Having performed an act that pleased Lord Rudra, King Shvetaki stood before the great god, who said, “O foremost of kings, I am satisfied by what you have done here. Yet know this, O scorcher of foes: officiating at sacrifices is prescribed for Brahmanas, not for me. Therefore, I shall not myself serve as your priest today. But my own eminent portion on earth, the illustrious Brahmana Durvasa, renowned among men, will officiate for you. By my command, O mighty one, prepare all the sacrificial materials you require.” Hearing Rudra’s words, Shvetaki returned to his city and diligently gathered all the necessary materials for the sacrifice. Once everything was ready, he approached Rudra again, bowing with joined palms, and said, “O great god, by your grace, may my consecration take place tomorrow. All my materials and implements are assembled.” Pleased, Rudra summoned the sage Durvasa and instructed him, “O best of Brahmanas, officiate at the sacrifice for this king at my command.” Durvasa replied with reverent assent, “So be it.” Thus, King Shvetaki held the grand sacrificial session at the proper time, as prescribed by tradition, with great generosity and abundant gifts. When the sacrifice was completed, Durvasa permitted the officiating priests to depart. All those who had been initiated, the powerful assembly members, and Shvetaki himself returned to the city, where he was honored by noble Brahmins, praised by bards, and welcomed joyfully by the people. Having performed this mighty act, the royal sage Shvetaki, after a long time, ascended to heaven, praised by all. At his sacrifice, the fire consumed the offerings for twelve years, accompanied by all the officiating priests and assembly members. Through a continuous stream of clarified butter, the single-minded rite satisfied the sacred fire completely. Yet, after this long period, the fire no longer wished to accept offerings from anyone else. Its color faded, and it lost its former brilliance. A change overcame the divine Fire: deprived of energy, weariness overtook him. Realizing his own exhaustion, the fire-god Agni went to the holy abode of Brahma, the revered Lord of Creation. Seated before Brahma, Agni spoke, “O Lord, supreme satisfaction has been given to me by Shvetaki. But now I am overcome by a severe distaste I cannot dispel; I am deprived of energy and strength, O Lord of the world. By your grace, I wish to regain my own steady nature.” Hearing this, the blessed creator Brahma smiled gently and said, “For twelve years you have consumed clarified butter as your offering. That is enough, O illustrious one; therefore, weariness has come upon you. Do not be troubled, O Fire; you will return to your own nature. I will remove your distaste, as I promise. Long ago, by the command of the gods, you burned to ashes the dreadful Khandava forest, the abode of their enemies. There, all manner of creatures dwell; by consuming their fat, you will be satisfied and restored to your own nature. Go quickly to burn it, and you will be freed from your exhaustion.” Hearing these words from the Lord of Creation, Agni, filled with renewed energy, rushed at utmost speed to the Khandava forest. Arriving there, he blazed forth suddenly, fanned by the wind and burning with great anger. Seeing the forest set aflame, all its inhabitants strove with all their might to save themselves and extinguish the fire. Elephants gathered water with their trunks, hurrying to pour it on the flames by the hundreds and thousands. The many-headed serpents, filled with wrath, released streams of water from their heads near the fire. Other creatures, too, used every means and weapon at their disposal to subdue the blaze. Despite Agni’s repeated efforts, the fire in Khandava was extinguished seven times by the combined efforts of the forest’s denizens. Frustrated and weary, the Fire-god, filled with anger and despair, returned to Brahma and reported all that had transpired. After pondering for a moment, the Blessed Lord said, “I have discerned a way for you, O sinless one, to burn the forest. Be patient for a while, and then you shall consume it. At that time, you will have two allies: Nara and Narayana. With their help, O Fire-god, you will burn the Khandava forest.” Agni replied, “So be it.” Knowing that Nara and Narayana had now appeared on earth, and remembering the words of the self-born Lord about the destined time, the king of fires went again to Brahma. Brahma then said to him, “Now, as you watch, O slayer of foes, you shall burn the Khandava forest today, in the presence of the lord of Sachi.” Thus prepared and assured by the Grandsire, Agni awaited the destined moment when, aided by the divine Nara and Narayana, he would fulfill his task and restore his strength.