“Drona said, ’O lord of the universe, growing in strength and remaining within their bodies, thou causest the food that living creatures eat to be digested.  Everything therefore, is established in thee.  O Sukra, O thou from whose mouth the Vedas have sprung, it is thou who assumests the form of the sun, and sucking up the waters of the earth and every liquid juice that the earth yields, givest them back in time in the form of rain and causest everything to grow!  From thee, O Sukra, are these plants and creepers with green foliage!  From thee have sprung these tanks and pools, and the great ocean also that is ever blessed!  O thou of fierce rays, this our (human) body dependeth on Varuna (the water-god)!  We are unable to bear thy heat.  Be thou, therefore, our auspicious protector!  O, destroy us not!  O thou of copper-hued eyes, O thou of red neck, O thou whose path is marked by a black colour, save us by going along any remote route, as indeed, the ocean saveth the house on its banks!’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’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, ’Thou art a Rishi, O Drona!  For what thou hast 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 thy 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 thy hymn.  Blest be thou, O Brahmana!’

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

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

SECTION CCXXXV

(Khandava-daha Parva continued)

“Vaisampayana said, ’O thou of Kuru’s race, 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?’