Word

Shibi

Sanskrit

शिवि

IAST

shivi

In General

Shivi was a king and a Vedic Rishi. In Veda he is called, Shivi Aushiner, so probably the son of Aushiner. In Puranas Shivi is said to be the son of Madhavi, a daughter of Yayati.

Veda

Shivi is the Rishi of Rig Veda Mantra 10:179:1. The Mantra is in praise of Indra.

Purana

The fame of Shivi rests on his Kindness and charitable nature. One day a wounded pigeon flew to his lap and requested to save it from eagle that wounded it. Shivi gave refuge and nursed it. But in no time the eagle that followed the pigeon came down and argued with the king that the pigeon is his prey and as a king who follows justice should hand over the pigeon to him. King refused and offered to do anything else for the sake of the birds’ life. The hunter bird demanded meat of an equal weight to quench his hunger.

Shivi, a sympathizer of the entire creature in the world could not offer meat of other birds or animals in place of pigeon, so he offered meat from his body. When weighted against the pigeon, the quantity of flesh he cut away from this thigh was found small. He again cut another chunk of flesh from his body and put in the balance. Still the pigeon is found heavier. He, then placed himself fully, and sat in the balance.

Indra was actually testing the integrity and mental strength of Shivi by taking the form of eagle. Agni was supporting Indra by appearing as a pigeon. The gods of heaven then appeared before Shivi in their human like form and blessed him.

Reference

M.B. (Vana Parva); R.V. (10:179:1)