I am fascinated by the smaller narratives scattered within the major plot line. The presentation is facilitated by the context that the entire tale is told by Vyasa’s son, Vaishampayana, to the Bharata king, Janamejaya, about his ancestors. For example, in part 1 chapter 13, “The Burning of the Khandava Forest,” there is a complete aside where immersion is broken and Janamejaya asks, amazed, how four young birds survived Agni’s inferno. Vaishampayana then goes on to explain the story:
A great seer named Mandapala wanted kids, so he became a sharngaka bird and had four sons with Jarita. Afterward, he abandoned his family for another female, Lapita. Because he worshipped Agni, Agni granted him a boon. He requested his sons be spared. Mandapala was highly anxious. Lapita reproaches him, saying that he’s not mourning his sons, but rather his original mate. After the fire, Jarita and Mandapala both return to their sons and rejoice that they are alive. However, the family shuns Mandapala, cursing him for leaving them for Lapita. Mandala laments, “Jealousy really is a dreadful thing … And when once a woman has sons, she neglects her wifely duties.” Then, they made up and lived happily ever after in another country.
The story of Mandapala is abruptly over, and the main plot returns. Yet, after reading it, the reader pauses to think. What are we to make of this? Is this the guilty conscience of a cheating husband discretely woven into the fabric of the text? Or is it foreshadowing the relationship between Subhadra and Draupadi? I don’t know yet—I have more questions than I have answers.
(Written after reading “Part I: The Book of the Beginning”)