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PRACTICE OF KARMA YOGA
9 STORY OF A BIRD
Four travellers had to take their rest one night under a big tree It was winter So they started a fire to warm themselves A bird lived in the tree with its wife and children The little bird looked down and saw the travellers It said to its wife: "My dear, what shall we do now? There are some guests in our house. They are hungry We must entertain them any how We are householders and should show hospitality. We have nothing to offer them I will offer they body to them.” It dropped itself into the fire below and got roasted
The wife of the bird witnessed the noble action of the husband It thought within itself. "There are four guests. The flesh of one bird is not sufficient for all of them Let me also do some sacrifice in the fulfilment of the pure Sankalpa of my husband The duty of the wife is to serve and please the husband at all times' It also plunged itself into the fire and soon perished.
The five little ones said "Still the food is not sufficient for our four guests Our parents have done their duty well We should keep up the name of our worthy parents They have done great sacrifice, we should also contribute something towards this Atithi Yajna.” They also fell into the fire and were burnt to death
The four travellers were struck with utter amaze
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