The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (Translator)

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"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed both by Dasarha and Arjuna, the
illustrious god then put forth his most energetic form, and prepared to
consume the forest. Surrounding it on all sides with his seven flames, he
began to consume the forest of Khandava, exhibiting his all-consuming form
like that at the end of the Yuga (cycle). And, O bull of Bharata's race,
surrounding that forest and catching it from all sides with a roar like
that of the clouds, Agni made every creature within it tremble. And, O
Bharata, that burning forest then looked resplendent like the king of
mountains, Meru, blazing with the rays of the sun fallen thereupon.'"

SECTION CCXXVIII

(Khandava-daha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then those foremost of car-warriors (Krishna and
Arjuna), riding in their cars and placing themselves on opposite sides of
that forest, began a great slaughter, on all sides, of the creatures
dwelling in Khandava. At whatever point any of the creatures residing in
Khandava could be seen attempting to escape, thither rushed those mighty
heroes (to prevent its flight). Indeed those two excellent cars seemed to
be but one, and the two warriors also therein but one individual. And
while the forest was burning, hundreds and thousands of living creatures,
uttering frightful yells, began to run about in all directions. Some had
particular limbs burnt, some were scorched with excessive heat, and some
came out, and some ran about from fear. And some clasping their children
and some their parents and brothers, died calmly without, from excess of
affection, being able to abandon these that were dear to them. And many
there were who biting their nether lips rose upwards and soon fell
whirling into the blazing element below. And some were seen to roll on the
ground with wings, eyes, and feet scorched and burnt. These creatures were
all seen to perish there almost soon enough. The tanks and ponds within
that forest, heated by the fire around, began to boil; the fishes and the
tortoises in them were all seen to perish. During that great slaughter of
living creatures in that forest, the burning bodies of various animals
looked as if fire itself had assumed many forms. The birds that took wings
to escape from that conflagration were pierced by Arjuna with his shafts,
and cut into pieces, they fell down into the burning element below.
Pierced all over with Arjuna's shafts, the birds dropped down into the
burning forest, uttering loud cries. The denizens of the forest, struck
with those shafts, began to roar and yell. The clamour they raised was
like unto the frightful uproar heard during the churning of the ocean (in
days of yore). The mighty flames of the blazing fire reaching the
firmament, caused great anxiety to the celestials themselves. Then all the
illustrious dwellers in heaven went in a body unto him of a hundred
sacrifices and thousand eyes, viz., their chief, that grinder of Asuras.
Approaching Indra, the celestial said, 'Why, O lord of immortals, doth
Agni burn these creatures below? Hath the time come for the destruction of
the world?'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words of the gods, and himself
beholding what Agni was doing, the slayer of Vritra set out for the
protection of the forest of Khandava. And Vasava, the chief of the
celestials soon covering the sky with masses of clouds of every kind began
to shower upon the burning forest. Those masses of clouds by hundreds and
thousands, commanded by Indra began to pour rain upon Khandava in showers
thick as the flag-staffs of battle-cars. But the showers were all dried up
in the sky itself by the heat of the fire and could not, therefore, reach
the fire at all! Then the slayer of Namuchi, getting angry with Agni,
collected huge masses of clouds and caused them to yield a heavy downpour.
Then with the flames contending with those heavy showers, and with masses
of clouds overhead, that forest, filled with smoke and flashes of
lightning, became terrible to behold.'"

SECTION CCXXIX

(Khandava-daha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then Vibhatsu, the son of Pandu, invoking his
excellent weapons, prevented that shower of rain by Indra, by means of a
shower of his own weapons. And Arjuna of immeasurable soul soon covered
the forest of Khandava with innumerable arrows like the moon covering the
atmosphere with a thick fog. When the sky above that forest was thus
covered with the arrows of Arjuna no living creature could then escape
from below. And it so happened that while that forest was burning,
Takshaka, the chief of the Nagas, was not there, having gone at that time
to the field of Kurukshetra. But Aswasena, the mighty son of Takshaka, was
there. He made great efforts to escape from that fire; but confined by
Arjuna's shafts he succeeded not in finding a way. It was then that his
mother, the daughter of a snake, determined to save him by swallowing him
first. His mother first swallowed his head and then was swallowing his
tail. And desirous of saving her son, the sea-snake rose (up from the
earth) while still employed in swallowing her son's tail. But Arjuna as
soon as he beheld her escaping, severed her head from her body by means of
a sharp and keen-edged arrow. Indra saw all this, and desiring to save his
friend's son, the wielder of the thunderbolt, by raising a violent wind,
deprived Arjuna of consciousness. During those few moments, Aswasena
succeeded in effecting his escape. Beholding that manifestation of the
power of illusion, and deceived by that snake, Arjuna was much enraged. He
forthwith cut every animal seeking to escape by the skies, into two, three,
or more pieces. And Vibhatsu in anger, and Agni, and Vasudeva also, cursed
the snake that had escaped so deceitfully, saying, 'Never shalt thou be
famous!' And Jishnu remembering the deception practised upon him, became
angry, and covering the firmament with a cloud of arrows, sought to fight
with him of a thousand eyes. The chief of the celestials also, seeing
Arjuna in anger, sought to fight with him, and hurled his own fierce
weapons, covering the wide expanse of the firmament. Then the winds,
making a loud roar and agitating all the oceans, brought together masses
of clouds in the sky, charged with torrents of rain. Those masses of
clouds began to vomit thunder and terrible flashes of lightning charged
with the thunderclap. Then Arjuna possessing a knowledge of means, hurled
the excellent weapon called Vayavya with proper mantras to dispel those
clouds. With that weapon the energy and force of Indra's thunderbolt and
of those clouds were destroyed. And the torrents of rain with which those
clouds were charged were all dried up, and the lightning that played
amongst them was also destroyed. Within a moment the sky was cleared of
dust and darkness, and a delicious, cool breeze began to blow and the disc
of the sun resumed its normal state. Then the eater of clarified butter
(Agni), glad because none could baffle him, assumed various forms, and
sprinkled over with the fat exuded by the bodies of creatures, blazed
forth with all his flames, filling the universe with his roar. Then
numerous birds of the Garuda tribe bearing excellent feathers, beholding
that the forest was protected by Krishna and Arjuna, descended filled with
pride, from the upper skies, desirous of striking those heroes with their
thunderlike wings, beaks and claws. Innumerable Nagas also, with faces
emitting fire descending from high, approached Arjuna, vomiting the most
virulent poison all the while. Beholding them approach, Arjuna cut them
into pieces by means of arrows steeped in the fire of his own wrath. Then
those birds and snakes, deprived of life, fell into the burning element
below. And there came also, desirous of battle, innumerable Asuras with
Gandharvas and Yakshas and Rakshasas and Nagas sending forth terrific
yells. Armed with machines vomiting from their throats (mouths) iron
balls and bullets, and catapults for propelling huge stones, and rockets,
they approached to strike Krishna and Partha, their energy and strength
increased by wrath. But though they rained a perfect shower of weapons,
Vibhatsu, addressing them reproachfully, struck off their heads with his
own sharp arrows. That slayer of foes, Krishna, also, endued with great
energy, made a great slaughter of the Daitya and the Danava with his
discus. Many Asuras of immeasurable might, pierced with Krishna's arrows
and smitten with the force of his discus, became motionless like waifs and
strays stranded on the bank by the violence of the waves. Then Sakra the
lord of the celestials, riding on his white elephant, rushed at those
heroes, and taking up his thunderbolt which could never go in vain, hurled
it with great force. And the slayer of Asuras said unto the gods, 'These
two are slain.' Beholding the fierce thunderbolt about to be hurled
by their chief, the celestials all took up their respective weapons. Yama,
O king, took up the death-dealing mace, and Kuvera his spiked club, and
Varuna his noose and beautiful missile. And Skanda (Kartikeya) took up his
long lance and stood motionless like the mountain of Meru. The Aswins
stood there with resplendent plants in their hands. Dhatri stood, bow in
hand, and Jaya with a thick club. Tvashtri of great strength took up in
wrath, a huge mountain and Surya stood with a bright dart, and Mrityu with
a battle-axe. Aryaman stalked about with a terrible bludgeon furnished
with sharp spikes, and Mitra stood there with a discus sharp as a razor.
And, O monarch, Pusha and Bhaga and Savitri, in wrath, rushed at Krishna
and Partha with bows and scimitars in hand. And Rudras and the Vasus, the
mighty Maruts and the Viswedevas and the Sadhyas, all resplendent with
their own energy,--these and many other celestials, armed with various
weapons rushed against those exalted of men, Krishna and Partha, for
smiting them down. Then were seen in that great conflict wonderful
portents all around robbing every creature of his sense, and resembling
those that appeared at the time of the universal dissolution. But Arjuna
and Krishna, fearless and invincible in battle, beholding Sakra and the
other celestials prepared for fight, calmly waited, bows in hands. Skilled
in battle, those heroes in wrath assailed the advancing host of celestials
with their own thunderlike arrows. The celestials repeatedly routed by
Krishna and Arjuna, at last left the field of battle for fear and sought
the protection of Indra. The Munis who were witnessing the battle from the
skies, beholding the celestials defeated by Madhava and Arjuna, were
filled with wonder. Sakra also repeatedly witnessing their prowess in
battle, became exceedingly gratified, and once more rushed to the assault.
The chastiser of Paka then caused a heavy shower of stones, desiring to
ascertain the prowess of Arjuna who was able to draw the bow even with his
left hand. Arjuna, in great wrath, dispelled with his arrows that thick
shower. Then he of a hundred sacrifices beholding that shower baffled,
once more caused a thicker shower of stones. But the son of the chastiser
of Paka (viz., Arjuna) gratified his father by baffling that shower also
with his swift arrows. Then Sakra, desirous of smiting down the son of
Pandu, tore up with his hands a large peak from Mandara, with tall trees
on it, and hurled it against him. But Arjuna divided that mountain-peak
into a thousand pieces by his swift-going and fire-mouthed arrows. The
fragments of that mountain, in falling through the skies, looked as if the
sun and the moon and the planets, displaced from their positions fell down
on earth. That huge peak fell down upon that forest and by its fall killed
numerous living creatures that dwelt in Khandava.'"

SECTION CCXXX

(Khandava-daha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then the inhabitants of the forest of Khandava, the
Danavas and Rakshasas and Nagas and wolves and bears and other wild
animals, and elephants with rent temples, and tigers, and lions with manes
and deer and buffaloes by hundreds, and birds, and various other creatures,
frightened at the falling stones and extremely anxious, began to fly in
all directions. They saw the forest (burning all around) and Krishna and
Arjuna also ready with their weapons. Frightened at the terrible sounds
that were audible there those creatures lost their power of movement.
Beholding the forest burning in innumerable places and Krishna also ready
to smite them down with his weapons, they all set up a frightful roar.
With that terrible clamour as also with the roar of fire, the whole welkin
resounded, as it were, with the voice of portentous clouds. Kesava of dark
hue and mighty arms, in order to compass their destruction, hurled at them
his large and fierce discus resplendent with its own energy. The forest-
dwellers including the Danavas and the Rakshasas, afflicted by that weapon,
were cut in hundreds of pieces and fell unto the mouth of Agni. Mangled by
Krishna's discus, the Asuras were besmeared with blood and fat and looked
like evening clouds. And, O Bharata, he of the Vrishni race moved able
like death itself, slaying Pisachas and birds and Nagas and other
creatures by thousands. The discus itself, repeatedly hurled from the
hands of Krishna, that slayer of all foes, came back to his hands after
slaughtering numberless creatures. The face and form of Krishna that soul
of every created thing became fierce to behold while he was thus employed
in the slaughter of the Pisachas, Nagas and Rakshasas. No one among the
celestials, who had mustered there could vanquish in battle Krishna and
Arjuna. When the celestials saw that they could not protect that forest
from the might of Krishna and Arjuna by extinguishing that conflagration,
they retired from the scene. Then, O monarch, he of a hundred sacrifices
(Indra), beholding the immortals retreat, became filled with joy and
applauded Krishna and Arjuna. And when the celestials gave up the fight,
an incorporeal voice, deep and loud, addressing him of a hundred
sacrifices, said, 'Thy friend Takshaka, that chief of snakes, hath not
been slain! Before the conflagration commenced in Khandava he had
journeyed to Kurukshetra. Know from my words, O Vasava, that Vasudeva and
Arjuna are incapable of being vanquished in battle by any one! They are
Nara and Narayana--those gods of old heard of in heaven! Thou knowest what
their energy is and what their prowess. Invincible in battle, these best
of old Rishis are unconquerable by any one in all the worlds! They deserve
the most reverential worship of all the celestials and Asuras; of Yakshas
and Rakshasas and Gandharvas, of human beings and Kinnaras and Nagas.
Therefore, O Vasava, it behoveth thee to go hence with all the celestials.
The destruction of Khandava hath been ordained by Fate!' Then the chief of
the immortals, ascertaining those words to be true abandoned his wrath and
jealousy, and went back to heaven. The dwellers in heaven, O monarch,
beholding the illustrious Indra abandon the fight, followed him with all
their soldiers. Then those heroes, Vasudeva and Arjuna, when they saw the
chief of the celestials retreat accompanied by all the gods, set up a
leonine roar. And, O monarch, Kesava and Arjuna, after Indra had left the
scene, became exceedingly glad. Those heroes then fearlessly assisted at
the conflagration of the forest. Arjuna scattered the celestials like the
wind scattering the clouds, and slew with showers of his arrows,
numberless creatures that dwelt in Khandava. Cut off by Arjuna's arrows,
no one amongst the innumerable creatures could escape from the burning
forest. Far from fighting with him, none amongst even the strongest
creatures mustered there could look at Arjuna whose weapons were never
futile. Sometimes piercing hundred creatures with one shaft and sometimes
a single creature with hundred shafts, Arjuna moved about in his car. The
creatures themselves, deprived of life, began to fall into the mouth of
Agni (god of fire), struck down as it were by death itself. On the banks
of rivers or on uneven plains or on crematoriums, go where they did, the
creatures (dwelling in Khandava) found no ease, for wherever they sought
shelter there they were afflicted by the heat. And hosts of creatures
roared in pain, and elephants and deer and wolves set up cries of
affliction. At that sound the fishes of the Ganges and the sea, and the
various tribes of Vidyadharas dwelling in that forest all became
frightened. O thou of mighty arms, let alone battling with them, no one,
could even gaze at Arjuna and Janardana of dark hue. Hari slew with his
discus those Rakshasas and Danavas and Nagas that rushed at him in bands.
Of huge bodies, their heads and trunks were cut off by the swift motion of
the discus, and deprived of life they fell down into the blazing fire.
Gratified with large quantities of flesh, blood, and fat, the flames rose
up to a great height without a curling wreath of smoke. Hutasana (fire-
god) with blazing and coppery eyes, and flaming tongue and large mouth,
and the hair on the crown of his head all fiery, drinking, with the help
of Krishna and Arjuna, that 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 me!' Hearing his affrighted
voice Arjuna said, 'Fear not!' 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 Namuchi, 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 Sarngakas.'"

SECTION CCXXXI

(Khandava-daha Parva continued)

"Janamejaya 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 Sarngakas? 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 the 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 sat around the
king of the dead as to the cause of his treatment, saying, 'Why have these
regions become unattainable by me,--regions that I had thought had been
acquired by me by my ascetic devotions? Have I not performed those acts
whose fruits are these regions? Ye inhabitants of heaven, tell me why
these regions are shut against me! I will do that which will give me the
fruit of my ascetic penances.'

"The celestials answered, 'Hear, O Brahmana, of those acts and things on
account of which men are born debtors. Without doubt, it is for religious
rites, studies according to the ordinance, and progeny, that men are born
debtors. These debts are all discharged by sacrifices, asceticism, and
offspring. Thou art an ascetic and hast also performed sacrifices; but
thou hast no offspring. These regions are shut against thee only for want
of children. Beget children, therefore! Thou shalt then enjoy multifarious
regions of felicity. The Vedas declared that the son rescueth the father
from a hell called Put. Then, O best of Brahmanas, strive to beget
offspring.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Mandapala, having heard these words of the
dwellers in heaven, reflected how best he could obtain the largest number
of offspring within the shortest period of time. The Rishi, after
reflection, understood that of all creatures birds alone were blest with
fecundity. Assuming the form of a Sarngaka the Rishi had connection with a
female bird of the same species called by the name of Jarita. And he begat
upon her four sons who were all reciters of the Vedas. Leaving all those
sons of his with their mother in that forest, while they were still within
eggs, the ascetic went to (another wife called by the name of) Lapita. And,
O Bharata, when the exalted sage went away for the company of Lapita,
moved by affection for her offspring, Jarita became very thoughtful.
Though forsaken by their father in the forest of Khandava, Jarita, anxious
in her affection for them, could not forsake her offspring, those infant
Rishis encased in eggs. Moved by parental affection, she brought up these
children born of her, herself following the pursuits proper to her own
species. Some time after, the Rishi, in wandering over that forest in the
company of Lapita, saw Agni coming towards Khandava to burn it down. Then
the Brahmana Mandapala, knowing the intention of Agni and remembering also
that his children were all young moved by fear, gratified the god, of the
burning element, that regent of the universe, endued with great energy.
And he did this, desiring to put in a word for his unfledged offspring.
Addressing Agni, the Rishi said, 'Thou art, O Agni, the mouth of all the
worlds! Thou art the carrier of the sacrificial butter! O purifier (of all
sins), thou movest invisible with the frame of every creature! The learned
have spoken of thee as an One, and again as possessed of triple nature.
The wise perform their sacrifices before thee, taking thee as consisting
of eight (mouths). The great Rishis declare that this universe hath been
created by thee. O thou that feedest on sacrificial butter, without thee
this whole universe would be destroyed in a single day. Bowing to thee,
the Brahmanas, accompanied by their wives and children, go to eternal
regions won by them by help of their own deeds. O Agni, the learned
represent thee as the clouds in the heavens charged with lightning. O Agni,
the flames put forth by thee consume every creature. O thou of great
splendour, this universe hath been created by thee. The Vedas are thy word.
All creatures, mobile and immobile, depend upon thee. Water primarily
dependeth on thee, so also the whole of this universe. All offerings of
clarified butter and oblations of food to the pitris have been established
in thee. O god, thou art the consumer, and thou art the creator and thou
art Vrihaspati himself (in intelligence). Thou art the twin Aswins; thou
art Surya; thou art Soma; thou art Vayu.

"Vaisampayana continued, 'O monarch, thus praised by Mandapala, Agni was
gratified with that Rishi of immeasurable energy; and the god, well-
pleased, replied, 'What good can I do to thee?' Then Mandapala with joined
palms said unto the carrier of clarified butter, 'While thou burnest the
forest of Khandava, spare my children.' The illustrious bearer of
clarified butter replied, 'So be it.' It was, therefore, O monarch, that
he blazed not forth, while consuming the forest of Khandava, for the
destruction of Mandapala's children.'"

SECTION CCXXXII

(Khandava-daha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'When the fire blazed forth in the forest of Khandava,
the infant birds became very much distressed and afflicted. Filled with
anxiety, they saw not any means of escape. Their mother, the helpless
Jarita, knowing that they were too young to escape, was filled with sorrow
and wept aloud. And she said, 'Oh, the terrible, illuminating the whole
universe and burning the forest down, approacheth towards us, increasing
my woe. These infants with immature understanding, without feathers and
feet, and the sole refuge of our deceased ancestors, afflict me. Oh, this
fire approacheth, spreading fear all around, and licking with its tongue
the tallest trees. But my unfledged children are incapable of effecting
their escape. I myself am not capable of escaping, taking all these with
me. Nor am I capable of abandoning them, for my heart is distressed on
their account. Whom amongst my sons, shall I leave behind, and whom shall
I carry with me? What (act) should I do now that is consistent with duty?
What also do you, my infant sons, think? I do not, even by reflection, see
any way of escape for you. I shall even cover you with my wings and die
with you. Your cruel father left me some time before, saying, 'Upon this
Jaritari, because he is the eldest of my sons, will my race depend. My
second Sarisrikka will beget progeny for the expansion of my ancestors'
race. My third, Stamvamitra, will be devoted to asceticism, and my
youngest, Drona, will become the foremost of those acquainted with the
Vedas.' But how hath this terrible calamity overtaken us! Whom shall I
take with me? As I am deprived of judgment what should I do that is
consistent with duty? I do not see, by the exercise of my own judgment,
the escape of my children from the fire!'