King Meghrath and the Dove

King Meghrath (who would later reincarnate as Lord Shantinath, the 16th Tirthankara) was renowned for his unwavering commitment to Ahimsa (non-violence) and his vow to protect any being that sought his refuge.

One day, while he was holding court, a small, terrified dove flew into the hall and hid trembling under the King's throne. A moment later, a fierce hawk swooped in, demanding the dove.

'O King,' the hawk said in a human voice, 'that dove is my natural prey. I am starving. If you protect it, you are depriving me of my rightful food, and I will die of hunger. Is that justice?'

The King was caught in a moral dilemma. He could not hand the dove over to be killed, but he also could not let the hawk starve.

'I will not give you the dove,' King Meghrath declared. 'But I will give you an equal weight of my own flesh to satisfy your hunger.'

The hawk agreed. A weighing scale was brought. The trembling dove was placed on one side. The King took a sharp knife, sliced a piece of flesh from his own thigh, and placed it on the other side. But the dove seemed miraculously heavy. The King cut more and more of his flesh, bleeding profusely, but the scale would not balance.

Finally, realizing that no amount of flesh could equal the value of a whole life, King Meghrath stepped entirely onto the scale himself, offering his whole body to save the bird.

At that moment, the hawk and the dove vanished. Two celestial beings (devas) appeared in their place. They had come to test the King's resolve. Bowing deeply to the King, they healed his wounds instantly, praising his absolute, unparalleled dedication to Ahimsa.