Hopefully, reading Hindu Literature on a Christian Holiday isn’t considered as blasphemy. Yes, I am a Christian and a devout one at that. Surprise?!
Anyways, last week, we were discussing Hindu Literature, specifically the Mahabharata, in my Afro-Asian Literature class and naturally, as a genuine literati, I had read the Mahabharata beforehand. Unfortunately, at that point in time, I couldn’t remember the names of its chapters or divisions. As common knowledge dictates, the Mahabharata is the longest epic to be known to man. It even outdid the Odyssey, so I am told. It’s quite easy to feign knowledge of the huge collection of Indian philosophy and religion in the internet, with information just a click away, but in all honesty, all that I can remember about the magnificent work of literature, is the story of Sibi. Yes, as a kid who one day hopes to be a Literature scholar, I seriously need to brush up on my stories. But that’s why we have Christmas vacation.
Moving on, Sibi is the story of a king, aptly named Sibi, who was renowned for his sense of duty, honor and justice. Whilethe king held a feast after a holy sacrifice, a weakened dove sought refuge in his lap. Then came the self-titled king of birds, the hawk, who stated that he had come for his food, which was the dove, with the soul intentions of feeding himself and his waiting family. Driven by his dominion, King Sibi proclaimed that he can not surrender the dove for it found sanctuary in his rule. The hawk argued that it is not justified for Sibi to claim what is not rightfully is. Torn between his duty and his sense of justice, the king offered to give the hawk an amount of his own flesh equal to the dove’s weight for the latter’s freedom. The hawk agreed and after Sibi mutilated himself, the king of birds then revealed himself to be Indra. The Gods were only testing Sibi, measuring his integrity as a man and as a king. In the end, Sibi earned the respect of the Hindu Gods and regained his vitality, as well as his flesh.
Sibi was one of those philosophical stories that sought to immerse the reader in its values. The fact it drove me to rethink what the word “duty” really meant made it memorable to me. It’s classic literature, not the usual romance or supernatural sensualism that abounds the shelves nowadays. This is one of the texts that started it all. It influenced a whole genre of scholars, literati by language, and raised the bar for the succeeding generations.
I, myself, love the ambiguity of words so for me to practice Dharma as exemplified in Hindu Literature is improbable but not impossible. Maybe a few more years and I’m in there but as of now, my duty is to my literature and my sacrifice is mine alone.
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Author's Note: This passage is a crosspost from © Jofer Serapio.
