“Unto the Rishi Mandapala thus weeping in the forest, Lapita, O Bharata, thus replied, under the influence of jealousy, ’Thou need not worry for thy children who, as thou hast assured me, are all Rishis endued with energy and prowess!  They can have no fear from fire.  Didst thou 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.  Thou hast no anxiety, nor is thy heart inclined towards benefiting friends.  It is only by thinking of her—­my rival (Jarita) that thou art so distracted!  Certain it is that the love thou bearest to me is not equal to what thou hadst for her at first.  He that hath 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 thou to Jarita, for whom thy 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 thou conceivest.  It is only for the sake of progeny that I am here.  And even those that I have are in danger.  He who casteth off what he hath for the sake of what he may acquire, is a wicked person.  The world disregardeth and insulteth him. (Therefore, go I must).  As for thyself thou art free to do what thou choosest.  This blazing fire that licketh up the trees causeth sorrow in my anxious heart and raiseth therein evil presentiments.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Meanwhile, after the fire had left the spot where the Sarngakas dwelt, Jarita, much attached to her children, hastily came thither 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.  And she embraced, one by one, all her weeping children.  Just at that time, O Bharata, the 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 thy first born, and who the next after him?  And who is the third, and who the youngest?  I am speaking unto thee woefully; why dost thou not reply to me?  I left thee, it is true, but I was not happy where I was.’

“Jarita then said, ’What hast thou 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 thou didst go of old, beholding me deficient in everything!’ Mandapala replied, ’As regards females, there is nothing so destructive of their happiness whether