Datta Maata 187: Do not hunt animals for pleasure

It is a great fortune to be born in an affluent family. It leads to meritorious fruits. But, if it is misused, such meritorious fruits also become harmful. The story of Uttanka, the son of king Pandya is a very good example in this regard. Uttanka, since his childhood possessed a character of stubbornness. Accordingly, it was a fun for the king to give want ever Uttanka asked for. Everything was good. After few days, Uttanka himself became the king. Whenever he saw something good in the houses of rich people, he used to express it to be good and the scared people used to give it to the king as gift. This was quite a common practice. In this manner, many unfortunate girls also reached his kingdom. But, the sin of tormenting good people will not go away so easily.

One day, Uttanka went for hunting. He saw two strange coloured antelopes under a tree. As soon as he looked at them, he wanted to possess them. He called the soldiers and ordered them to bring them carefully. However, they could not match the speed of the antelopes, which headed towards the neighboring kingdom. Hence, the soldiers returned. Since, they did not abide by his orders, Uttanka chopped their heads off. Out of stubbornness, he himself had left to catch those antelopes. In the boundaries of the neighbouring kingdom, he observed them and they strangely talked to him in human language. They said, "You have killed the innocent people for our sake. But now we are in the province of King Videha. Hence, you take his permission and take us away." Saying so, they ran away and could not be traced again. Uttanka could not understand whether they ran away or disappeared. Since, the neighbouring king was not strong enough, he sent a message to the king to give him the strange antelopes present in his kingdom. Uttanka also cautioned him that he would kill him if he did not do so. Videha in return sent a message, "They are the strange talking deers. They have their freedom to live. I cannot trap them. It is wrong on your part also to trap them." Later, Uttanka waged a war against Videha and emerged victorious in that mutual war. While he was about to chop off Videha's head, few strange antelopes jumped over there like thunder. They said, "Uttanka, you have humiliated the one who has given refuge to us. You are trying to overpower on the mute beings of the jungle. This is like a death trap that you have dug for yourself. It is sure that you will die yourself by falling into it." Saying so, the antelopes disappeared. However, this time, Uttanka panicked after listening to thosee words. He did not talk anything and left on his horse in a fast pace. While he was about to catch elephants as part of hunting, he fell down into a pit along with the horse and died by hitting his head onto the ground. This is how he fell down in his own trap.

With this story, we learn one more lesson. The flora is not a property of any individual. It is a sin to trap the beings for our entertainment, which are created by God and live out of their freedom. Along with that, it is also difficult to identify which sage is wandering about in the forest in the form of which animal in the forests. Hence, we also understand that it is our dharma to safeguard the beings of the jungle. Else, one has to die in one's own trap called ego. This is the lesson of this story. Hence, we must carefully observe from this story that we must not harm those beings. Also, we must not kill other beings for our unnecessary pleasures.

Jaya Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!