Though forsaken by their father in the forest of Khandava, Jarita, anxious
in her affection for them, could not forsake her offspring, those infant
Rishis encased in eggs. Moved by parental affection, she brought up these
children born of her, herself following the pursuits proper to her own
species. Some time after, the Rishi, in wandering over that forest in the
company of Lapita, saw Agni coming towards Khandava to burn it down. Then
the Brahmana Mandapala, knowing the intention of Agni and remembering also
that his children were all young moved by fear, gratified the god, of the
burning element, that regent of the universe, endued with great energy.
And he did this, desiring to put in a word for his unfledged offspring.
Addressing Agni, the Rishi said, 'Thou art, O Agni, the mouth of all the
worlds! Thou art the carrier of the sacrificial butter! O purifier (of all
sins), thou movest invisible with the frame of every creature! The learned
have spoken of thee as an One, and again as possessed of triple nature.
The wise perform their sacrifices before thee, taking thee as consisting
of eight (mouths). The great Rishis declare that this universe hath been
created by thee. O thou that feedest on sacrificial butter, without thee
this whole universe would be destroyed in a single day. Bowing to thee,
the Brahmanas, accompanied by their wives and children, go to eternal
regions won by them by help of their own deeds. O Agni, the learned
represent thee as the clouds in the heavens charged with lightning.
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