“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Hearing those words of her sons Jarita
continued, ‘The little mouse that had come out of this hole was catched by a
hawk with his claws and carried away hence. Therefore, you 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 your duty, therefore, to escape yourself,
for, if you live you may obtain other children as good.’
“Their mother (Jarita) then
said, ‘O children, I myself saw the mighty hawk, that best of birds, swoop down
and fly away with the mouse from the hole. While it 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 to him, ‘O king of hawks, because you are
flying away with our enemy, the mouse, in your claws, may you, without a foe,
live in heaven with a golden body.’ Afterwards when that hawk devoured the
mouse, I came away, obtaining his leave. Therefore, O children, enter this hole
trustfully. You 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 has 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 has been
carried away by the hawk. Therefore, O children, you have nothing to fear; do
what I say.’
“The young ones again said, ‘We do not, O mother, say that you are
dispelling our fears with a false story. For whatever
is done by a person when his reason has been disturbed can scarcely be said to
be that person’s deliberate act. You have not been benefited by us, nor
do you know who we are. Why do you, therefore, strive to protect us at so much
cost to yourself? Who are we to you? You are young and beautiful, and capable
of seeking out your husband. Go to your husband. You shall obtain good children
again. Let us by entering the fire, attain to regions of happiness. If, however,
the fire consume us not, you may come back and obtain us again.’
“Vaishampaayana said, ‘The parent bird then, thus addressed by her
sons, left them in Khandava and quickly went to the spot where there was no
fire and there was safety. Then Agni quickly and with fierce flames approached
the spot where the sons of Mandapala were. The young birds saw the blazing fire
come towards them. Then Jaritaari, the eldest of the four, in the hearing of
Agni, began to speak.’”
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