nectar-like stream of animal fat, became filled with joy. Gratified greatly, Agni derived much happiness.
"And it so happened that the slayer of Madhu suddenly beheld an Asura of the name of Maya escaping from the abode of Takshaka. Agni having Vayu for his car-driver, assuming a body with matted locks on head, and roaring like the clouds, pursued the Asura, desirous of consuming him. Beholding the Asura. Vasudeva stood with his weapon upraised, ready to smite him down, seeing the discus uplifted and Agni pursuing from behind to burn him, Maya said.-'Run to me. O Arjuna. and protect ine!' Hearing his aff righted voice Arjuna said 'Fear not f'! That voice of Arjuna, O Bharata seemed to give Maya his life. As the merciful son of Pritha said unto Maya that there was nothing to fear, he of the Dasarha race no longer desired to slay Maya who was the brother of Mamuchi, and Agni also burned him not,"
Vaisampayana continued.-Protected from Indra by Krishna and Partha. Agni, gifted with great intelligence, burned that forest for five and ten days. And while the forest burned Agni spared only six of its dwellers, viz., Aswasena, Maya, and four birds called Samngakas."
Thus ends the two hundred and thirtieth section in the Khandavadaba Parva of the Adi Parva.
SECTION CCXXXI
(Khandava-daha Parva continued )
Janmejaya said, 'O Brahmana, tell me why and when that forest burnt in that way, Agni consumed not the birds called Sarngakas? Thou hast. O Brahmana, recited (to us) the cause of Aswasena and the Danava Maya not having been consumed. But thou hast not as yet said what the cause was of the escape of the Saingakas? The escape of those birds, O Brahmana, appeareth to me to be wonderful. Tell us why they were not destroyed in that dreadful conflagration ?'
Vaisampayana said, "O slayer of all foes, I shall tell thee all as to why Agni did not burn up those birds during conflagration. There was, O king, a great Rishi known by the name of Mandapala, conversant with all the shastras, of rigid vows, devoted to asceticism, and the foremost of all virtuous persons. Following in the wake of Rishis that had drawn up their virile fluid, that ascetic, O monarch, with every sense under complete control, devoted himself to study and virtue. Having reached the opposite shores of asceticism, O Bharata, he left his human form and went to the region of the Pitris. But going thither he failed to obtain the expected) fruit of his acts. He asked the celestials that
