ततो रत्नान्युपादाय पुरीं माहिष्मतीं ययौ।। तत्र नीलेन राज्ञा स चक्रे युद्धं नरर्षभः
Then, taking the jewels, he went to the city of Mahishmati; there, the bull among men fought a battle with King Nila.
पाण्डवः परवीरघ्नः सहदेवः प्रतापवान्।। ततोऽस्य सुमहद्युद्धमासीद्भीरुभयङ्करम्
The heroic Sahadeva, destroyer of enemy heroes among the Pandavas, then engaged in a great battle with him, terrifying to the timid.
सैन्यक्षयकरं चैव प्राणानां संशयावहम्। चक्रे तस्य हि साहाय्यं भगवान्हव्यवाहनः
And indeed, the divine carrier of oblations, Agni, aided him, causing the destruction of the army and bringing danger to the lives of men.
ततो रथा हया नागाः पुरुषाः कवचानि च। प्रतीप्तानि व्यदृश्यन्त सहदेवबले तदा
Then, O king, chariots, horses, elephants, men, and their armor were seen blazing in the army of Sahadeva.
ततः सुसंभ्रान्तमना बभूव कुरुनन्दनः। नोत्तरं प्रतिवक्तुं च शक्तोऽभूज्जनमेजय
Thereupon, O descendant of the Kurus, his mind became greatly agitated, and Janamejaya was unable to give any reply.
किमर्थं भगवान्वह्निः प्रत्यमित्रोऽभवद्युधि। सहदेवस्य यज्ञार्थं घटमानस्य वै द्विज
O Brahmin, for what reason did the divine Agni become hostile in battle, when Sahadeva was striving for the sake of the sacrifice?
तत्र माहिष्मतीवासी भगवान्हव्यवाहनः। श्रूयते हि गृहीतो वै पुरस्तात्पारदारिकः
There, in the city of Mahishmati, the divine carrier of oblations, Agni, is said to have been previously seized in the form of a paramour.
नीलस्य राज्ञो दुहिता बभूवतातीव शोभना। साऽग्निहोत्रमुपातिष्ठद्बोधनाय पितुः सदा
The daughter of King Nila was exceedingly beautiful; she always performed the agnihotra for the awakening of her father.
व्यजनैर्धूयमानोऽपि तावत्प्रज्वलते न सः।। यावच्चारुपुटौष्ठेन वायुना न विधूयते
Even when fanned with fans, the fire would not blaze up until it was kindled by the wind from her lovely, cupped lips.
ततः स भगवानग्निश्चकमे तां सुदर्शनाम्। नीलस्य राज्ञः सर्वेषामुपनीतश्च सोऽभवत्
Then the divine Agni desired that beautiful maiden, and he was brought near to all by King Nila.
ततो ब्रह्मणरूपेण रममाणो यदृच्छया।। चकमे तां वरारोहां कन्यामुत्पललोचनाम्।। तं तु राजा यथाशास्त्रमशासद्धार्मिकस्तदा
Thereafter, assuming the form of a Brahmin, Agni, by chance, enjoyed the company of that high-hipped, lotus-eyed maiden; but the righteous king, as prescribed by the scriptures, forbade him.
प्रजज्वाल ततः कोपाद्भगवान्हव्यवाहनः। तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मितो राजा जगाम शिरसाऽवनिम्
Then, out of anger, the divine carrier of oblations, Agni, blazed forth; seeing this, the astonished king bowed his head to the ground.
ततः कालेन तां कन्यां तथैव हि तदा नृपः। प्रददौ विप्ररूपाय वह्रये शिरसा नतः
After some time, the king, with head bowed, gave that maiden, just as before, to Agni, who had taken the form of a Brahmin.
प्रतिगृह्य च तां सुभ्रुं नीलराज्ञः सुतां तदा। चक्रे प्रसादं भगवांस्तस्य राज्ञो विभावसुः
Having received that beautiful-browed daughter of King Nila, the divine Agni was pleased with the king.
वरेण च्छन्दयामास तं नृपं स्विष्टकृत्तमः। अभयं च स जग्राह स्वसैन्ये वै महीपतिः
And Agni, the best of acceptors of oblations, granted the king a boon of his choice; and the king obtained safety for his own army.
ततः प्रभृति ये केचिदज्ञानात्तां पुरीं नृपाः। जिगीषन्ति बलाद्राजंस्ते दह्यन्ते स्म वह्निना
From that time onward, O king, any kings who, out of ignorance, tried to conquer that city by force were burned by fire.
स्यां पुर्यां तदा चैव माहिष्मत्यां कुरूद्वह। बभूवुरनतिग्राह्य योषितश्छन्दतः किल
And in that city of Mahishmati, O best of the Kurus, women could not be taken by force, but only by their own consent.
एवमग्निर्वरं प्रादात्स्त्रीणामप्रतिवारणे। रिण्यस्तत्र च राजानस्तत्पुरं भरतर्षभ
Thus Agni granted the boon that women there could not be seized against their will, and the kings of that city were freed from that debt, O bull among the Bharatas.
र्जयन्ति च राजानस्तत्पुरं भरतर्षभ। भयादग्नेर्महाराज तदाप्रभृति सर्वदा
And, O best of the Bharatas, the kings, out of fear of Agni, always ruled that city from that time onward.
सहदेवस्तु धर्मात्मा सैन्यं दृष्ट्वा भयार्दितम्। परीतमग्निना राजन्नाकम्पत यथाऽचलः। उपस्पृश्य शुचिर्भूत्वा सोऽब्रवीत्पावकं ततः
But Sahadeva, righteous-souled, seeing his army terrified and surrounded by fire, did not waver, O king; becoming pure by touching water, he then spoke to Agni.
त्वदर्थोऽयं समारम्भः कृष्णवर्त्मन्नमोस्तु ते। मुखं त्वमसि देवानां यज्ञस्त्वमसि पावक
This undertaking is for your sake; homage to you, who move on the path of Krishna. You are the mouth of the gods, you are the sacrifice, O Pāvaka.
पावनात्पावकश्चासि वहनाद्धव्यवाहनः। वेदास्त्वदर्थं जाता वै जातवेदास्ततो ह्यसि
You are Pāvaka because you purify, and Havyavāhana because you carry the offerings. The Vedas have arisen for your sake, therefore you are Jātavedas.
चित्रभानुः सुरेशश्च अनलस्त्वं विभावसो। स्वर्गद्वारस्पृशश्चासि हुताशो ज्वलनः शिखी
You are Citrabhānu, lord of the gods, you are Anala, O Vibhāvasu. You touch the gates of heaven, you are Hutāśa, Jvalana, and Śikhī.
वैश्वानरस्त्वं पिङ्गेशः प्लवङ्गो भूरितेजसः। कुमारसूस्त्वं भगवान्रुद्रगर्भो हिरण्यकृत्
You are Vaiśvānara, Piṅgeśa, Plavaṅga of great brilliance; you are the blessed son of Kumāra, Rudra's embryo, the golden one.
अग्निर्ददातु मे तेजो वायुः प्राणं ददातु मे। पृथिवी बलमादध्याच्छिवं चापो दिशन्तु मे
May Agni grant me energy, may Vāyu give me breath; may the earth bestow strength, and may the waters grant me well-being.
अपां गर्भ महासत्व जातवेदः सुरेश्वर। देवानां मुखमग्ने त्वं सत्येन विपुनीहि माम्
O Agni, embryo of the waters, of great being, Jātaveda, lord of the gods, mouth of the gods, purify me with truth.
ऋषिभिर्ब्राह्मणैश्चैव दैवतैरसुरैरपि। नित्यं सुहुत यज्ञेषु सत्येन विपुनीहि माम्
By sages, by Brahmins, by gods and even by Asuras, you are always well-offered in sacrifices; purify me with truth.
धूमकेतुः शिखी च त्वं पापहाऽनिसम्भवः। सर्वप्राणिषु नित्यस्थः सत्येन विपुनीहि माम्
You are Dhūmaketu and Śikhī, destroyer of sin, born of none; you dwell always in all beings—purify me with truth.
एवं स्तुतोऽसि भगवन्प्रीतेन शिचिना मया। तुष्टिं पुष्टिं श्रुतं चैव प्रीति चाग्ने प्रयच्छ मे
Thus have I praised you, O Lord, with devotion, O shining one; grant me satisfaction, nourishment, learning, and joy, O Agni.
इत्येवं मन्त्रमाग्नेयं पठन्यो जुहुयाद्विभुम्। ऋद्धिमान्सततं दान्तः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Thus, one should recite this Agni mantra and offer to the Lord; the self-controlled, ever-prosperous one is freed from all sins.