त्वमन्नं प्राणिभिर्भुक्तमन्तर्भूतो जगत्पते। नित्यप्रवृद्धः पचसि त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्
You are the food eaten by living beings, O lord of the world, entering within. Ever growing, you cook; in you all is established.
सूर्यो भूत्वा रश्मिभिर्जातवेदो भूमेरम्भो भूमिजातान्रसांश्च। विश्वानादाय पुनरुत्सृज्य काले दृष्ट्वा वृष्ट्या भावयसीह शुक्र
Becoming the sun with rays, O knower of all births, you draw up the waters of the earth and the juices born of the earth; having taken all, you release them again in due time, and, seeing, you nourish here with rain, O bright one.
त्वत्त एताः पुनः शुक्र वीरुधो हरितच्छदाः। जायन्ते पुष्करिण्यश्च सुभद्रश्च महोदधिः
From you again, O bright one, these green-leaved plants are born; the lotus ponds and the auspicious great ocean too arise from you.
इदं वै सद्म तिग्मांशो वरुणस्य परायणम्। शिवस्त्राता भवास्माकं माऽस्मानद्य विनाशय
This indeed is the abode, O blazing one, the refuge of Varuṇa. Be our auspicious protector; do not destroy us today.
पिङ्गाक्ष लोहितग्रीव कृष्णवर्त्मन्हुताशन। परेण प्रेहि मुञ्चास्मान्सागरस्य गृहानिव
O tawny-eyed, red-necked, dark-path, consumer of offerings, go beyond and release us, as from the houses of the ocean.
एवमुक्तो जातवेदा द्रोणेन ब्रह्मवादिना। द्रोणमाह प्रतीतात्मा मन्दपालप्रतिज्ञया
Thus addressed, O knower of all births, by Droṇa, the speaker of Brahman, Agni replied to Droṇa, pleased in his heart by the vow of Maṇḍapāla.
ऋषिर्द्रोणस्त्वमसि वै ब्रह्मैतद्व्याहृतं ईप्सितं ते करिष्यामि न च ते
You are indeed the sage Droṇa; this Brahman has been spoken. I will do what you desire, and not—
मन्दपालेन वै यूयं मम पूर्वं निवेदिताः। वर्जयेः पुत्रकान्मह्यं दहन्दावमिति स्म ह
You were previously introduced to me by Maṇḍapāla, saying, 'Spare my sons when you burn the forest.'
तस्य तद्वचनं द्रोण त्वया यच्चेह भाषितम्। उभयं मे गरीयस्तु ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते। भृशं प्रीतोऽस्मि भद्रं ते ब्रह्मंस्तोत्रेण सत्तम
That word of his, O Droṇa, and what you have now spoken here—both are weighty for me. Tell me, what shall I do for you? I am greatly pleased; blessings to you, O best of Brahmins, for your hymn.
इमे मार्जारकाः शुक्र नित्यमुद्वेजयन्ति नः। एतान्कुरुष्व दग्धांस्त्वं हुताशन सबान्धवान्
These cats, O bright one, constantly trouble us; burn them, O consumer of offerings, along with their kin.
तथा तत्कृतवानग्निरभ्यनुज्ञाय शार्ङ्गकान्। ददाह खाण्डवं दावं समिद्धो जनमेजय
Thus, having received permission from the Sharngakas, Agni acted accordingly and, blazing, burned the Khandava forest, O Janamejaya.
मन्दपालोऽञपि कौरव्यं चिन्तयामास पुत्रकान्। उक्त्वाऽपि च स तिग्मांशुं नैव शर्माधिगच्छति
Mandapala, too, O descendant of Kuru, began to worry about his sons; even after speaking to the radiant one, he found no peace.
स तप्यमानः पुत्रार्थे लपितामिदमब्रवीत्। कथं नु शक्ताः शरणे लपिते मम पुत्रकाः
Tormented for the sake of his sons, he spoke these words to Lapita: 'How will my sons, who are in your care, be able to survive?'
वर्धमाने हुतवहे वाते चाशु प्रवायति। असमर्था विमोक्षाय भविष्यन्ति ममात्मजाः
As the fire grows and the wind blows swiftly, my sons will be unable to escape and will not survive.
कथं त्वशक्ता त्राणाय माता तेषां तपस्विनी। भविष्यति हि शोकार्ता पुत्रत्राणमपश्यती
How will their ascetic mother, distressed and unable to see a way to protect her sons, be powerless to save them?
कथमुड्डीयनेऽशक्तान्पतने च ममात्मजान्। सन्तप्यमाना बहुधा वाशमाना प्रधावती
How, in flight or in falling, will my sons, suffering in many ways, be able to escape as their mother cries out and runs?
जरितारिः कथं पुत्रः सारिसृक्कः कथं च मे। स्तम्बमित्रः कथं द्रोणः कथं सा च तपस्विनी
How will Jaritari, my son, how will Sarisrikka, how will Stambamitra, how will Drona, and how will their ascetic mother fare?
लालप्यमानं तमृषइं मन्दपालं तथा वने। लपिता प्रत्युवाचेदं सासूयमिव भारत
As Mandapala lamented thus in the forest, Lapita replied to him, O Bharata, with a touch of resentment.
न ते पुत्रेष्ववेक्षाऽस्ति यानृषीनुक्तवानसि। तेजस्विनो वीर्यवन्तो न तेषां ज्वलनाद्भयम्
You show no concern for your sons, though you have spoken to the sages; they are powerful and valiant, and have no fear of the fire.
त्वयाऽग्नौ ते परीताश्च स्वयं हि मम सन्निधौ। श्रुतं तथा चेति ज्वलनेन महात्मना
They have been protected by you in the fire, and I am present with them; this has been heard from the great soul, the blazing one.
पलो न तां वाचमुक्त्वा मिथ्या करिष्यति। न्धुकृत्ये न तेन ते स्वस्थ मानसम्
Mandapala will not act falsely after speaking those words; by his deed, your mind should be at ease.
तामेव तु ममामित्रां चिन्तयन्परितप्यसे। ध्रुवं मयि न ते स्नेहो यथा तपयं पुराऽभवत्
You are troubled, thinking only of my enemies; surely, you do not love me as you once did.
नहि पक्षवता न्याय्यं निः हेन सुहृज्जने। पीड्यमान उपद्रष्टुं शक्तेना मा कथंचन
It is not proper for one with wings to abandon a friend in distress; one who is able should never neglect the suffering.
गच्छ त्वं जरितामेव यदर्थं परितप्यसे। चरिष्याम्यहमप्येका यथा पुरुषाश्रिता
Go to Jarita, for whom you are troubled; I too will live alone, as women rely on men.
नाहमेवं चरे लोके यथा त्वमभिमन्यसे। अपत्यहेतोर्विचरे तच्च कृच्छ्रगतं मम
I do not act in the world as you imagine; I wander for the sake of my children, and it is difficult for me.
भूतं हित्वा च भाव्यर्थे योऽवलम्बेत्स मन्दधीः। अवमन्येत तं लोको यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु
He who abandons what is present for what is yet to come is foolish; the world will scorn him—do as you wish.
एष हि प्रज्वलन्नग्निर्लेलिहानी महीरुहान्। आविग्ने हृदि सन्तापं जनयत्यशिवं मम
This fire, blazing and licking the trees, brings distress and misfortune to my troubled heart.
भर्तुर्हि वाक्यं सा श्रुत्वा लपिता दुःखिताऽभवत्। सान्त्वयामास च पुनः पति पतिपरायणा
Hearing her husband's words, Lapita became sorrowful; yet, devoted to her husband, she again sought to console him.
तस्माद्देशादतिक्रान्ते ज्वलने जरिता पुनः। जगाम पुत्रकानेन जरिता पुत्रगृद्धिनी
Having crossed beyond that region, Jaritā, scorched by fire, again went forth, longing for her sons.
सा तान्कुशलिनः सर्वान्विमुक्ताञ्जातवेदसः। रोरूयमाणान्ददृशे वने पुत्रान्निरामयान्
She saw all her sons in the forest, unharmed and freed from the flames, crying out but healthy.