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Om Namah Shivaya |
Gurudruh was, somehow, convinced that the doe was not telling a lie. He let her go to her family and to come back. After some time, another doe turned up at the stream. He again took his bow and arrow to kill her. Once again there was a noise created by movement in the leaves on the branches and shaking of the water-pot. A few Bilva leaves and a little water fell on the Shiva-Linga for the second time. The doe was panicked. When she looked at tree above her, she found the hunter in the tree. It took her no time to understand what he wanted. She said, "Don't shoot. Wait please. I shall go to bid my husband and children farewell and come back soon. I shall not take much time. Then you shall be free to kill me. I am willing to die." The second doe was, in fact, a sister of the first doe. Both the sister were married to the same deer. Gurudruh was in a fix. He could not make up his mind as to what he should do. He thought, "This doe is saying exactly what the first one had said. May be they befooling me and playing a trick to save their lives. On the other hand, it could also be possible that they meant to keep their word. Of course, it is natural that they love their family as much as I do. I think I should trust them." In the end he let the second doe also go.
Gurudruh began to wait for the return of the doe. Then he saw both the doe coming towards the tree along with their husband and children. Reaching the tree, the deer said to the hunter, "O hunter! I am here. Kill me. I am prepared to die for the sake of the promise given to you by my wives." Before the hunter could do anything, the doe said, "We both are ready to be killed. You are at liberty to satisfy the hunger of your family by killing us. We have come here to keep our word." Hearing their father and mothers, their children cried, "No! don't kill our parents. Please do not kill them. If someone has to die, we must die first. We are willing for this. How can we live without our father or mother. You can kill us if you go please."
The hunter listened to the deer, the doe and their children. The two doe had kept their word. This was a dilemma for him. He was surprised their behaviour. He was moved. He began to climb down the tree. When he was getting down, a few leaves of the Bilva tree and some water from the pot fell on the Shiva-Linga for the third time. By the time he was on the ground, his heart was full of pity. He decided to spare their lives.
Gurudruh had performed Shiva's worship with Bilva leaves and water, without knowing what he was doing."
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