In the Mahabharata war, how did a bird survive, later known as "Dharmapakshi"? Learn the complete story of how, due to a curse from a previous birth, an Apsara lived between the battles of the Mahabharata as Dharmapakshi with her four eggs.
Curse & boon stories: Dharmapakshi story in Mahabharat
Once, Sage Narada was wandering in Nandanvan and met the king of the gods, Indra. As Narada arrived, Indra respectfully stood up, and offered him his throne, and the Apsaras present there also greeted Sage Narada with humility. During the conversation, Indra said to Narada, "Sage, among these Apsaras, the one you find most beautiful and dear, grant her permission to dance before you. Rambha, Mishrakeshi, Urvashi, Tilottama, Ghritachi, or Menaka—whichever you fancy, let her perform for you." Hearing this, Narada observed that a debate arose among the Apsaras regarding who was the most suitable. Understanding this, Indra asked Narada to decide who should dance.
Narada suggested a solution and said that Durvasa Rishi was not far away. Whoever could enchant him with her dance would be considered the best. Hearing Durvasa's name, all the Apsaras hesitated, but an Apsara named Vapu accepted the challenge. She went to Durvasa and tried to captivate and entertain him. However, witnessing her actions, Durvasa cursed her to become a bird for sixteen years. He mentioned that during this period, she would have four children, but after being struck by a weapon, she would separate from her children, and only after her death from that weapon would she be freed from the curse.
Later, the bird named Tarkshi, born out of this curse, married Drona's son, Mandapala. During the Kurukshetra war, Tarkshi flew into the battlefield where Arjuna and Bhagadatta were fighting. Struck by Arjuna's arrow, the bird fell in such a way that its belly was completely torn open. Although the eggs were exposed, due to a miraculous incident involving a bell tied around an elephant's neck, the eggs were protected, and despite the war ending, they remained unharmed.
Subsequently, when Sage Shamika passed by and removed the bell, he found four chicks beneath it. The sage took these birds with him to his hermitage. According to the scriptures, these birds had heard the entire story of Krishna in the Mahabharata and possessed knowledge of all things. Therefore, one day, disciples of Sage Vyasa, led by Jamini, came to these birds with questions related to the Mahabharata, calling them Dharmapakshi.
