Indian Tales of The Great Ones/The Eagle Brothers
INDIAN TALES
OF THE GREAT ONES
The Eagle Brothers
There were once two great brother-eagles—Jattayu and Sanpati. And Jattayu was King of all the Eagle Tribes; and among the birds of the air there was none more powerful than Jattayu.
The brothers lived together on a crag of the mountains called the Home of Snow, which stretch across the north-east boundary of India.
They lived there because there was no higher spot in all the world that could be found for their home. And day after day Jattayu ranged the air, marshalling his bird-armies, or settling disputes, or swooping down on the things which he sought for food—for all the bird-people belonged to Jattayu, and owed him allegiance even with their lives, if so he should desire.
And Jattayu was strong and took what he willed, without making excuse.
And Jattayu was feared, even though there were those among the bird-people who could tell how Jattayu could be gentle to the weak.
And of these was his brother Sanpati.
When Jattayu ranged the air, he was a king; but when he flew back on strong outspread wing to his home in the snow mountains, he was only the big brother of Little-Eagle Sanpati.
And together as children they shared the day's meal, and together 
The Eagle Brothers
as children they talked of the wonders of the heavens. And always and always in their talk Little-Eagle Sanpati noticed one yearning in the big brother whom he loved and admired.
"I want to get to the sun. Oh, as near as I can!" said Big-Brother Jattayu.And day after day Little-Eagle Sanpati kept wondering how this could be managed.
And his love for Jattayu was so great that it found a way.
"If one should fly between him and the sun to protect him," he said, "it could be done."
So, one day he made the little-eagle heart of him very brave, and made Jattayu believe that he too was wanting to see the sun; but that he was afraid of falling back upon the earth in terror, when he got near the sun's brilliance. So he begged Jattayu to fly just under him to protect him.
And Jattayu consented; and they circled, Little-Eagle Sanpati and Big-Brother Jattayu, higher and higher, till they got so near to the sun that even Jattayu had had enough, and turned to fly back to the safe quiet nest in the white earth mountains, taking Little-Eagle Sanpati with him.
"It is wonderful," he kept saying, "that I got so near, and yet was not struck or burnt by the Sun-God and the fierceness of his rays. It is a tale of wonder for all the bird-people to hear. Well was it, Little-Eagle Sanpati, that I was there when you fell on my back in terror."
And in Little-Eagle Sanpati's heart was a great gladness that Jattayu had had his desire. Nor did Jattayu, nor anyone in all the bird-world, know the reason why Little-Eagle Sanpati from that day forward remained the home-stay eagle who could not fly.
It was because in protecting Big-Brother Jattayu whom he loved, from the rays of the sun, poor Little-Eagle Sanpati's wings had all been scorched away.