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Pancharatra: Sharngakas escaped fire due to the boon Mandapala got from Agni.
Janamejaya said.
O Brāhman, tell me quickly for what reason the fire did not burn the Śārṅgakas when he had arrived in that burning forest.
I did not burn Aśvasena, the Dānava, and Maya; O Brahman, the reason for this has been stated, but the reason for the Śārṅgakas has not been mentioned.
O Brahman, this is indeed a wonderful thing—the indestructibility of the Śārṅgas. Please describe, in the conflict with fire, how they were not destroyed.
Vaiśampāyana said.
O Bhārata, I will tell you everything, just as it happened, about why the fire did not burn the Śārṅgakas when he arrived.
Among those who know dharma, the foremost ascetic of firm vows was the great sage known as the learned Mandapala.
O king, he followed the path of the celibate sages, devoted to self-study, delighting in dharma, ascetic, and self-controlled.
Having completed his austerities and given up his body, he, O Bhārata, went to the world of the ancestors, but there he did not receive the fruit (of his actions).
He saw that the worlds attained by austerity were fruitless, and so he asked the celestials who stood near Dharmarāja.
For what reason have these worlds, which are mine and acquired by my austerity, been obtained? What is it that I have not done there, for which this is the fruit of action?
There, I shall do that for which this has been undertaken. O gods, tell me the fruit of this penance.
The gods said.
Hear how humans are born as debtors to Brahman: by rites, by celibacy, and by progeny—there is no doubt about this.
All that is removed by sacrifice, austerity, and sons. You are an ascetic and a performer of sacrifice, but you have no offspring.
These worlds of yours are filled for the purpose of creation. Beget progeny, and then you shall enjoy the eternal worlds.
O sage, a son is called 'Punnāma' because he delivers his father from the hell named Punnāma. Therefore, O best of the twice-born, strive to have children.
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having heard that, Mandapala considered the words of the dwellers of heaven and thought, "Where indeed might there quickly be abundant offspring?"
Thinking thus, he approached the birds with many offspring; becoming the Śārṅga bird, he went to Jaritā, the Śārṅgikā.
He begot four sons in her, all knowers of Brahman. Leaving them there, he went to Lapitā. The sage, along with the mother, left the young sons, who were still in the egg, in the forest.
O Bhārata, after the departure of the greatly fortunate one, Jaritā, filled with affection for her child, thought deeply about Lapitā.
By him, both the abandoned and those sages who should not be abandoned, as well as the unborn beings in the forest, were not abandoned; nor did the distressed Jaritā in Khāṇḍava abandon her sons, O king. And she, overcome by affection, raised these children by her own conduct.
Then the sage saw Agni approaching to burn the Khandava forest; Mandapala was wandering there in the forest together with Lapita.
Having understood his resolve and his sons, the Brāhmaṇa sage praised Agni (Jātavedas). Out of fear, he entrusted his sons to the mighty protector of the world.
Mandapāla said.
O Agni, you are the mouth of all the gods and the conveyor of offerings. You dwell hidden within all beings and move as the purifier.
The sages say you are one; they also say you are threefold. Again, having conceived you in eight forms, they made you the bearer of the sacrifice.
The supreme sages say that this universe was created by you; without you, O Fire-god, the entire world would not exist even for a moment.
After offering obeisance to you, Brāhmaṇas who have attained the state through their own actions proceed, along with their wives and sons, to the eternal realm.
O Agni, you are called the clouds in the sky, scattered with lightning. The years, which have emerged from you, burn all beings.
O Jātavedas, O great effulgent one, this entire creation is indeed yours. All actions, all that exists, both moving and unmoving, have been ordained by you alone.
You established the waters in the beginning; all this world exists in you; in you, both the offerings to gods and to ancestors are properly established.
O Agni, you alone are the fire, the creator, Bṛhaspati, the Aśvins, the Yamas, Mitra, Soma, and also Anila (the wind).
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus, when Mandapala praised him, Agni, pleased with the sage of immeasurable energy, O king, spoke to him with a delighted mind: "What do you wish me to do for you?"
Mandapala, folding his hands, said to Agni, "As you burn the Khandava forest, please spare my sons."
Thus, having promised, the revered Agni blazed up in Khāṇḍava at that time, desiring to consume it by fire.
