The entire family of pigs therefore waited for the king under a hill. They were discovered there by the king’s hunters. The hunters pierced the male pig with all sorts of weapons. The pig struck back with his tusks and gored several of Ikshvaku’s soldiers.

Ikshvaku was delighted to be confronted with such a brave pig and advanced on his own horse. But the pig charged the horse and knocked down the king from his perch. This so annoyed Ikshvaku that he dealt the pig a mighty whack with his club. The pig could not survive this stroke and fell down dead.

All this while, the female pig had been hiding with her children in a cave. Now that the male pig was dead, the hunters advanced to capture the female pig and her brood.

“Run away children,” said the female pig. “I will try and stave off the soldiers. I hope I can hold them off long enough for you to flee.”

“We can’t do that,” replied the eldest piglet. “I am your eldest son. Now that my father is no longer alive, it is my duty to protect you. You run away with my three brothers. I will stay and fight with the soldiers.”

The mother could not accept this. Both she and the eldest son stayed back to fight with the soldiers. The other three piglets took the opportunity to run away.

The eldest piglet fought bravely, but Ikshvaku killed him with an arrow. As for the female pig, she too fought bravely and wounded many of the king’s soldier. But Ikshvaku made no attempt to kill her.

“Why don’t you kill the female pig?” asked Queen Sudeva.

“Because the pig is a female,” replied the king. “Killing any female is a crime.”

Amongst the king’s hunters was one named Jharjhara. He had no such moral scruples. He struck the female pig with a sword and the pig fell unconscious. She did not immediately die. She merely lay there, bleeding.

The Male Pig

Sudeva could not bear the sight of the female pig suffering so. She poured some cold water on the pig’s mouth and wiped away the blood from the wounds.

“Thank you, good queen,” said the female pig. “My sins have been cleansed by your touch. I bless you that you may be fortunate.”

Sudeva was amazed to hear a female pig talk. “Who are you?” she asked. “And what about your husband, who fought so bravely? Tell me your stories.”