The Tale of the Four Divine Birds

In the hermitage of Sage Shamīka, four tiny fledglings were lovingly nurtured. Day after day, the sage provided them with food and water, shelter and protection. Within his serene āśrama, free from fear, the young birds grew in peace and safety.

A month passed. With wings grown strong, the little ones soared high into the skies. The young disciples of the sage were filled with wonder as they watched the birds fly, glide, and rejoice in the open heavens. For these were no ordinary birds—they were great souls, born into the world of beasts and wings by the force of destiny.

After beholding the vast earth—its forests, mountains, rivers, and cities—they returned, weary, to the hermitage. One day, as Sage Shamīka was imparting lessons on dharma to his disciples, a divine light of wisdom suddenly awakened in the hearts of the birds. With reverence, they circumambulated the sage and spoke in clear human voice:

“O revered one! You have saved us from the horrors of death. You gave us nourishment and fearless shelter. When none came to protect us as father or mother, you became our guardian. With tender care, you raised us, wondering—‘When will these fragile birds learn to fly? When shall they rise from earth to tree, and from tree to tree?’ Now we have grown strong. By your grace, we are awakened, and we bow to you in gratitude. Command us, O sage—what is it that you would have us do?”

Hearing these cultured and articulate words from the little birds, Sage Shamīka was struck with wonder and joy. His heart, overwhelmed with affection for the beings he had raised as his very own children, trembled with emotion.

“Dear ones!” he exclaimed, “speak the truth. How do you, who bear the form of simple birds, utter such lofty words with such clarity? Surely your speech and your form are mismatched. Indeed, you must be great beings cursed into this shape! Tell me—who are you truly? What is your story?”

Then the birds revealed their secret:

“In ages past, there lived the noble sage Vipulasvān. To him were born two sons—Sukṛṣa and Tumburu. We are the four children of the great ascetic Sukṛṣa, master of senses. By a destiny shaped by heaven, we have now taken birth in the form of birds.”

And why, one may wonder, were the sons of such a virtuous sage reborn in the form of birds?

The cause was none other than Lord Indra himself!

Yes, by the will of Indra, the four sons of Sukṛṣa fell under a curse and entered the world of winged creatures.

But—who gave this curse, and for what reason?

That, dear reader, we shall discover in the next chapter…