SECTION 232
(Khandava-Daha Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'When the fire blazed forth in the forest
of Khandava, the infant birds became very much distressed and afflicted. Filled
with anxiety, they saw not any means of escape. Their mother, the helpless
Jarita, knowing that they were too young to escape was filled with sorrow and
wept aloud. And she said, 'Oh, the terrible conflagration, illuminating the
whole universe and burning the forest down, approacheth towards us, increasing
my woe. These infants with immature understanding, without feathers and feet,
and the sole refuge of our deceased ancestors, afflict me. Oh, this fire
approacheth, spreading fear all around, and licking with its tongue the tallest
trees. But my unfledged children are incapable of affecting their escape. I
myself am not capable of escaping, taking all these with me. Nor am I capable
of abandoning them, for my heart is distressed on their account. Whom amongst
my sons, shall I leave behind, and whom shall I carry with me? What act should
I do now that is consistent with duty? What also do you, my infant sons, think?
I do not, even by reflection, see any way of escape for you. I shall even cover
you with my wings and die with you. Your cruel father left me some time before,
saying, 'Upon this Jaritari, because he is the eldest of my sons, will my race
depend. My second Sarisrikka will beget progeny for the expansion of my
ancestors' race. My third, Stambamitra, will be devoted to asceticism, and my
youngest, Drona, will become the foremost of those acquainted with the Vedas.'
But how hath this terrible calamity overtaken us! Whom shall I take with me? As
I am deprived of judgment what should I do that is consistent with duty? I do
not see, by the exercise of my own judgment, the escape of my children from the
fire!'
"Vaisampayana said, 'Unto their mother indulging in these
lamentations, the infant ones said. 'O mother, relinquishing thy affection for
us, go thou to a place where there is no fire. If we are killed here, thou mayest
have other children born to thee. If thou, O mother be killed, we can have no
more children in our race. Reflecting upon both these calamities, the time hath
come for thee, O mother, to do that which is beneficial to our race. Do not be
influenced by affection for thy offspring, which promises to destroy both us
and thee. If thou savest thyself, our father, who is even desirous of winning
regions of felicity, may have his wishes gratified.'
"Hearing what the infants said. Jarita replied, 'There is a
hole here in the ground near to this tree, belonging to a mouse. Enter this
hole without loss of time. You shall have then no fear of fire. After ye have entered
it, I shall, ye children, cover its mouth with dust. This is the only means of
escape that I see from the blazing fire. Then when the fire will be put out, I
shall return hither to remove the dust. Follow my advice if you are to escape
from the conflagration.'
"The infant birds replied, 'Without feathers we are but so
many balls of flesh. If we enter the hole, certain it is that the carnivorous
mouse will destroy us all. Beholding this danger before us, we cannot enter this
hole. Alas, we do not see any means by which we may escape from the fire or
from the mouse. We do not see how our father's act of procreation may be
prevented from becoming futile, and how also our mother may be saved. If we
enter the hole, the mouse will destroy us; we remain where we are and the
sky-ranging fire will destroy us. Reflecting upon both the calamities, a death
by fire is preferable to a death by being eaten up. If we are devoured by the
mouse within the hole, that death is certainly ignoble, whereas the destruction
of the body in fire is approved by the wise.'"
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