Sarangopakhyana: The story of Saranga birds

There was a great Rishi known by the name of Mandapala, conversant with all the shastras, of rigid vows, devoted to asceticism, and the foremost of all virtuous persons. Following in the wake of Rishis that had drawn up their virile fluid, that ascetic, with every sense under complete control, devoted himself to study and virtue. Having reached the opposite shores of asceticism, he left his human form and went to the region of the Pitris. But going there he failed to obtain the fruit of his acts. He asked the celestials that sat around the king of the dead 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 ascetic devotions? Have I not performed those acts whose fruits are these regions? You inhabitants of heaven, tell me why these regions are shut against me! I will do that which will give me the fruit of my ascetic penances.”

The celestials answered, “Hear, O Brahmana, of those acts and things on account of which men are born debtors. Without doubt, it is for religious rites, studies according to the ordinance, and progeny, that men are born debtors. These debts are all discharged by sacrifices, asceticism, and offspring. You are an ascetic and has also performed sacrifices; but you has no offspring. These regions are shut against you only for want of children. Beget children, therefore! You shall then enjoy multifarious regions of felicity. The Vedas declared that the son rescues the father from a hell called Put. Then, O best of Brahmanas, strive to beget offspring.”

Mandapala, having heard these words of the dwellers in heaven, reflected how best he could obtain the largest number of offspring within the shortest period of time. The Rishi, after reflection, understood that of all creatures birds alone were blest with fecundity. Assuming the form of a Sarngaka the Rishi had connection with a female bird of the same species called by the name of Jarita. He begat upon her four sons who were all reciters of the Vedas. Leaving all those sons of his with their mother in that forest, while they were still within eggs, the ascetic went to another wife called by the name of Lapita. When the exalted 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 pursuits proper to her own species. Some time after, the Rishi, 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, gratified the god, of the burning element, that regent of the universe, endued with great energy. And he did this, desiring to put in a word for his unfledged offspring. Addressing Agni, the Rishi 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 an One, and again as possessed of triple nature. The wise perform their sacrifices before you, taking you as consisting of eight (mouths). The great Rishis 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 god, you are the consumer, and you are the creator and you are Brihaspati himself (in intelligence). You are the twin Aswins; you are Surya; you are Soma; you are Vayu.

Thus praised by Mandapala, Agni was gratified with that Rishi of immeasurable energy; and the god, well-pleased, replied, “What good can I do to you?” Then Mandapala with joined palms said unto the carrier of clarified butter, “While you burn the forest of Khandava, spare my children.” The illustrious bearer of clarified butter replied, “So be it.” It was, therefore, that he blazed not forth, while consuming the forest of Khandava, for the destruction of Mandapala's children.

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. She said, “Oh, the terrible conflagration, illuminating the whole universe and burning the forest down, approaches 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 approaches, spreading fear all around, and licking with its tongue the tallest trees. But my unfledged children are incapable of effecting 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  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, Stamvamitra, will be devoted to asceticism, and my youngest, Drona, will become the foremost of those acquainted with the Vedas.” But how has 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!”

Unto their mother indulging in these lamentations, the infant ones said. “O mother, relinquishing your affection for us, go you to a place where there is no fire. If we are killed here, you may have other children born to you. If you, O mother, be killed, we can have no more children in our race. Reflecting upon both these calamities, the time has come for you, O mother, to do that which is beneficial to our race. Do not be influenced by affection for your offspring, which promises to destroy both us and you. If you save yourself, 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 you have entered it, I shall, you 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 here 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.”

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, 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 then said, “You children, I myself saw the mighty hawk, that best of birds, swoop down and fly away with the mouse from the hole. 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 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, you 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, you 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 has not been benefited by us, nor dost you know who we are. Why dost you, therefore, strive to protect us at so much cost to yourself? Who are we to you? You are young and handsome, and capable of seeking out your husband. Go unto your husband. You shall obtain good children again. Let us by entering the fire attain to regions of felicity. If, however, the fire consume us not, you may come back and obtain us again.”

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.

Jaritari 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 perplexed soul, who remains not awake, when the hour of death comes, feels the pangs of death and never attains salvation.”

The second brother Sarisrikka, said, “You are patient and intelligent. The time is come when our lives are threatened. Without doubt, one only amongst many become wise and brave.”

The third brother, Stamvamitra, 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, Drona said, “The cruel god of fire, with seven tongues and seven mouths quickly cometh towards our habitation, blazing forth in splendour and licking up everything in his path.”

Having addressed one another thus, the sons of Mandapala then each devotedly addressed an eulogistic hymn to Agni.

Jaritari said, “You are, O fire, the soul of air! You are the body of the Earth’s vegetation! O Sukra, 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.”

Sarisrikka said, “O smoke-bannered god, 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 save you. Therefore, O Agni, infants that we are protect us! O Agni, as we are distressed, protect us with that auspicious form you has and with those seven flames of thine! We seek protection at your hands. You alone, O Agni, are the giver of heat (in the universe). O lord, there is none else (save you) that giveth heat to the rays of the sun. O, protect us who are young and who are Rishis. O Havyavaha (carrier of sacrificial butter), be pleased to go hence by some other route.”

Stamvamitra 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 are 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 Havyavaha, again destroy them when the time cometh, swelling yourself forth! You are the productive cause of the whole universe, and you also are the essence in which the universe dissolve itself!”

Drona 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 Sukra, 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 Sukra, are these plants and creepers with green foliage! From you have sprung these tanks and pools, and the great ocean also that is ever blessed! O you of fierce rays, this our (human) body depends on Varuna (the water-god)! We are unable to bear your heat. Be you, therefore, our auspicious protector! O, destroy us not! O you of copper-hued eyes, O you of red neck, O you whose path is marked by a black colour, save us by going along any remote route, as indeed, the ocean saves the house on its banks!”

Thus addressed by Drona--that utterer of Brahma--Agni, well-pleased at what he heard, and remembering also the promise he had made to Mandapala, replied unto him, saying, “You are a Rishi, O Drona! For what you has said is Brahma (Vedic truth). I shall do your pleasure. Fear not! Indeed, 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. Blest be you, O Brahmana!”

Drona said, “O Sukra, these cats trouble us every day. O Hutasana; consume them with their friends and relatives.”

Then Agni did what the Sarngakas; asked him to do, telling them of his intentions. And, growing in strength, he began then to consume the forest of Khandava.

The Rishi Mandapala became very anxious about his children, although he had spoken of them to the god of fierce rays. Indeed, his mind was not in peace. Distressed on account of his sons, he addressed Lapita (his second wife with whom he then was), saying, “O Lapita, as my children are incapable of the power of moving, how are they? When the fire will grow in strength and the wind begin to blow violently, my children will scarcely be able to save themselves. How will their mother be able to rescue them? That innocent woman will be afflicted with great sorrow when she will find herself unable to save her offspring. Oh, how will she compose herself, uttering various lamentations on account of my children who are all incapable of taking wing or rising up into the air. Oh, how is Jaritari, my son, and how is Sarisrikka, and how is Stamvamitra, and how is Drona, and how also is their helpless mother?”

Unto the Rishi Mandapala thus weeping in the forest, Lapita, thus replied, under the influence of jealousy, “You need not worry for your children who, as you has assured me, are all Rishis endued with energy and prowess! They can have no fear from fire. Didst you not speak to Agni in my presence, in their behalf? Has not the illustrious deity promised to save them? One of the regents of the universe as Agni is, he will never falsify his speech. You has no anxiety, nor is your heart inclined towards benefiting friends. It is only by thinking of her—my rival (Jarita) that you are so distracted! Certain it is that the love you bears to me is not equal to what you had for her at first. He that has two parties dividing his attention, can easily behold one of those suffer all sorts of pangs; but he should not disregard the party that is next to his heart. Then go you to Jarita, for whom your heart is sorrowing! As for myself, I shall henceforth wander alone, as a fit reward for my having attached myself to a wicked person.”

Hearing these words, Mandapala replied, “I do not wander over the earth with such intentions as you conceive. It is only for the sake of progeny that I am here. And even those that I have are in danger. He who castes off what he has for the sake of what he may acquire, is a wicked person. The world disregards and insults him. (Therefore, go I must). As for yourself you are free to do what you choosest. This blazing fire that licks up the trees causes sorrow in my anxious heart and raises therein evil presentiments.”

Meanwhile, after the fire had left the spot where the Sarngakas dwelt, Jarita, much attached to her children, hastily came there to see how they were. She found that all of them had escaped from the fire and were perfectly well. Beholding their mother, they began to weep, though safe and sound. She too shed tears upon beholding them alive. She embraced, one by one, all her weeping children. Just at that time, Rishi Mandapala arrived there. But none of his sons expressed joy, upon beholding him. The Rishi, however, began to speak to them one after another and unto Jarita also, repeatedly. But neither his sons nor Jarita spoke anything well or ill unto him in return.

Mandapala then said, “Who amongst these is your first born, and who the next after him? And who is the third, and who the youngest? I am speaking unto you woefully; why do you not reply to me? I left you, it is true, but I was not happy where I was.”

Jarita then said, “What has you to do with the eldest of these, and what with him that is next? And what with the third and what with the youngest? Go now unto that Lapita of sweet smiles and endued with youth, unto whom you didst go of old, beholding me deficient in everything!”

Mandapala replied, “As regards females, there is nothing so destructive of their happiness whether in this or the other world as a co-wife and a clandestine lover. There is nothing like these two that, inflames the fire of hostility and causes such anxiety. Even the auspicious and well-behaved Arundhati, celebrated amongst all creatures, had been jealous of the illustrious Vasishtha of great purity of mind and always devoted to the good of his wife. Arundhati insulted even the wise Muni amongst the (celestial) seven. In consequence of such insulting thoughts of hers, she has become a little star, like fire mixed with smoke, sometimes visible and sometimes invisible, like an omen portending no good (amongst a constellation of seven bright stars representing the seven Rishis). I look to you for the sake of children. I never wronged you, like Vasishtha who never wronged his wife. You has, therefore, by your jealousy behaved towards me like Arundhati of old towards Vasishtha. Men should never trust women even if they be wives. Women, when they have become mothers, do not much mind serving their husbands.”

After this, all his children came forward to worship him. He also began to speak kindly towards them all, giving them every assurance.

Mandapala then addressed his children, saying, “I had spoken unto Agni for the safety of you all. The illustrious deity had assured me that he would grant my wish. At those words of Agni, and knowing the virtuous disposition of your mother, as also the great energy that is in yourselves, I came not here earlier. Therefore, you sons, do not harbour in your hearts any resentment towards me. You are all Rishis acquainted with the Vedas. Even Agni knows you well.”

Having given such assurances unto his sons, the Brahmana Mandapala took with him his wife and sons, and leaving that region, went away to some other country.