“Jaritaari said, ‘The person that is wise
remains wakeful in view of death. Accordingly, when the hour of death
approaches, he feels no pangs. But the person of confused soul, who remains not
awake, when the hour of death comes, feels the pangs of death and never attains
Moksha.’
“The second brother Saarisrikka, said, ‘You are patient and
intelligent. The time is come when our lives are threatened. Without doubt, one only among many becomes wise and brave.’
“The third brother, Stambamitra, said, ‘The
eldest brother is called the protector. It is the eldest brother that rescues (the younger ones)
from danger. If the eldest
himself fails to rescue them, what can the younger ones do?’
“The fourth and the youngest brother, Dronaa said, ‘The cruel god of
fire, with seven tongues and seven mouths quickly comes towards our habitation,
blazing forth in splendour and licking up everything in his path.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Having addressed one another thus, the sons
of Mandapala then each devotedly addressed a hymn of praise to Agni. Listen
now, O monarch (Janamejaya), to
those hymns as I recite them.’
“Jaritaari said, ‘You are, O Agni, the soul of air! You are the body of
the Earth’s vegetation! O Shukra, water is your parent as you are the parent of
water! O you of great energy, your flames, like the rays of the Sun, extend themselves
above, below, behind, and on each side.’
“Saarisrikka said, ‘O smoke-bannered Deva, our mother is not to be
seen, and we know not our father! Our feathers have not grown as yet. We have
none to protect us except you. Therefore, O Agni, infants that we are protect
us! O Agni, as we are distressed, protect us with that auspicious form you have
and with those seven flames of yours! We seek protection at your hands. You
alone, O Agni, are the giver of heat (in the universe). O lord, there is none else (expect you) that gives heat to the rays of the Sun. O, protect us who are young
and who are Rishis. O Havyavaaha (Agni),
be pleased to go hence by some other route.’
“Stambamitra said, ‘You alone, O Agni, are everything! This whole
universe is established in you! You sustain every creature, and you support the
universe! You are the carrier of the sacrificial butter, and you art the
excellent sacrificial butter itself! The wise know you to be one (as cause) and many (as effects)! Having created the three worlds, you, O
Havyavaaha, again destroy them when the time comes, swelling yourself forth! You
are the productive cause of the whole universe, and you also are the essence in
which the universe dissolves itself!’
“Dronaa said, ‘O lord of the universe, growing in strength and
remaining within their bodies, you cause the food that living creatures eat to
be digested. Everything therefore, is established in you. O Shukra, O you from
whose mouth the Vedas have sprung, it is you who assumes the form of the Sun,
and sucking up the waters of the earth and every liquid juice that the earth
yields, gives them back in time in the form of rain and causes everything to
grow! From you, O Shukra, are these plants and creepers with green leaves! From
you have sprung these tanks and pools, and the great ocean also that is ever
blessed! O you of fierce rays, this our (physical) body depends on Varuna! We are unable to bear your heat. You be,
therefore, our auspicious protector! O, destroy us not! O you of copper-coloured
eyes, O you of red neck, O you whose path is marked by a black colour (smoke), save us by going along any remote route,
as indeed, the ocean saves the house on its banks!’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by Dronaa -- that utterer of
Brahma -- Agni, well-pleased at what he heard, and remembering also the promise
he had made to Mandapala, replied to him, saying, ‘You are a Rishi, O Drona!
For what you have said is Brahma (Vedic truth). I shall do your pleasure. Fear not! Indeed, (Your father) Mandapala had spoken to me of you to the
effect that I should spare his sons, while consuming the forest. The words he
spoke and your speech also are entitled to great weight to me. Say what I am to
do. O best of Brahmanas, I have been greatly pleased with your hymn. Blessed be
you, O Brahmana!’
“Dronaa said, ‘O Shukra, these cats trouble us every day. O Hutaashana;
consume them with their friends and relatives.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Then Agni did what the Shaarngakaas; asked
him to do, telling them of his intentions. O Janamejaya, growing in strength,
he began then to consume the forest of Khandava.’”
No comments:
Post a Comment