Sarg 59/3 - Justice to Vulture 

There were two birds, a vulture and an owl, in a forest for several years. Evil-natured vulture had taken owl's nest. So they both started fighting. Then both went to Raam. First vulture greeted Him and said - "Hey respectable to all kings, gracious like Sun, stable like Himvaan, forgiver like Prithvi, deep like ocean, I am in your shelter. See, I built a nest with my own hands and this owl wants to take it. Please help me." Owl said - "Hey Mahaaraaj, You are visible Naaraayan in human being's form. Your body has the part of Chandramaa, Soorya, Kuber and Yam in the form of human Raajaa. Please listen to my plight. This vulture has taken my nest. Kindly get my nest back."

Raam called Jayant, Ashok, Dharmpaal, Sumantra etc ministers and asked the vulture and the owl - "When did you build your nest?" Vulture said  - "When the Creation was started, this nest was built at the same time." Owl said - "I own this nest since the trees started growing on the Earth." Raam asked His ministers about this, the ministers said - "Owl seems speaking truth and vulture seems speaking lie. Because owl is happy and vulture is not happy. You are the king. Whoever gets punishment from you, he doesn't go to Narak."

Then Raam said - "I tell you a Pauraanic story, listen to that. Before the Creation started, Prithvi along with Chandra, Soorya, Aakaash Parvat and forests and the three Lok, leaving Paramaatmaa alone, was sunk in water. When Vishnu was sleeping keeping Lakshmee in His stomach, then Mahaa Yogee Brahmaa also entered in His stomach.

Later a lotus appeared from Vishnu's navel. Brahmaa appeared from this lotus only. Then He created Prithvi with Vaayu and Parvat etc. At the same time, two terrible Asur, Madhu and Kaitabh, appeared from the earwax of Vishnu. They both attacked Brahmaa , but Vishnu recognized the voice of Brahmaa, He killed both Raakshas. This Prithvi became wet with their flesh (Med), that is why it is called Medinee. Vishnu cleaned it and then grains and trees etc started growing up. Owl says that he built the nest at the time when trees grew, so his words are true. This vulture is an evil liar, that is why it should be punished.

At The same time Aakaashvaanee (heavenly voice) said - "Hey Raam, this vulture has already been suffering from a severe punishment, therefore do not punish him any more. He is a very truthful king named Brahmdatt. One day he offered meat to a Braahman in ignorance while feeding him. So Braahman gave him Shaap to be a vulture. Raaja asked the Braahman - "When I will be freed from your Shaap?" Braahman got pity on him, he said - "There will be a king named Raam in Ikshwaaku Vansh, when He will touch you then you will be freed" Hearing this as soon as Raam touched the vulture, he became a divine man and said to Raam - "Hey Dharm Raaj, Today I am freed from that terrible Shaap.