Nāḍījaṅgha Rājadharma, the Crane King

Nāḍījaṅgha, also called Rājadharma, was a great crane king. He is the central figure of the Kṛtagnopākhyāna, which is told in the Āpaddharma Parva of the Śānti Parva of the Mahābhārata. He was a son of the divine ṛshi Kaśyapa and a Dākshāyaṇī (a daughter of Daksha), and a dear companion of Brahmā.

The brāhmaṇa Gautama, whom Nāḍījaṅgha had hosted and made rich, killed him. A divine cow, a Dākshāyaṇī, rained milk on his funeral fire and he came back to life. Then, with great nobility, he asked Indra to bring Gautama back to life too.

Who he was

The account shows Nāḍījaṅgha as a being of a very different kind from an ordinary bird. He was:

a son of Kaśyapa and a Dākshāyaṇī, a divine line that placed him among beings of divine birth who take animal forms in the world;
a companion of Brahmā, who went regularly to Brahmā’s assembly in brahmaloka and kept up a lasting bond with the creator;
gifted with intelligence that understood human speech and the thoughts behind it;
radiant in a divine form that shone like the sun and wore ornaments;
named Rājadharma, which means the kingly dharma.

He lived in a splendid aśvattha tree (a sacred fig tree) in a beautiful forest on the road toward the seashore. The place was like the world of the gandharvas. This is from Chapter 169.

Hospitality to Gautama

The fallen brāhmaṇa Gautama came to his tree tired and hungry. Nāḍījaṅgha welcomed him at once with the full rule of atithi-dharma (the duty to a guest).

He called Gautama a dear guest (atithi) who had come by good fortune.
He fed him fish caught from rivers linked with the course of Bhagīratha’s Gaṅgā.
He fanned him with his wings to ease his tiredness.
He made a bed of leaves and flowers.
He gave him a comfortable shelter for the night.
In the morning he introduced Gautama to his friend Virūpāksha, the king of the rākshasas. He sent Gautama with a warm word of praise, and this opened Virūpāksha’s generosity to him.

So Gautama reached the city of Virūpāksha with Nāḍījaṅgha’s own backing. He was received at the great feast of Kārtika Pūrṇimā and left with a load of gold and jewels. This is from Chapters 169 to 171.

The killing

After the feast Gautama went back to the aśvattha tree with his gold. He was tired and hungry from the road home. Nāḍījaṅgha again met him with warmth and care. The crane slept near the protecting fire that he had lit. Gautama killed him with a burning brand, cooked his flesh and went away. This is from Chapter 171.

Brahmā’s earlier śāpa

Later Indra explained these events to Virūpāksha. He told him that Nāḍījaṅgha’s death had an earlier cause. Once Nāḍījaṅgha had not come to the assembly of Brahmā. Brahmā was displeased and gave him a śāpa (a curse): “Since you did not come to my sabhā, you will soon be slain.” This is from Chapter 173.

Revival and nobility

A divine cow, a Dākshāyaṇī, appeared above the funeral fire of Nāḍījaṅgha and rained milk on it. The foam of the milk fell on the fire and brought him back to life. He rose and flew to Virūpāksha.

Nāḍījaṅgha knew what Gautama had done, but he did not seek revenge. He went to Indra and asked him to bring Gautama back to life too, the very man who had killed him. Indra was moved by this nobility and revived Gautama with amṛta (the nectar of life). Nāḍījaṅgha sent Gautama home with his gold.

Then Nāḍījaṅgha went back to the assembly of Brahmā, and Brahmā received him with full honour. This is from Chapter 173.

Why he is remembered

Nāḍījaṅgha is the example of perfect atithi-dharma and perfect forgiveness. He gave hospitality without counting the cost. He won gain for his guest without hoping for any return. When he was betrayed, he sought the revival of the one who betrayed him, not his punishment. His name Rājadharma means the dharma of a king. This is from Chapters 169 to 173.

Sources

Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Āpaddharma Parva, Chapters 169–173