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?
न ह्येतत्कारणं ब्रह्मन्नल्पं संप्रतिभाति मे। यद्ददाह सुसंक्रुद्धः खाण्डवं हव्यवाहनः
Indeed, O Brahman, this reason does not seem minor to me, that Agni, the carrier of offerings, so wrathfully burned Khandava.
एतद्विस्तरशो ब्रह्मन्श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। खाण्डवस्य पुरा दाहो यथा समभवन्मुने
O Brahman, I wish to hear in detail and truly how, in former times, the burning of Khandava came to be, O sage.
शृणु मे ब्रुवतो राजन्सर्वमेतद्यथातथम्। यन्निमित्तं ददाहाग्निः खाण्डवं पृथिवीपते
Hear from me, O king, as I relate everything exactly, for what reason Agni burned Khandava, O lord of the earth.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि पौराणीमृषिसंस्तुताम्। कथामिमां नरश्रेष्ठ खाण्डवस्य विनाशिनीम्
Now I shall tell you, O best of men, this ancient tale praised by sages, the story of the destruction of Khandava.
पौराणः श्रूयते राजन्राजा हरिहयोपमः। श्वेतकिर्नाम विख्यातो बलविक्रमसंयुतः
It is heard, O king, that there was an ancient king, renowned as Shvetaki, equal to Hari and Haya in might and valor.
यज्वा दानपतिर्धीमान्यथा नान्योऽस्ति कश्चन। `जग्राह दीक्षां स नृपः तदा द्वादशवार्षिकीम्
He was a performer of sacrifices, a lord of gifts, wise—such as none other; that king then undertook a twelve-year vow.
तस्य सत्रे सदा तस्मिन्समागच्छन्महर्षयः। वेदवेदाङ्गविद्वांसो ब्राह्मणाश्च सहस्रशः
During his sacrifice, many great sages always assembled there, as well as thousands of Brahmins learned in the Vedas and its branches.
ईजे च स महायज्ञैः क्रतुभिश्चाप्तदक्षिणैः
He worshipped with great sacrifices and with rites accompanied by ample gifts.
तस्य नान्याऽभवद्बुद्धिर्दिवसे दिवसे नृप। सत्रे क्रियासमारम्भे दानेषु विविधेषु च
That king had no other thought, day after day, but the commencement of sacrificial rites and the giving of various gifts.
ऋत्विग्भिः सहितो धीमानेवमीजे स भूमिपः। ततस्तु ऋत्विजश्चास्य धूमव्याकुललोचनाः
Thus, that wise king performed the rites together with the officiating priests; but then those priests, their eyes afflicted by smoke,