Why the Left Eye Wept – King Shibi
It happened a long, long time ago, in an era when no one was surprised if an animal or a bird could talk.
One day, King Shibi, whose fame had spread to all four directions and even reached the heavens, sat in his court, listening to reports from his officers regarding the affairs of his kingdom.
Fortunately, the officers had little unwelcome news to relay. The people lived prosperous and peaceful lives, praising their great king, who embodied all the finest virtues.
The Arrival of the Dove
Suddenly, a dove shot through the sky and landed in the king’s lap, trembling and crying in panic.
The compassionate king fondled the dove and spoke sweetly to it. However, before long, a ferocious eagle flew into the king’s presence, settling down before the throne. It uttered in a harsh tone, “O King! The bird you are fondling is my prey. Surrender it to me!”
The King’s Dilemma
“I cannot!” replied the king defiantly.
“What! Will you deprive me of my legitimate right to feed on smaller birds? Is this how you administer justice?” challenged the eagle.
<p“Do not get upset, my friend. It is everyone’s duty, especially a king’s, to protect those who seek shelter. As you can see, this bird came to me in its time of danger, believing I could protect it. How can I betray its trust?” the king said, trying to persuade the eagle to leave it alone.
The Eagle’s Demand
The restless eagle, sparking with fury, demanded, “What then do I do for my food?”
“Don’t worry,” replied the king, “I am willing to provide you with any other food you would prefer instead of the bird!”
“Well, I desire to eat flesh—nothing but flesh of the same weight as the bird’s!” said the eagle.
“You shall have it,” replied the king, and he was about to summon a servant to fulfill the eagle’s request.
“I will be satisfied only with your flesh, O King!” screeched the eagle. The shriek echoed through the hall, leaving the courtiers, ministers, and even the king’s generals startled.
The Weighing Scales
“That is no problem, I assure you,” said the king with a smile, ordering the weighing scales to be brought into the court.
“Yes, yes, the royal flesh! I will relish your flesh—but only from the right side of your body,” exclaimed the eagle gleefully, “That is my choice!”
The dove was placed on one side of the scale. The king carved a chunk of flesh from the right side of his body and placed it on the opposing side. However, to his dismay, the dove weighed heavier.
Despite bleeding profusely, the king continued to cut pieces from his own flesh to place on the scale against the dove. Yet, his efforts seemed futile as the little dove consistently weighed more.
A King’s Tears
The courtiers cried, and the queen had swooned away. But the eagle remained relentless. “More, more, put even more!” it shouted repeatedly.
At one point, a tear rolled down the king’s left cheek. The eagle, observing this, exclaimed angrily, “Why are you weeping? You evidently are not pleased to entertain me!”
“No, not at all. My left eye weeps because the glory of offering you my flesh is all going to my right side!” replied the king.
The Revelation
In the blink of an eye, the eagle and the dove vanished. For a moment, the people were dazed, until they saw two luminous beings standing before King Shibi who did not show any sign of distress.
The luminous beings introduced themselves. The one who appeared as the eagle was none other than Indra himself, while the dove was the god of fire!
“Rightly is your glory sung by all, O King,” said Indra, “There is none comparable to you in truthfulness and courage. We came to test you and depart with experiences unlike any we have had before!”
