Jarita

Jarita, a female Sharngaka bird, lives in Khandava forest with her four young sons. When the forest catches fire, the fledglings cannot fly and Jarita sees no way to carry them to safety. She thinks of covering them with her body and dying with them. The sons urge her to escape instead, saying that their lineage can continue if she survives. Jarita points out a nearby rat hole and tells them the rat was carried off by a hawk, but the young birds fear there may still be danger inside. They continue to question her account. At last Jarita leaves for a place beyond the fire, while the four remain in the forest.

As the flames reach them, the four sons speak to Agni and ask him for protection. They praise the fire god, who remembers a promise made earlier to their father Mandapala and spares them. After the fire has passed, Jarita hurries back. She finds all four sons safe, weeps and embraces them one by one.

Mandapala arrives, but his sons do not greet him. Jarita tells him to return to Lapita, the woman he had followed when he left their family. Mandapala argues with her, and his sons eventually come forward to greet him. He reassures them that Agni had promised to protect them, then leaves the region with Jarita. The episode ends with the family reunited after Jarita’s return and confrontation.