Loyalty Is a Great Virtue
Once there was a hunter.
He dipped the tips of his arrows in lethal poison and set out in search of animals.
So he found a deer.
He aimed and shot, but somehow the arrow missed the deer and the deer ran away.
The arrow instead went and hit a tree.
Soon the poison started spreading all over the tree.
In some time, the leaves withered and fell down, and the branches and bark of the tree started drying up.
And soon, the tree was completely charred and dead, as if struck by lightning.
There was a parrot who had made its nest on that tree.
The parrot had developed a lot of love and affection for that tree.
Even after the tree died, the parrot did not leave.
Ever since the parrot saw the tree drying up, it did not leave the tree even once.
It did not even leave to get its food.
So the parrot also started becoming weaker and weaker along with the tree.
This was very strange. How could a mere bird have this kind of attitude? Equal loyalty and affection during both good and bad times.
Even Indra was surprised. Indra disguised himself as an old man and approached the parrot.
Indra asked, 'You seem to be very loyal to this tree. Why are you not leaving this tree? There are so many other healthy trees in this forest. You can make your nest in any one of them and start living a normal life. Why are you not doing that?'
Parrot said, 'My respects to you, Devaraja Indra.'
The parrot, even though Indra had disguised himself as an old man, recognized him.
These are powers that you develop when your heart becomes pure.
Parrot said, 'I was born in a nest on this tree. I learned a lot of good qualities living in this tree.
This tree has kept me safe all those years like one’s own child. This tree has hidden me with its leaves from the arrows of hunters.
I am devoted to this tree.
Because of all this, I have started worshipping this tree for the kindness it has always showed towards me.
I am only observing my dharma. I don’t want to abandon this tree during its bad time.
You are king of devas because you are an exponent in all dharma.
Why are you trying to dissuade me from observing dharma?
When this tree was healthy and strong, it has taken care of me, given me shelter.
And today, it is weak and dying.
You want me to leave it now?
Is this dharma?'
Indra became very much pleased with the devotion of the parrot.
He said, 'Ask me for any boon.'
Parrot said, 'Please bring this tree back to as it was before. It is suffering because of poison from a hunter’s arrow. It can still live for long years.'
Indra sprinkled amrita on the dried-up tree, and it came back to life as green and healthy as before.
That parrot also attained Divya Loka upon completion of its life on earth.
The loyalty and devotion that the parrot showed towards a tree — do we have at least a part of that towards our parents, who have sacrificed their own lives for us?
This is worth thinking. This is worth an introspection.
There is another bad thing that the West has taught us: when a ship starts sinking, bail out.
A company may have supported you and your family for years.
At the slightest hint of any trouble, you start looking out.
Only your safety matters.
This is another point worth introspection.
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