Long ago, in the mighty kingdom of Sompur, near the sacred shores of Somnath, there ruled a wise and adventurous king named Vikramaditya. He was known not just for his courage in battle, but for his deep curiosity about the mysteries of the world. One question troubled him more than any other:

“How far does the ocean stretch? Is there a land beyond, or does it mark the edge of the world?”

The greatest sailors and astrologers of his court debated endlessly. Some believed that after many moons of sailing, one would fall off the edge of the world. Others thought there must be another land waiting across the sea. But no one knew for certain.

Determined to uncover the truth, King Vikramaditya turned to the keenest observers of nature—the birds and animals that had guided travelers for centuries.

The King’s Great Experiment

Vikramaditya gathered his finest messenger birds—swift falcons, wise owls, and carrier pigeons—creatures long used to deliver messages across his vast empire. These birds never lost their way, always returning home. But what if they were sent into the unknown?

The king released his fastest falcon, Garudraj, into the sky, bidding him to fly directly south over the endless blue waters. The royal court waited eagerly for his return. Days passed, but Garudraj did not come back.

Next, the king released a flock of trained pigeons, each carrying a silk ribbon tied to their legs. They, too, vanished beyond the horizon, never returning.

Finally, he sent his strongest eagle, Vayushakti, who had once flown across mountains and deserts without fail. But even he did not return.

The king realized something profound: there was no land for the birds to rest upon. If there were, they would have perched, regained their strength, and flown back. Their disappearance meant the ocean stretched endlessly in that direction.

Lessons from the Sailors and the Sea

The king then called upon his wisest sailors, men who had spent their lives studying the ways of the sea. They shared ancient navigation secrets, explaining how seafarers used stars, winds, and the behavior of birds to find their way.

• Stars like the Pole Star guided sailors north, remaining fixed in the sky.

• The sun’s position at noon helped determine distance and direction.

• Birds flying in flocks often meant land was nearby, as they never strayed too far from shore.

• Floating driftwood and seaweed gave clues about distant lands.

But if no birds returned, and no floating signs of land were seen, it meant the journey south had no end, only the vast emptiness of the sea.

The Birth of the Arrow Pillar

To mark this revelation, King Vikramaditya ordered the construction of a great pillar—a Baan Stambh (Arrow Pillar)—at the edge of the Somnath Temple. It was a message to all who came after:

“Beyond this point, there is no land. Only the great unknown lies ahead.”

For sailors and travelers, the Baan Stambh became a beacon, a symbol that heading south was not a journey towards another kingdom, but towards the edge of the known world. Many called it “The Pillar of the End of the Earth.”

As generations passed, seafarers who dared to sail south found nothing but endless waters leading to the great frozen lands of Antarctica—exactly as the king’s birds had foretold.

The wisdom of nature, the instincts of birds, and the knowledge of the sea had revealed the world’s hidden truth long before modern navigation existed.

Moral of the Story:

Nature has always been the greatest teacher. Birds, stars, and the sea itself have guided mankind for centuries. Those who observe and learn from them can uncover truths beyond imagination—just as King Vikramaditya did with his winged messengers and the legendary Arrow Pillar.