तथा तत्कृतवानग्निरभ्यनुज्ञाय शार्ङ्गकान्। ददाह खाण्डवं दावं समिद्धो जनमेजय
Thus, having received permission from the Sharngakas, Agni acted accordingly and, blazing, burned the Khandava forest, O Janamejaya.
मन्दपालोऽञपि कौरव्यं चिन्तयामास पुत्रकान्। उक्त्वाऽपि च स तिग्मांशुं नैव शर्माधिगच्छति
Mandapala, too, O descendant of Kuru, began to worry about his sons; even after speaking to the radiant one, he found no peace.
स तप्यमानः पुत्रार्थे लपितामिदमब्रवीत्। कथं नु शक्ताः शरणे लपिते मम पुत्रकाः
Tormented for the sake of his sons, he spoke these words to Lapita: 'How will my sons, who are in your care, be able to survive?'
वर्धमाने हुतवहे वाते चाशु प्रवायति। असमर्था विमोक्षाय भविष्यन्ति ममात्मजाः
As the fire grows and the wind blows swiftly, my sons will be unable to escape and will not survive.
कथं त्वशक्ता त्राणाय माता तेषां तपस्विनी। भविष्यति हि शोकार्ता पुत्रत्राणमपश्यती
How will their ascetic mother, distressed and unable to see a way to protect her sons, be powerless to save them?
कथमुड्डीयनेऽशक्तान्पतने च ममात्मजान्। सन्तप्यमाना बहुधा वाशमाना प्रधावती
How, in flight or in falling, will my sons, suffering in many ways, be able to escape as their mother cries out and runs?
जरितारिः कथं पुत्रः सारिसृक्कः कथं च मे। स्तम्बमित्रः कथं द्रोणः कथं सा च तपस्विनी
How will Jaritari, my son, how will Sarisrikka, how will Stambamitra, how will Drona, and how will their ascetic mother fare?
लालप्यमानं तमृषइं मन्दपालं तथा वने। लपिता प्रत्युवाचेदं सासूयमिव भारत
As Mandapala lamented thus in the forest, Lapita replied to him, O Bharata, with a touch of resentment.
न ते पुत्रेष्ववेक्षाऽस्ति यानृषीनुक्तवानसि। तेजस्विनो वीर्यवन्तो न तेषां ज्वलनाद्भयम्
You show no concern for your sons, though you have spoken to the sages; they are powerful and valiant, and have no fear of the fire.
त्वयाऽग्नौ ते परीताश्च स्वयं हि मम सन्निधौ। श्रुतं तथा चेति ज्वलनेन महात्मना
They have been protected by you in the fire, and I am present with them; this has been heard from the great soul, the blazing one.
पलो न तां वाचमुक्त्वा मिथ्या करिष्यति। न्धुकृत्ये न तेन ते स्वस्थ मानसम्
Mandapala will not act falsely after speaking those words; by his deed, your mind should be at ease.
तामेव तु ममामित्रां चिन्तयन्परितप्यसे। ध्रुवं मयि न ते स्नेहो यथा तपयं पुराऽभवत्
You are troubled, thinking only of my enemies; surely, you do not love me as you once did.
नहि पक्षवता न्याय्यं निः हेन सुहृज्जने। पीड्यमान उपद्रष्टुं शक्तेना मा कथंचन
It is not proper for one with wings to abandon a friend in distress; one who is able should never neglect the suffering.
गच्छ त्वं जरितामेव यदर्थं परितप्यसे। चरिष्याम्यहमप्येका यथा पुरुषाश्रिता
Go to Jarita, for whom you are troubled; I too will live alone, as women rely on men.
नाहमेवं चरे लोके यथा त्वमभिमन्यसे। अपत्यहेतोर्विचरे तच्च कृच्छ्रगतं मम
I do not act in the world as you imagine; I wander for the sake of my children, and it is difficult for me.
भूतं हित्वा च भाव्यर्थे योऽवलम्बेत्स मन्दधीः। अवमन्येत तं लोको यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु
He who abandons what is present for what is yet to come is foolish; the world will scorn him—do as you wish.
एष हि प्रज्वलन्नग्निर्लेलिहानी महीरुहान्। आविग्ने हृदि सन्तापं जनयत्यशिवं मम
This fire, blazing and licking the trees, brings distress and misfortune to my troubled heart.
भर्तुर्हि वाक्यं सा श्रुत्वा लपिता दुःखिताऽभवत्। सान्त्वयामास च पुनः पति पतिपरायणा
Hearing her husband's words, Lapita became sorrowful; yet, devoted to her husband, she again sought to console him.
तस्माद्देशादतिक्रान्ते ज्वलने जरिता पुनः। जगाम पुत्रकानेन जरिता पुत्रगृद्धिनी
Having crossed beyond that region, Jaritā, scorched by fire, again went forth, longing for her sons.
सा तान्कुशलिनः सर्वान्विमुक्ताञ्जातवेदसः। रोरूयमाणान्ददृशे वने पुत्रान्निरामयान्
She saw all her sons in the forest, unharmed and freed from the flames, crying out but healthy.
अश्रूणि मुमुचे तेषां दर्शनात्सा पुनःपुनः। `न श्रद्धेयं ततस्तेषांर्शनं वै पुनःपुनः
At the sight of them, she shed tears again and again; yet their repeated lament seemed unbelievable to her.
इति मत्वाऽब्रवीद्वाकजरिता पुत्रगृद्धिनी।' एकाकशश्च पुत्रांस्तन्त्र्शमानान्वपद्यत
Thinking thus, Jaritā, yearning for her sons, spoke these words, and alone approached her sons, trembling.
जरिता तु परिष्वज्युत्रस्नेहाच्चुचुम्ब ह
Jaritā, out of maternal affection, embraced and kissed her sons.
ततोऽभ्यगच्छत्सहसमन्दपालोऽपि भारत। अथ ते सर्व एवैनं भ्यनन्दंस्तदा सुताः
Then Mandapāla also arrived swiftly, O Bhārata; and at that moment, all his sons rejoiced at his coming.
गुरुत्वान्मन्दपालस्तपसश्च विशेषतः। अभिवादामहे सर्वे तपक्षाः प्रसादतः
Because of Mandapāla's seniority and especially his asceticism, all the ascetics respectfully greeted him.
एवमुक्तवतां तेषां तनन्द्य महातपाः। परिष्वज्य ततो मू उपाघ्राय च बलकान्। पुत्रान्स्वयं समाहूयतः प्रोवाच गौतमः
Having spoken thus, the great ascetic, delighted, embraced and smelled his sons, and Gautama himself called his sons and spoke.
लालप्यमानमेकैकंरितां च पुनःपुनः। न चैवोचुस्तदा किंतमृषिं साध्वसाधु वा
As each child was fondled again and again, neither did they say anything to the sage, whether good or bad.
ज्येष्ठः सुतस्ते कत कतमस्तस्य चानुजः। मध्यमः कतमश्चैव यान्कतमश्च ते
Which one is your eldest son, which is his younger, which is the middle one, and which among them is yours?
एवं ब्रुवन्तं दुःखाकं मा न प्रतिभाषसे। कृतवानस्मि हव्यानैव शान्तिमितो लभे। `एवमुक्त्वा तु तां मन्दपालस्तदाऽस्पृशत्
Why do you not answer, though you are sorrowful and speak thus? I have performed the offerings and thereby attained peace; having said this, Mandapāla touched her.
किं नु ज्येष्ठेन ते किमनन्तरजेन ते। किं वा मध्यमजातेन किं कनिष्ठेन वा पुनः
What is there for you in the eldest, or in the next-born, or in the middle-born, or again in the youngest?