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creature, cast off all fear; you have flown to me seeking protection and as a Kshatriya prince, it is my solemn duty to grant asylum to anyone who seeks it of me, especially today, when I have taken the 'Pledge of Paushadha'. Shed all fear. I hereby promise to protect you at the cost of my life."
That very instant, a hawk flew in like a gust of wind. Fixing his blood-thirsty eyes on the dove that began to quiver again, he thus addressed the Raja: "My Lord, that dove at your feet is my rightful prey. I demand its surrender immediately, for I am dying of hunger."
The Raja replied with calm dignity, “Hawk, it is the solemn duty of a Kshatriya to grant asylum to a creature who seeks it in desperation. Moreover, I have taken the 'Paushadha Pledge' to protect this helpless creature. I will not surrender it to you under any circumstances."
Turning his blood-thirsty eyes towards him, the hawk replied, "But I must eat to live." "Not on a living being!" protested the Raja. "It is against the tenets of religion. How can you fail to understand that just as you would experience agony if one of your wings were chopped off, so, too, would this dove. How can you justify the killing of another bird for appeasing your appetite?"
"My Lord," retorted the hawk, "well may you philosophize about humanity and monstrosity, about
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