Satyaki of Avanti was a renowned Ayurvedic doctor, who was known not only for his dedicated medical service to his patients but also as a teacher who made his disciples proficient in the medical science.
Two young friends, Pradyumn and Ashvaku wanted to learn Ayurved from Satyaki and decided to approach him. One day, they both visited Avanti to meet Satyaki and told him that they wanted to learn Ayurved from him. Satyaki thought for a while and then asked Pardyumn to meet him the following day at his residence and asked Ashvaku to wait till he asked him to come and meet him. The two friends thanked him and returned to the inn where they were staying and wondered why Satyaki had not asked them to meet him again together.
The following morning, Pradyumn got ready and visited Satyaki's residence. On reaching Satyaki's home he found the medicine man yell and scream at a frail sick dog and beat him up with a stick. When he saw Pradyumn standing at the entrance of his house he yelled at him and pointing towards the dog said, "You are as sick and detestable as this mongrel, take him away from my sight and be off! if your friend still wants to meet me, then he can come and meet me tomorrow. Begone you sick mongrel! take this creature with you, as you both are a sore to my eyes!" Pradyumn was so shocked by Satyaki's appalling behaviour that he immediately returned to the inn and narrated the whole incidence to his friend Ashvaku. The latter quietly and carefully listened to his friend's experience with Satyaki and said that he would go and meet Satyaki the following day.
When Ashvaku reached Satyaki's residence the following day, he found him trying to wring the neck of a pigeon while yelling at the bird that was trying to release itself from the clutches of the medicine man, who in fit of rage yelled at Ashvaku, "There you are, a bird-brained man, as miserable as this bird! take this wretched bird away from my sight and begone". Ashavku did not utter a word and silently approached Satyaki and took the frightened bird from his hand and took the creature to the water trough lying in the corner of the verandah and nursed the wounds of the bird, pacified it and placed it on the branch of the tree of the house and quietly observed a flock of pigeons fly to the bird and encourage it to join them. Ashvaku was so engrossed in observing the pigeon fly away along with the flock that he did not realise that Satyaki was now standing next to him intently observing his earnest act of rescuing the battered bird. Satyaki placed his hand on Ashvaku's shoulder and gently said, 'Welcome home, my son,'
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