A
love story from the epic Mahabharata.
Lapita
was the daughter of a sage and was brought up in a hermitage. Though she was
brought up in the confines of an ashram, she had a favourite spot in the
forest, which was a small heaven for her. It was lush green bower, with sweet
fragrant flowers and humming bees all around. At this place, once she had
offered water to two thirsty Kinnars, who in return had offered her a boon. The
simple Lapita did not know what to ask for. So she asked instead, “What can you
offer me?”
Kinnars
were mythical creatures, and they said that all they could offer was a life
like theirs. Lapita wondered what kind of a life would that be? “A life of love
and that of a lover and none other. There was no place for a third in their
love, not even offspring’s, but a life of everlasting love.” Said the Kinnars.
Lapita wondered if that was life at all, and the Kinnars assured her that it
sure was life. Lapita opted for a life of everlasting love and since then was
waiting for her lover in this bower of hers.
Sitting
in the swing in her bower, she would wait for her lover, for she had faith in
her boon and love. Some days were days of longing and some days the loneliness
pained. But she knew that love was not far and soon, her lover would come for
her.
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| Painting by Raja Ravi Varma |
One
spring morning, she found a handsome rishi, the most handsome rishi she had
ever seen, standing in front of her bower. He was Mandapal, who had once
embraced the life of celibacy to seek knowledge. His father had suggested that
he get married and live the life of a householder, to ensure salvation of his
and his ancestors. While he had not quite heeded his father’s wishes and that
of the society, he was also told that there was a girl Jarita, who was waiting
for him and would marry none but him. The thought of such a person waiting for
someone giving up on normal life intrigued the seeker of knowledge and thus had
decided to seek her out and so he was on his way to the Khandavprastha, the
forest where Jarita dwelled.
Lapita
wondered what made Mandapal seek Jarita suddenly. Mandapal replied that he had
realised that there was no life without a wife and offspring’s and that he had
to attain completion. Lapita laughed and wondered what kind of a life would
that be when more than two is a crowd? Lapita espoused the life of love which
had space for none between two lovers. Mandapal was unsure if that was life and
wondered who this woman was. Lapita assured him that she too was a mortal and
knew that such life did exist and was more enjoyable than what Mandapal was
seeking.
Mandapal couldn't help but exclaim that while Lapita sure was beautiful, the same couldn't be said of her thoughts. “I have never come across a plant which didn't like flowers”, and with these words Mandapal left the bower of Lapita. But
Lapita’s eyes had found whom she was seeking and knew that this was her love.
She called Mandapal and said that he could go seek a life that he wanted, but
she had found hers. She would love none but him and wait for him. From, then
onwards, her eyes would seek and wait for none but Mandapal. Mandapal saw the
pained and sad face of Lapita and moved on.
Jarita
was ecstatic to see Mandapal. Her happiness knew no bounds when she saw him and
her prayers answered. The two got married and time flew fast. The marriage
yielded children, as desired by them and the society and soon Jarita got busy
with life, family and children. Mandapal was beginning to feel a void in his
life as he found Jarita always busy with their four children. Mandapal’s love
was seeking a partner and he never found Jarita with him, even when the two
were alone, as she was always preoccupied by the thoughts of her children and
their needs and wants. Mandapal’s heart felt lonely. Jarita realised it and
assured him that on the full moon night, she would meet her as before.
That
night Mandapal met Jarita with garland with the choicest of fragrant flowers.
But just when he was about to garland her, Jarita rushed to attend to one of
their children, who she thought had called for her. Mandapal’s unfulfilled love
burnt him inside and he left home. He soon found himself at the bower of Lapita
who was waiting for Mandapal ever since he had left the bower many years back.
Lapita had vowed that her partner would be none other than the handsome rishi
Mandapal and she welcomed him. Mandapal garlanded Lapita and lived a life of
love and joy, till.....
One
day, Mandapal noticed Lord Hutashan, the god of fire heading towards
Khandavprastha in what seemed to be a bid to consume the forest. This disturbed
Mandapal, as his cottage was in the same forest. Lapita noticed the disturbed
face of Mandapal and asked him the cause of his concern. When Mandapal told her
that he was worried about the safety of his children, Lapita was saddened to
see, that Mandapal’s heart still ached for someone other than her. When
Mandapal decided to pray to Lord Hutashan, she got angry, but agreed to join
Mandapal in his entreaties to the lord of fire.
Mandapal
was relieved when Lord Hutashan agreed to spare the single hut of Mandapal, but
Lapita was disturbed to learn that Mandapal had not erased the memories of his
first love. She could not reconcile with the fact that Mandapal’s heart still
ached for Jarita, who he had wanted to be spared. Mandapal was saddened at
Lapita’s jealousy and wondered as to what kind of a heart could even think that
a man’s heart would not ache for his children and his wife who had done no harm
to him. Mandapal, realised that this was not the life he had wanted as this had
no place for anyone, not even ones loved ones, and he decided to leave Lapita
and return to the mother of his children. Mandapal heard Lapita say, “If you
don’t return to me, then I will tear this garland and curse the objects of your
love and attention.”
Jarita
received Mandapal, but the joy was missing. She had welcomed the father of her
children but this was not the man who she had loved. Mandapal had returned for
her children and not for her, she said. But Mandapal assured her that he had
returned to his home and his life of love. Today he had understood the true
meaning of love and his love had found its true meaning. His life was nothing
without both Jarita and their children. He had got lost in seeking pleasure and
not love. But now he had found love.
Mandapal
drew Jarita closer to him, but just then Lapita sprang in front of them from
nowhere. She had the same garland which Mandapal had given to her when he had
come to her bower. Her eyes gleaming had Mandapal worried. At last she said, “Don’t
worry Mandapal, I will do nothing to you as I accept defeat. Defeat not from
you or from your wife, who sure is more beautiful than me. But defeat from
those who have made your wife more beautiful than me. The precious gems which
adorn her, your children.” Mandapal pleaded to Lapita not to curse his
children, as they were most precious to him than any wealth of the world and so
was Jarita who had enabled the wealth to him.
Lapita
stared at Mandapal’s sad and helpless face.
She held the torn garland in her
hand, and with sadness on her face, said, “No, rishi Mandapal. This garland
that you had given me, will now adorn your precious gems. I have not come to
curse, but to see, what I have lost. They, who have defeated me, will adorn
this garland.” So saying, Lapita garlanded the children of Mandapal and left.....
.......left
for her bower, Lapita still alone, but waiting for none.
Here's wishing all my readers a very Happy Valentine's Day!!
This is an abridged
version of the English translation by Pradip Bhattacharya, of a Bengali story
written by Subodh Ghosh.
But
could find thee not
