saw how the cursed apsara Vapu was reborn as a celestial bird named Tārkṣī. Now, let us see what destiny had in store for her in this life.

Marriage and the Call of Fate

A learned brāhmin named Mandapāla had four intelligent sons — the eldest Jaritāri and the youngest Droṇa. Droṇa, well-versed in the Vedas and dharma, obtained permission from Kandhara and married the beautiful Tārkṣī.

Some days later, Tārkṣī conceived. When seven months had passed, she happened to visit Kurukṣetra — right in the midst of the fierce Mahābhārata war between the Kauravas and the Pāṇḍavas.

Perhaps it was nothing but destiny’s pull — the cursed Vapu, now Tārkṣī, arriving at the battlefield while carrying new life within her.

The Arrow of Liberation

Tārkṣī perched herself inside a chariot, watching the terrifying battle — weapons flashing, warriors roaring. She saw the duel between Bhagadatta and Arjuna.

Then, a black, serpent-like arrow shot from Arjuna’s Gāṇḍīva bow tore through her abdomen. In that instant, Vapu’s curse was broken.

Four eggs, still holding life, fell gently onto the blood-soaked, softened earth — unharmed. At that precise moment, the golden bell from the neck of Bhagadatta’s great elephant Supratīka, severed by an arrow, fell and covered the eggs, shielding them from harm.

If not destiny, what else could explain such timing?

Rescue After the War

Long after Bhagadatta had fallen, the war raged on. Only when it ended did the protective bell remain, still guarding the eggs.

At that time, King Yudhiṣṭhira was visiting the grand Bhīṣma to learn the subtleties of dharma. Near the same spot, the noble brāhmin Śamīka arrived and heard faint chirping from beneath the bell. Lifting it, he found four tiny, featherless chicks — alive, but without their parents.

Śamīka was struck with wonder and said to his students:

“In the ancient deva-dānava wars, Śukrācārya once told the asuras: Death comes only when one’s life-span ends. Even in battle, if the appointed time has not come, death cannot touch you. These chicks are living proof of that truth. How else could eggs fall unharmed upon softened ground? How else could a bell descend at just the right moment to protect them? Surely these are no ordinary birds — they must be blessed by the Lord’s grace.”

A Life Preserved for a Greater Purpose

Śamīka instructed his students to take the chicks to a safe place in the āśrama, saying:

“Every being lives and dies according to its karma. But human effort is still essential — one must always strive to protect life.”

Thus, the four divine chicks — spared by fate — began their lives in safety.

1. Who were these four birds?

2. What was their past?

3. And what mighty deeds awaited them?

Find out in the next issue of Dheemahi Magazine.