दृष्टवान्सर्वलोकेश अर्जुनेन समन्वितः। पीताम्बरधरो देवस्तद्वनं बहुधा चरन्
The lord of all worlds, accompanied by Arjuna, beheld it; the god, clad in yellow garments, wandered in many ways through that forest.
सद्रुमस्य सयक्षस्य सभूतगणपक्षिणः। खाण्डवस्य विनाशं तं ददर्श मधुसूदनः
Madhusudana saw the destruction of Khandava, with its trees, yakshas, hosts of creatures, and birds.
विहारदेशं संप्राप्य नानाद्रुममनुत्तमम्। गृहैरुच्चावचैर्युक्तं पुरन्दरपुरोपमम्
Arriving at that delightful place for sport, adorned with excellent and diverse trees, and filled with houses both high and low, resembling the city of Indra.
भक्ष्यैर्भोज्यैश्च पेयैश्च रसवद्बिर्महाधनैः। माल्यैश्च विविधैर्गन्धैस्तथा वार्ष्मेयपाण्डवौ
There, the sons of Pritha and Vasudeva enjoyed various foods, drinks, and delicacies, as well as garlands and fragrances of many kinds, and great treasures.
तदा विविशतुः पूर्णं रत्नैरुच्चावचैः शुभैः। यथोपजोषं सर्वश्च जनश्चिक्रीड भारत
Then they entered that place, filled with splendid jewels both high and low; and all the people played there as they pleased, O Bharata.
स्त्रियश्च विपुलश्रोष्ण्यश्चारुपीनपयोधराः। मदस्खलितगामिन्यश्चिक्रीडुर्वामलोचनाः
And women with broad hips and lovely, full breasts, their movements unsteady from intoxication, and with charming eyes, played there as well.
वने काश्चिज्जले काश्चित्काश्चिद्वेश्मसु चाङ्गनाः। यथादेशं यथाप्रीति चिक्रीडुः पार्थकृष्णयोः
Some women played in the forest, some in the water, and others in the houses, each according to place and pleasure, delighting in the company of Partha and Krishna.
वासुदेवप्रिया नित्यं सत्यभामा च भामिनी। द्रौपदी च सुभद्रा च वासांस्याभरणानि च। प्रायच्छन्त महाराज स्त्रीणां ताः स्म मदोत्कटाः
Satyabhama, ever dear to Vasudeva, along with Draupadi and Subhadra, radiant women, gave clothes and ornaments to the other women, O great king, intoxicated with joy.
काश्चित्प्रहृष्टा ननृतुश्चुक्रुशुश्च तथा पराः। जहसुश्च परा नार्यः पपुश्चान्या वरासवम्
Some women, exhilarated, danced; others shouted; yet others laughed, while some drank excellent wine.
रुरुधुश्चापरास्तत्र प्रजघ्नुश्च परस्परम्। मन्त्रयामासुरन्याश्च रहस्यानि परस्परम्
Some women wept there, others struck one another, while some exchanged secrets among themselves.
वेणुवीणामृदङ्गानां मनोज्ञानां च सर्वशः। शब्देन पूर्यते हर्म्यं तद्वनं सुमहर्द्धिमत्
The mansion and that splendid forest were filled entirely with the enchanting sounds of flutes, lutes, and drums.
तस्मिंस्तदा वर्तमानो कुरुदाशार्हनन्दनौ। समीपं जग्मतुः कंचिदुद्देशं सुमनोहरम्
At that time, the sons of Kuru and Dasharha, present there, went together to a certain delightful spot nearby.
तत्र गत्वा महात्मानौ कृष्णौ परपुरञ्जयौ। महार्हासनयो राजंस्ततस्तौ सन्निषीदतुः
Having arrived there, the two great souls, Krishna and the conqueror of enemy cities, sat down upon seats of great worth, O king.
तत्र पूर्वव्यतीतानि विक्रान्तानीतराणि च। बहूनि कथयित्वा तौ रेमाते पार्थमाधवौ
There, after recounting many past deeds, both heroic and otherwise, Partha and Madhava enjoyed themselves.
तत्रोपविष्टौ मुदितौ नाकपृष्ठेऽश्विनाविव। अभ्यागच्छत्तदा विप्रो वासुदेवधनञ्जयौ
Seated there, joyful like the Ashvins in heaven, Vasudeva and Dhananjaya were approached by a Brahmin.
बृहच्छालप्रतीकाशः प्रतप्तकनकप्रभः। हरिपिङ्गोज्ज्वलश्मश्रुः प्रमाणायामतः समः
He resembled a tall tree, shone like refined gold, his beard bright and tawny, his stature equal in all respects.
तरुणादित्यसङ्काशश्चीरवासा जटाधरः। पद्मपत्राननः पिङ्गस्तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव
He looked like a young sun, wore bark garments, had matted hair, a face like a lotus leaf, and his tawny radiance seemed to blaze.
जगाम तौ कृष्णपार्थौ दिधक्षुः खाण्डवं वनम्। उपसृष्टं तु तं कृष्णो भ्राजमानं द्विजोत्तमम्। अर्जनो वासुदेवश्च तूर्णमुत्पत्य तस्थतुः
He approached Krishna and Partha, desiring to burn the Khandava forest; as the illustrious Brahmin drew near, Krishna and Arjuna quickly rose and stood.
सोऽब्रवीदर्जुनं चैव वासुदेवं च सात्वतम्। लोकप्रवीरौ तिष्ठन्तौ काण्डवस्य समीपतः
He spoke to Arjuna and Vasudeva, the foremost among men, who were standing near Khandava.
ब्राह्मणो बहुभोक्ताऽस्मि बुञ्जेऽपरिमितं सदा। भिक्षे वार्ष्णेयपार्थौ वामेकां तृप्तिं प्रयच्छतम्
I am a Brahmin who enjoys much, always consuming the limitless; O Vrishni and Partha, grant me a single satisfaction through alms.
एवमुक्तो तमब्रूतां ततस्तौ कृष्णपाण्डवौ। केनान्नेन भवांस्तृप्येत्तस्यान्नस्य यतावहे
Thus addressed, Krishna and the Pandava asked him: 'By what food would you be satisfied? Tell us what kind of food you desire.'
एवमुक्तः स भगवानब्रवीत्तावुभौ ततः। भाषमाणौ तदा वीरौ किमन्नं क्रियतामिति
Thus spoken to, the blessed one replied to both heroes: 'As you speak, what food shall be prepared?'
नाहमन्नं बुभुक्षे वै पावकं मां निबोधतम्। यदन्नमनुरूपं मे तद्युवां संप्रयच्छतम्
I do not desire food; know me as Agni. Give me that food which is suitable for me.
इदमिन्द्रः सदा दावं खाण्डवं परिरक्षति। न च शक्नोम्यहं दग्धुं रक्ष्यमाणं महात्मना
Indra always protects the Khandava forest; I am unable to burn it while it is guarded by that great soul.
वसत्यत्र सखा तस्य तक्षकः पन्नगः सदा। सगणस्तत्कृते दावं परिरक्षति वज्रभृत्
Here dwells his friend Takshaka, the serpent, always with his retinue; for his sake, the wielder of the thunderbolt protects this forest.
तत्र भूतान्यनेकानि रक्ष्यन्तेऽस्य प्रसङ्गतः। तं दिधक्षुर्न शक्नोमि दग्धुं शक्रस्य तेजसा
There, many beings are protected due to his connection; though I wish to burn it, I am unable to do so because of Indra's power.
स मां प्रज्वलितं दृष्ट्वा मेघाम्भोभिः प्रवर्षति। ततो दग्धुं न शक्नोमि दिधक्षुर्दावमीप्सितम्
Whenever he sees me blazing, he sends down rain from the clouds; thus, though I desire to burn, I am unable to consume the forest as I wish.
स युवाभ्यां सहायाभ्यामस्त्रविद्भ्यां समागतः। दहेयं खाण्डवं दावमेतदन्नं वृतं मया
If I am joined by you two, skilled in weapons and as my allies, then I could burn this Khandava forest, which I have chosen as my food.
युवां ह्युदकधारास्ता भूतानि च समन्ततः। उत्तमास्त्रविदौ सम्यक्सर्वतो वारयिष्यथः
For you two, masters of supreme weapons, will thoroughly block all streams of water and all beings on every side.
किमर्थं भगवानग्निः खाण्डवं दग्धुमिच्छति। रक्ष्यमाणं महेन्द्रेण नानासत्वसमायुतम्
For what reason does the divine Agni wish to burn Khandava, which is protected by mighty Indra and filled with diverse creatures?