A hunter roamed in the forest. He had neither family nor friends because he was cruel and ferocious. He hunted animals and birds all day.
One day, he caught a female dove and caged her. It began to rain heavily, so he searched for shelter under a tree. He happened to find protection under the tree where the dove he had caught and her husband had made their nest. The dove’s husband was sitting alone in the nest, waiting for her.
As the male dove muttered to himself, his wife in the cage heard him and called out. The two doves were very kind and noble. So, the male dove told his wife that it was their duty to look after their guest, even if it meant that they would risk their lives. The wife too agreed.
They saw the hunter hungry and shivering with cold under the tree. The male dove welcomed him and went off to collect a live coal to light a fire. He lit a fire with sticks and dry leaves. He had no food to offer the hunter. So, he jumped into the fire.
The hunter was very deeply touched by the sacrifice of the male dove. He himself had never given anything to anyone. And here was the noble bird who offered himself as food to the hunter! He had a complete change of heart. He realised his behaviour had been evil and sinful. In future, he would live the life of a good man, doing things that were kind and helpful for others. He threw away all his hunting tools and net. Then he opened the cage and set the female dove free as well.
The female dove loved her husband very much and did not wish to live without him. When she saw what he had done, she too jumped into the flames. It is said that they were both transformed into heavenly beings because they had been such wonderful creatures.
The hunter truly changed his way of life. He became a holy man and hermit, spending his time in meditation, prayer and good work. One day, he saw a fire in the forest and felt that the best way to pay off for all his sins and the harm he had done to others was to enter the fire.
Thus the wicked hunter ended his life by jumping into the raging flames.
