Śibi
SIVI.
[Source:
Dowson's Classical Dictionary
of Hindu Mythology] Son
of Usinara, and king of the country also called Usinara, near Gandhara.
The great charity and devotion of Sivi are extolled in the Mahabharata by the
sage Markandeya. Agni having assumed the form of a pigeon, was pursued by Indra
in the shape of a falcon. The pigeon took refuge in the bosom of Sivi, and the
falcon would accept nothing from Sivi instead of the pigeon but an equal weight
of the king's own flesh. Sivi cut a piece of flesh from his right thigh and
placed it in the balance, but the bird was the heavier. He cut again and again,
and still the pigeon drew the scale, until the king placed his whole body in
the balance. This outweighed the pigeon and the falcon flew away. On another
occasion Vishnu went to Sivi in the form of a Brahman and demanded food, but
would accept no food but Sivi's own son Vrihadgarbha, whom he required Sivi
to kill and cook. The king did so, and placed the food before the Brahman, who
then told him to eat it himself. Sivi took up the head and prepared to eat.
The Brahman then stayed his hand, commended his devotion, and restoring the
son to life, vanished from sight.
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Modern
Languages MLLL-4993. Indian Epics. Laura Gibbs, Ph.D.
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October 16, 2007 12:22 PM
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