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King Sibi
 Sibi was one of the best raja rishi's with fame only next to
king Janaka. He was ruling his country according to the sastras. News about Sibi's excellent administration spread all over the world and finally reached the Deva
Lokam.
The Devas wanted to test the king and so
Lord Agni disguised himself as a pigeon and sat on Sibi's lap.
Lord Indra, disguised as an eagle, came chasing the pigeon and sat near the king.
The pigeon said to Sibi that it was actually a sage and that it had come to him for succour. It beseached him to save it from the eagle.
The eagle said, "This pigeon is my prey. I am very hungry, so please give it to me."
Sibi was caught between the two. But finally he said that since the pigeon had come to him for help he would not give to the eagle. Nor would he let the eagle go hungry. He offer some to provide some other meat for the eagle.
Immediately, the eagle replied that it wanted Sibi's flesh, equal to the weight of the pigeon, "I will eat that," it said. King Sibi immediately cut the flesh from his body and placed it in the weighing machine but it weighed less than the pigeon's.
He then cut some more flesh from his body, but still it did not match the pigeon's weight. The king kept repeating this and got the same results.
At last, Sibi stood on the weighing machine. Seeing this, the eagle simply flew away.
Lord Agni took his original form and narrated everything to
Sibi.
The Devas appreciated Sibi's kindness and blessed him with long life and prosperity.
(Mahabaratham, Vanaparvam, chapter 197)
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