Chapter 233

January 4, 2011

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“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing those words of her sons Jarita continued,’The little mouse that had come out of this hole was seized by a hawkwith his claws and carried away hence. Therefore, ye may fearlessly enterthis hole now.’ The young ones replied, ‘We are not by any means certainof that mouse having been taken away by the hawk.

There may be other miceliving here. From them we have every fear. Whereas it is doubtful whetherfire will at all approach us here. Already we see an adverse wind blowingthe flames away. If we enter the hole, death is certain at the hands ofthe dwellers in the hole. But if we remain where we are, death isuncertain. O mother, a position in which death is uncertain is betterthan that in which it is certain. It is thy duty, therefore, to escapethyself, for, if thou livest thou mayest obtain other children as good.’

“Their mother then said, ‘Ye children, I myself saw the mighty hawk, thatbest of birds, swoop down and fly away with the mouse from the hole. Andwhile he was flying away swiftly, I followed him behind and pronouncedblessing on him for his having taken away the mouse from the hole. I saidunto him. ‘O king of hawks, because thou art flying away with our enemy,the mouse, in thy claws, mayest thou, without a foe, live in heaven witha golden body.’ Afterwards when that hawk devoured the mouse, I cameaway, obtaining his leave. Therefore, ye children, enter this holetrustfully. Ye have nothing to fear. The mouse that was its inmate wasseized and taken away by the hawk in my sight.’ The young ones againsaid, ‘O mother, we do not by any means know that the mouse hath beencarried away by the hawk. We cannot enter this hole in the ground withoutbeing certain of the fact.’ Their mother said, ‘I know to a certaintythat the mouse hath been carried away by the hawk. Therefore, yechildren, ye have nothing to fear; do what I say.’ The young ones againsaid, ‘We do not, O mother, say that thou art dispelling our fears with afalse story. For whatever is done by a person when his reason hath beendisturbed can scarcely be said to be that person’s deliberate act. Thouhast not been benefited by us, nor dost thou know who we are. Why dostthou, therefore, strive to protect us at so much cost to thyself? Who arewe to thee? Thou art young and handsome, and capable of seeking out thyhusband. Go unto thy husband. Thou shalt obtain good children again. Letus by entering the fire attain to regions of felicity. If, however, thefire consume us not, thou mayest come back and obtain us again.’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘The parent bird then, thus addressed by her sons,left them in Khandava and hastily went to the spot where there was nofire and there was safety. Then Agni in haste and with fierce flamesapproached the spot where the sons of Mandapala were. The young birds sawthe blazing fire come towards them. Then Jaritari, the eldest of thefour, in the hearing of Agni, began to speak.'”