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.'"
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