'
"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 in this or the other world as a co-wife and a
clandestine lover. There is nothing like these two that inflames the fire
of hostility and causes such anxiety. Even the auspicious and well-behaved
Arundhati, celebrated amongst all creatures, had been jealous of the
illustrious Vasishtha of great purity of mind and always devoted to the
good of his wife. Arundhati insulted even the wise Muni amongst the
(celestial) seven. In consequence of such insulting thoughts of hers, she
has become a little star, like fire mixed with smoke, sometimes visible
and sometimes invisible, like an omen portending no good (amongst a
constellation of seven bright stars representing the seven Rishis). I look
to thee for the sake of children. I never wronged thee, like Vasishtha who
never wronged his wife. Thou hast, therefore, by thy jealousy behaved
towards me like Arundhati of old towards Vasishtha. Men should never trust
women even if they be wives. Women, when they have become mothers, do not
much mind serving their husbands.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'After this, all his children came forward to
worship him.
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