Emperor of India, noted for generosity; offered pound of own flesh to save Agni in the form of a dove from Indra in the form of a hawk. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

King Sibi was a person who had sacrificed many things. He had all the good qualities and was always immersed in the thought of God. While Sibi was a great king and had all the wealth, Indra and Agni had a plan to test the real sacrificing nature of this king. Agni took the form of a dove and Indra took the form of an eagle which attacks the dove. Agni, in the form of a dove came running to the King and appealed to him to save him as he was being attacked by a big eagle. The king promised to protect the dove which was being attacked and therefore the eagle could not get hold of the dove. At this time, the eagle started arguing that since it was hungry and since it came as a hungry bird, it was the duty of the King to give up the dove to satisfy its hunger.

The King then said that since he had undertaken to protect the dove, it was not possible for him to hand over the dove but he would instead offer to give an amount of his own flesh equivalent to the flesh of the dove and thereby satisfy the eagle’s hunger. The King got a pair of weighing pans and placed the dove in one of the pans. In the other, he began placing chunks of his own flesh. Even after large amounts of flesh from his body were put in, the pans were not balanced. Finally, finding that he had nothing more to offer, he himself Sat in the pan and offered his entire body to the eagle. Agni and Indra, in the form of the dove and the eagle, were very much moved at this selfless spirit of sacrifice. They presented themselves before the King in their true form. Indra and Agni then said that no amount of learning in the Vedas can bring one as much satisfaction as the spirit of sacrifice would, and in this manner they praised the King.

When such tests come from God, they come in order to shower grace and not to trouble the devotee. It is not possible for all persons to understand and comprehend God’s strength. One who knows Brahman becomes Brahman himself. The saying Brahmavid brahmaiva bhavati means this. In other words, unless one rises to the stature of Brahman, he will not understand Brahman. Similarly, through truth alone can one comprehend truth. One cannot understand truth through untrue methods. (SSB 1974)