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.
यज्ञविघ्नमिमं कर्तुं नार्हस्त्वं यज्ञवाहन। एवमुक्त्वा तु माद्रेयः कुशैरास्तीर्य मेदिनीम्
You should not cause this obstruction to the sacrifice, O carrier of offerings. Having spoken thus, the son of Mādrī spread kusa grass upon the ground.
विधिवत्पुरुषव्याघ्रः पावकं प्रत्युपाविशत्। प्रमुखे तस्य सैन्यस्य भीतोद्विग्रस्य भारत
According to the rite, the tiger among men approached Pāvaka, in front of his army, though fearful and anxious, O Bhārata.
न चैनमत्यगाद्वह्निरुवाच महोदधिः। तमुपेत्य शनैर्वह्निरुवाच कुरुनन्दनम्
But the fire did not consume him; then the great ocean spoke. Approaching gently, Agni spoke to the descendant of Kuru.
सहदेवं नृणां देवं सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः। उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ कौरव्य जिज्ञासेयं कृता मया
To Sahadeva, god among men, Agni spoke these words with gentle reassurance: 'Arise, arise, O Kauravya, I have tested you.'
वेद्मि सर्वमभिप्रायं तव धर्मसुतस्य च। मया तु रक्षितव्या पूरियं भरतसत्तम
I know all your intentions and those of the son of Dharma; but I must protect this city, O best of the Bharatas.
यावद्राज्ञो हि नीलस्य कुले वंशधरा इति। ईप्सितं तु करिष्यामि मनसस्तव पाण्डव
As long as there are descendants in the line of King Nīla, I will do what you desire in your heart, O Pāṇḍava.
तत उत्थाय हृष्टात्मा प्राञ्जलिः शिरसा नतः। पूजयामास माद्रेयटः पावकं भरतर्षभ
Then, rising with a joyful heart, with joined palms and bowed head, the son of Mādrī worshipped Pāvaka, O bull among the Bharatas.
पावके विनिवृत्ते तु नीलो राजाऽभ्यगात्तदा। पावकस्याज्ञया चैनमर्चयामास पार्थिवः
When Pāvaka had withdrawn, King Nīla then approached; by the command of Pāvaka, the king honored him.
सत्कारेण नरव्याघ्रं सहदेवं युधां पतिम्। प्रतिगृह्य च तां पूजां करे च विनिवेश्य च
With honor, Sahadeva, the tiger among men and lord of warriors, received that homage and placed it in his hand.
माद्रीसुतस्ततः प्रायाद्विजयी दक्षिणां दिशम्। त्रैपुरं स वशे कृत्वा राजानममितौजसम्
Then the son of Madri, victorious, proceeded toward the southern direction, having subdued Tripura and its king of immense energy.