“Janamejaya said, ‘O Brahmana (Rishi Vaishampaayana), tell me why and when that forest burnt in
that way, Agni did not consumed the birds called Shaarngakaas? You have, O
Brahmana, recited (to us) the cause
of Ashwasena and the Danava Maya not having been consumed. But you have not as
yet said what the cause was of the escape of the Shaarngakaas? The escape of those
birds, O Brahmana, appears to me to be wonderful. Tell us why they were not
destroyed in that dreadful fire.’
“Vaishampaayana said, ‘O slayer of all enemies (Janamejaya), I shall tell you all as to why Agni did
not burn up those birds during the conflagration. There was, O king (Janamejaya), a Maharishi known by the name of Mandapaala,
knowledgeable with all the Shaastras, of rigid vows (Vrata in Sanskrit), devoted to Tapas, and the foremost of all
persons of Dharma. O monarch (Janamejaya), following in the wake of Rishis that had drawn up their manly fluid,
that Tapaswi, with every sense under complete control, devoted himself to study
and Dharma. Having reached the opposite shores of Tapas, O Bharata (Janamejaya), he (Mandapaala) left his human form and went to the region of Pitris (Pitruloka in
Sanskrit). But going there, he failed to
obtain the (expected) fruit of his
acts. He asked Devas that sat around the Dharmaraja (Yama) as to the cause of his treatment, saying,
‘Why have these regions become unattainable by me -- regions that I had thought
had been acquired by me by my Tapas acts? Have I not performed those acts whose
fruits are these regions? O inhabitants of heaven, tell me why these regions
are shut against me! I will do that which will give me the fruit of my Tapas.’
“Devas answered, ‘Hear, O Brahmana (Mandapaala), of those acts and things on account of which men are born debtors.
Without doubt, it is for rites of Dharma, studies
according to the Shastras, and offspring, that men are born debtors. These
debts are all discharged by yagnas, Tapas, and offspring. You are a Tapaswi
and have also performed yagnas; but you have no offspring. These regions are
shut against you only for want of children. Father children, therefore! You
shall then enjoy diverse regions of happiness. Vedas
declared that the son rescues the father from a hell called Put. Then, O
best of Brahmanas (Mandapaala),
strive to father offspring.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Mandapala, having heard these words of the
dwellers in heaven, thought how best he could obtain the largest number of
offspring within the shortest period of time. The Rishi, after his thought,
understood that of all creatures birds alone were blessed with ability to
reproduce in abundance. Assuming the form of a Shaarngaka, the Rishi (Mandapaala) had connection with a female bird of the
same species called by the name of Jarita. He fathered upon her four sons who
were all reciters of Vedas. Leaving all those sons of his with their mother in
that forest, while they were still within eggs, the Muni went to (another
wife called by the name of) Lapita. O
Bharata (Janamejaya), when the noble
sage went away for the company of Lapita, moved by affection for her offspring,
Jarita became very thoughtful. Though forsaken by their father in the forest of
Khandava, Jarita, anxious in her affection for them, could not forsake her
offspring, those infant Rishis encased in eggs. Moved by parental affection,
she brought up these children born of her, herself following the activities proper
to her own species.
“Sometime after, the Rishi (Mandapala), in wandering over that forest in the company of Lapita, saw Agni
coming towards Khandava to burn it down. Then the Brahmana Mandapala, knowing
the intention of Agni and remembering also that his children were all young
moved by fear, pleased the Deva, of the burning element, that regent of the
universe (Lokapaala in Sanskrit), filled
with great energy. He did this, desiring to put in a word for his inexperienced
offspring.
“Addressing Agni, the Rishi (Mandapala) said, ‘You are, O Agni, the mouth of all the worlds! You are the
carrier of the sacrificial butter! O purifier (of all sins), you move invisible with the frame of
every creature! The learned have spoken of you as a One, and again as possessed
of triple nature. The wise perform their yagnas before you, taking you as
consisting of eight (mouths). The Maharishis
declare that this universe has been created by you. O you that feed on
sacrificial butter, without you this whole universe would be destroyed in a
single day. Bowing to you, the Brahmanas, accompanied by their wives and
children, go to eternal regions won by them by help of their own deeds. O Agni,
the learned represent you as the clouds in the heavens charged with lightning.
O Agni, the flames put forth by you consume every creature. O you of great
splendour, this universe has been created by you. The Vedas are your word. All
creatures, mobile and immobile, depend upon you. Water primarily depends on you,
so also the whole of this universe. All offerings of clarified butter and
oblations of food to the Pitris have been established in you. O Deva, you are
the consumer, and you are the creator and you are (Deva Guru) Brihaspati himself (in intelligence). You are the twin Ashwins (Ashwini
Devas); you are Surya; you are Soma; you
are Vaayu.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘O monarch (Janamejaya), thus praised by Mandapaala, Agni was pleased
with that Rishi of immeasurable energy; and the Deva (Agni), well-pleased, replied, ‘What good can I
do to you?’ Then Mandapala with joined palms said to the carrier of clarified
butter (Havyavaahana in Sanskrit), ‘While
you burn the forest of Khandava, spare my children.’ The illustrious bearer of
clarified butter (Havyavaahana in Sanskrit) replied, ‘So be it.’ It was, therefore, O monarch (Janamejaya), that he blazed not forth, while consuming
the forest of Khandava, for the destruction of Mandapala’s children.’”
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