The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1 ADI PARVA SECTION CCXXXV (Khandava-daha Parva continued)

 The Mahabharata of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1

ADI PARVA

 SECTION CCXXXV

(Khandava-daha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'O thou of Kuru's race, the Rishi Mandapala became

very anxious about his children, although he had spoken of them to the

god of fierce rays. Indeed, his mind was not in peace. Distressed on

account of his sons, he addressed Lapita (his second wife with whom he

then was), saying, 'O Lapita, as my children are incapable of the power

of moving, how are they? When the fire will grow in strength and the wind

begin to blow violently, my children will scarcely be able to save

themselves. How will their mother be able to rescue them? That innocent

woman will be afflicted with great sorrow when she will find herself

unable to save her offspring. Oh, how will she compose herself, uttering

various lamentations on account of my children who are all incapable of

taking wing or rising up into the air. Oh, how is Jaritari, my son, and

how is Sarisrikka, and how is Stamvamitra, and how is Drona, and how also

is their helpless mother?'

"Unto the Rishi Mandapala thus weeping in the forest, Lapita, O Bharata,

thus replied, under the influence of jealousy, 'Thou need not worry for

thy children who, as thou hast assured me, are all Rishis endued with

energy and prowess! They can have no fear from fire. Didst thou not speak

to Agni in my presence, in their behalf? Has not the illustrious deity

promised to save them? One of the regents of the universe as Agni is, he

will never falsify his speech. Thou hast no anxiety, nor is thy heart

inclined towards benefiting friends. It is only by thinking of her--my

rival (Jarita) that thou art so distracted! Certain it is that the love

thou bearest to me is not equal to what thou hadst for her at first. He

that hath two parties dividing his attention, can easily behold one of

those suffer all sorts of pangs; but he should not disregard the party

that is next to his heart. Then go thou to Jarita, for whom thy heart is

sorrowing! As for myself, I shall henceforth wander alone, as a fit

reward for my having attached myself to a wicked person.'

"Hearing these words, Mandapala replied, 'I do not wander over the earth

with such intentions as thou conceivest. It is only for the sake of

progeny that I am here. And even those that I have are in danger. He who

casteth off what he hath for the sake of what he may acquire, is a wicked

person. The world disregardeth and insulteth him. (Therefore, go I must).

As for thyself thou art free to do what thou choosest. This blazing fire

that licketh up the trees causeth sorrow in my anxious heart and raiseth

therein evil presentiments.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Meanwhile, after the fire had left the spot

where the Sarngakas dwelt, Jarita, much attached to her children, hastily

came thither to see how they were. She found that all of them had escaped

from the fire and were perfectly well. Beholding their mother, they began

to weep, though safe and sound. She too shed tears upon beholding them

alive. And she embraced, one by one, all her weeping children. Just at

that time, O Bharata, the Rishi Mandapala arrived there. But none of his

sons expressed joy, upon beholding him. The Rishi, however, began to

speak to them one after another and unto Jarita also, repeatedly. But

neither his sons nor Jarita spoke anything well or ill unto him in

return.'

"Mandapala then said, 'Who amongst these is thy first born, and who the

next after him? And who is the third, and who the youngest? I am speaking

unto thee woefully; why dost thou not reply to me? I left thee, it is

true, but I was not happy where I was.'

"Jarita then said, 'What hast thou to do with the eldest of these, and

what with him that is next? And what with the third and what with the

youngest? Go now unto that Lapita of sweet smiles and endued with youth,

unto whom thou didst go of old, beholding me deficient in everything!'

Mandapala replied, 'As regards females, there is nothing so destructive

of their happiness whether in this or the other world as a co-wife and a

clandestine lover. There is nothing like these two that, inflames the

fire of hostility and causes such anxiety. Even the auspicious and

well-behaved Arundhati, celebrated amongst all creatures, had been

jealous of the illustrious Vasishtha of great purity of mind and always

devoted to the good of his wife. Arundhati insulted even the wise Muni

amongst the (celestial) seven. In consequence of such insulting thoughts

of hers, she has become a little star, like fire mixed with smoke,

sometimes visible and sometimes invisible, like an omen portending no

good (amongst a constellation of seven bright stars representing the

seven Rishis). I look to thee for the sake of children. I never wronged

thee, like Vasishtha who never wronged his wife. Thou hast, therefore, by

thy jealousy behaved towards me like Arundhati of old towards Vasishtha.

Men should never trust women even if they be wives. Women, when they have

become mothers, do not much mind serving their husbands.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'After this, all his children came forward to

worship him. And he also began to speak kindly towards them all, giving

them every assurance.'"

SECTION CCXXXVI

(Khandava-daha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Mandapala then addressed his children, saying, 'I

had spoken unto Agni for the safety of you all. The illustrious deity had

assured me that he would grant my wish. At those words of Agni, and

knowing the virtuous disposition of your mother, as also the great energy

that is in yourselves, I came not here earlier. Therefore, ye sons, do

not harbour in your hearts any resentment towards me. Ye are all Rishis

acquainted with the Vedas. Even Agni knoweth you well.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having given such assurances unto his sons, the

Brahmana Mandapala took with him his wife and sons, and leaving that

region, went away to some other country.

"It was thus that the illustrious god of fierce rays, having grown in

strength consumed the forest of Khandava with the help of Krishna and

Arjuna, for the good of the world. And Agni having drunk several rivers

of fat and marrow, became highly gratified, and showed himself to Arjuna.

Then Purandara, surrounded by the Maruts, descended from the firmament

and addressing Partha and Kesava said, 'Ye have achieved a feat that a

celestial even could not. Ask ye each a boon that is not obtainable by

any man. I have been gratified with you.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Partha asked from Indra all his weapons.

At this Sakra of great splendour, having fixed the time for giving them,

said, 'When the illustrious Madhava becomes pleased with thee, then, O

son of Pandu, I will give thee all my weapons! O prince of Kuru's race, I

shall know when the time cometh. Even for thy austere asceticism I will

give thee all my weapons of fire and all my Vayavya weapons, and thou

also wilt accept them all of me.' Then Vasudeva asked that his friendship

with Arjuna might be eternal. The chief of the celestials granted unto

the intelligent Krishna the boon he desired. And having granted these

boons unto Krishna and Arjuna, the lord of the Maruts, accompanied by the

celestials, ascended to heaven, having also spoken to Hutasana (one whose

food is sacrificial butter). Agni also, having burnt that forest with its

animals and birds for five and ten days, became gratified and ceased to

burn. Having eaten flesh in abundance and drunk fat and blood, he became

highly gratified, and addressing Achyuta and Arjuna said, 'I have been

gratified by you two tigers among men. At my command, ye heroes, ye shall

be competent to go wheresoever ye choose!' Thus addressed by the

illustrious Agni, Arjuna and Vasudeva and the Danava Maya also--these

three,--having wandered a little at last sat themselves down on the

delightful banks of a river.'"

END OF ADI PARVA