Dushta-saangatya Dosham

On the way to the great Ujjaini Nagaram, there was a Pippala-Vruksham (Ashwattha Vruksham). On it use to live a Vaayasam (crow) and a Hamsa. One afternoon, when Suurya-deva was showing His power, came a Paantha (traveller). He not able to tolerate the heat, thought of taking rest in the shade of the Ashwattha Vruksham. When he was taking rest, the Hamsa saw that, through the gaps between leaves of tree, sun-light was directly falling on the face of the Paantha.

Hamsa, who was a Dayaalu, couldnt see this and spread out his wings and thus gave shade to the Paantha sleeping under the tree. Seeing the Paantha was sleeping happily, the Vaayasam got Iirsha due to his natural Dushta-svabhaavam. The Vaayasam, out of Matsaram, put his puriishotsargam (put its droppings) on the face of the Paantha and flew away.

Though it had nothing to gain by troubling the traveller, it troubled him because, for Dushtas Para-piida (paining others) itself gives pleasure. The Paantha woke up and saw the Hamsa which was above him and thinking that it has done this to him, shot it with an arrow. The innocent Hamsa fell down and died.

Morals in the Story:

1. The Daya of Hamsa is great. Not able to see the difficulty of the traveller, it spread its wings, took all the heat and protected the traveller. There is no greater Dharmam than Paropakaaram.
2. Even though the Hamsa is a sajjana, just because it stayed with the Vaayasam (dushta), it got into difficulties. One must never be in the Saagatyam of bad. Durjanas not only destroy themselves, but also others with them.
3. Krodham is one’s greatest enemy. Because of his anger, the traveller, without thinking what actually happened, killed the innocent Hamsa. Coming under Krodham one can do any great paapam, hence one must always be away from it.