Shuka

(“parrot”) In Hindu mythology, a sage
whose life story upholds the traditional
doctrine of the four stages of life (ashramas). Shuka was the son of the sage
Vyasa, born when Vyasa had a seminal
emission upon seeing a celestial nymph
(apsara) in the form of a parrot. From
boyhood Shuka was interested only in
spiritual life and had the firm desire
never to marry, but despite intensive
spiritual study he could not find contentment. He eventually decided to visit
the sage-king Janaka, who advised
Shuka that he could rightly consider
renunciation only after having married
and raised a family. Shuka returned
home to his father and lived the householder’s life; later in life he took
up renunciation again and became
perfectly realized.