Four birds

Mahabharata Adiparva Khandavadahana parva section-237

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

King Janamejaya wonders at the escape of four tiny birds from the forest fire. Sage Vysampayana narrates the story of those four birds and of a rishi Mandapala.

Mandapala observed many austereties and on ascending to heaven, he was not allowed to Pitr loka (world for ancestors), because he didnt have progeny. So, Mandapala returns to earth, takes the form of a small bird of species sarangaka and has four sons (all of them reciters of veda) out of his bird-wife named Jarita. He left Jarita after she bore him sons, and married another by name lapita. When forest was on fire, He remembers his sons, and prays to Agni not to harm his children. Agni agrees.

When fire was approaching the nest, Jarita is afraid, and tells the sons to enter the rat-hole near the base of tree, so that she can cover the hole with dust. The four sons do not agree. The elder of the infant birds, Jaritari, say, "You do not know us, and you are not benefited by us, why do you want to protect us, fly away and seek your husband. If we survive, you can come to visit us".

Hearing this the mother-bird flies away.

Jaritari says, "When a person is awake to the reality of death, he is wise and is not afraid of death."

Second bird Sarisrikka says "you are brave in the moment of death, and intelligent. Very rarely a person can exhibit such qualities, one amongst a million can be brave and intelligent"

third bird stambamitra says "Eldest brother is called a protector. What can younger one do when elders cannot protect him"

Fourth bird Drona says "Agni comes quickly with seven tongues and seven mouths, consuming everything in its path"

Having talked to each other, the four little birds then pray to fire god Agni,

Jaritari says "You, O Agni, has Air as soul, body as earth, water as parent, and you are parent of water. Your flames are on every side"

Sarisrikka says "O Agni, our mother is not there, we know not our father, nobody to protect us, we seek protection at your hands. You are the giver of heat to universe and sun,please protect us"

Stambhmitra says "O Agni, You are creator and destroyer, sustainer of universe. Wise know you as one and many. Please protect us"

Drona says "O Agni, you stay inside the body and as Vaishwanara (fire that helps in digestion), you sustain the universe. Our bodies are made up of water (varuna) and we cannot bear your splendour, please protect us".

Agni being pleased with their knowledge and devotion, do not harm them and consumes entire forest except these four birds.

My Commentary :

The four birds are four vedas. They do not have mother and father, meaning that they are not written by human beings. They refuse to be hidden in a rat-hole and hide behind dust. 'Forest on fire' is symbolic of pralaya (final universal deluge with water and fire. During pralaya, Vedas (knowledge and eternal wisdom) will survive.

Hari Om

In Guruseva

Adiparva concludes