Kaushika was an extremely learned man well versed in the knowledge of the Vedas and Upanishads¹. He lived a simple life in the forest, spending his days practising the Vedas and improving his education. One day, as he was chanting vedas, a female crane rested on top of the tree.

A few minutes later, Kaushika felt something wet on his head and stopped chanting.

“What is this?” thought Kaushika touching his forehead. His face turned red with anger as he realised it was bird dropping.

Lifting his head, Kaushika noticed the crane sitting above him.

In that instant, all Kaushika wanted to do was injure the bird. Having performed years of austerities, he was pretty powerful, so he killed the crane with a glance.

Once the crane fell on the ground motionless, Kaushika thought, “Oh no! I have sinned by killing this bird. How I wish I had control over my anger.”

But after some time, he thought no more and proceeded to the neighbouring village for food. Since Kaushika was a hermit, he led a simple life. He had no money for food, so Kaushika went to the village to get food each day.

He stood at the entrance of one of the houses and asked for alms. Hearing him, the lady of the house said, “Please stay. I will bring it immediately.”

Unfortunately, while she was about to bring food to Kaushika, her husband came to the house tired from his day’s work. She rushed to provide him with his lunch, due to which she forgot about Kaushika completely.

Meanwhile, Kaushika waited outside the house, boiling with rage with every passing minute.

After a long time, the lady rushed out. “I am so sorry, sir. Please forgive me for making you wait.”

Kaushika responded, “How dare you? Don’t you know who I am? You have made an extremely learned man like me wait in this hot sun for hours. Do you know what I am capable of?”

The lady said, “I am no crane to get burnt by your single glance, O Kaushika. You have devoted your entire life to gain the knowledge of the Vedas and probably have no equal. But you do not know what virtue is and what is most important. You killed an innocent crane and were willing to injure me.”

“How did she know about the crane?” wondered Kaushika.

Softly, the lady continued, “Sir, I know I made a mistake in making you wait. But I was not ignoring you. Instead, I was doing my duty which was taking care of my loved ones. Despite all your learning, you have still not understood dharma or duty. In the city of Mithila lives a virtuous man. You can go and meet him to learn the correct way to live. Also, if anything I said is disagreeable, please forgive me.”

Kaushika left the house shocked.

“What can anyone teach me?” he thought arrogantly. But, curious, he decided to go to Mithila.

In Mithila, Kaushika enquired about the virtuous man to a passerby who directed him to a butcher’s house. When Kaushika reached the butcher’s compound, he saw someone approach him.

“Welcome, oh learned one. I am the one whom you have come to meet,” said the butcher. “Please come in.”

“But you are a butcher. I was expecting a hermit who is moral and righteous,” said Kaushika. “The lady I met in the village told me that you could teach me about virtue and duties. You are in the immoral profession of killing animals for a living. How can you be more virtuous than me?”

The butcher replied, “Sir, the profession I am in is my family inheritance. This job is my birthright. I never lie or envy others. I never kill an animal outside my work or for sheer entertainment.”

Kaushika listened to the butcher with growing fascination. He entered an enormous mansion. Inside the mansion, the butcher introduced Kaushika to his old parents, wife and children.

“I perform my duty with dedication and sincerity. My parents are old, and I ensure they spend their remaining years in happiness and peace. My wife and children live a healthy and satisfying life. I guarantee they have the best of comforts,” said the butcher.

“O Kaushika, all your knowledge is of no use since you have neglected your duty. You have left your old and blind parents to fend for themselves while you have retired to the forest searching for knowledge. You have no control over your anger since you killed a helpless bird with one glance. Both the lady and I knew about the crane because in doing our duty, we have become truly enlightened,” the butcher concluded.

The butcher’s words filled Kaushika with guilt and sorrow. Realising his mistake, he thanked the butcher and returned home to his parents. He spent his days taking care of his parents and fulfilling his duties as a son.

Author’s Note:

This story appears in Vana Parva or the “Book of the Forest” in the Mahabharata. The Pandavas were sent on exile by deceit by their cousins. While in the forest, Sage Markandeya tells various stories about virtues, knowledge, duties, etc., to Yudhishthira, the eldest of the five Pandavas.

This story is called Vyadha Gita or the teachings of the butcher. Here the butcher teaches Kaushika the importance of Swadharma. According to Swadharma, anyone following their duties and responsibilities is in the path of dharma or righteousness. Any work done with dedication and sincerity is good.

¹ Vedas and Upanishads refer to the knowledge about sacred texts.