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Jaimini and the Birds

© Harsh Nevatia

This narrative is taken from the Markandeya Purana, which is the shortest of the main Puranas. Jaimini was the disciple of Sage Vyasa, the author of The Mahabharata. Jaimini had heard The Mahabharata from his teacher. Even after due reflection, Jaimini was confused about certain issues in the epic. At that time Sage Vyasa was not available so Jaimini approached another learned sage, Markandeya. Unfortunately Sage Markandeya was also leaving for a pilgrimage. He directed Jaimini to the Vindhya Mountains where four birds dwelt. They were Pingaksha, Vivodha, Suputra and Sumukha. These birds were well versed in the scriptures and would clarify all Jaimini's doubts. Jaimini was astounded that there were birds that could not only speak the human language but were learned as well. Before leaving, Markandeya narrated their tale.

Kanka and Kandhara were birds descended from Garuda, the king of the birds. They were brothers and very attached to each other. One day Kanka got involved in a brawl with a demon named Vidyut and was killed. Kandhara swore revenge and in a fierce fight he slew the demon. He then married the demon's widow, Madanika. Madanika permanently took the form of a bird and soon gave birth to a beautiful baby bird named Tarkshi. Tarkshi was no ordinary bird. She was Vapu, an apsara or heavenly maiden. Once all the apsaras asked Narada, the celestial messenger, to decide who was best among them. Narada proclaimed that the one who could distract the Sage Durvasa during his meditation would be the best. Durvasa was a very ill-tempered sage and none of the apsaras was willing to take up the challenge, except Vapu. While Durvasa was meditating Vapu warbled like the cuckoo from afar. Durvasa got up to find out who the singer was and was surprised to see Vapu. He immediately cursed the apsara that she would be born as a bird.

In due course Tarkshi got married and became pregnant. In that state she wandered into the midst of the Mahabharata War being fought at Kurukshetra. Arjuna and Bhagdatta were engaged in a duel. One of Arjuna's arrows pierced her stomach and she died. However having fulfilled the curse of Durvasa she was restored as the apsara, Vapu. As Arjuna's arrow cut open Tarkshi's stomach, four eggs dropped to the ground. As fate would have it, another arrow sliced the rope that held the bell of Bhagdatta's elephant. This bell fell over the eggs, which were thus protected during the rest of the war.

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