SECTION CCXXXIII
(Khandava-daha Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Hearing those words of
her sons Jarita continued, 'The little mouse that had come out of this hole was
seized by a hawk with his claws and carried away hence. Therefore, ye may
fearlessly enter this hole now.' The young ones replied, 'We are not by any
means certain of that mouse having been taken away by the hawk. There may be
other mice living here. From them we have every fear. Whereas it is doubtful
whether fire will at all approach us here. Already we see an adverse wind
blowing the flames away. If we enter the hole, death is certain at the hands of
the dwellers in the hole. But if we remain where we are, death is uncertain. O
mother, a position in which death is uncertain is better than that in which it
is certain. It is thy duty, therefore, to escape thyself, for, if thou livest
thou mayest obtain other children as good.'
"Their mother then said, 'Ye children, I
myself saw the mighty hawk, that best of birds, swoop down and fly away with
the mouse from the hole. And while he was flying away swiftly, I followed him
behind and pronounced blessing on him for his having taken away the mouse from
the hole. I said unto him. 'O king of hawks, because thou art flying away with
our enemy, the mouse, in thy claws, mayest thou, without a foe, live in heaven
with a golden body.' Afterwards when that hawk devoured the mouse, I came away,
obtaining his leave. Therefore, ye children, enter this hole trustfully. Ye
have nothing to fear. The mouse that was its inmate was seized and taken away
by the hawk in my sight.' The young ones again said, 'O mother, we do not by
any means know that the mouse hath been carried away by the hawk. We cannot
enter this hole in the ground without being certain of the fact.' Their mother
said, 'I know to a certainty that the mouse hath been carried away by the hawk.
Therefore, ye children, ye have nothing to fear; do what I say.' The young ones
again said, 'We do not, O mother, say that thou art dispelling our fears with a
false story. For whatever is done by a person when his reason hath been
disturbed can scarcely be said to be that person's deliberate act. Thou hast
not been benefited by us, nor dost thou know who we are. Why dost thou,
therefore, strive to protect us at so much cost to thyself? Who are we to thee?
Thou art young and handsome, and capable of seeking out thy husband. Go unto thy
husband. Thou shalt obtain good children again. Let us by entering the fire
attain to regions of felicity. If, however, the fire consume us not, thou
mayest come back and obtain us again.'
"Vaisampayana said, 'The parent bird then,
thus addressed by her sons, left them in Khandava and hastily went to the spot
where there was no fire and there was safety. Then Agni in haste and with
fierce flames approached the spot where the sons of Mandapala were. The young
birds saw the blazing fire come towards them. Then Jaritari, the eldest of the
four, in the hearing of Agni, began to speak.'"
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