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,
कालेन महता खिन्नास्तत्यजुस्ते नराधिपम्। ततः प्रसादयामास ऋत्विजस्तान्महीपतिः
After a long time, wearied, they abandoned the king; then the king sought to appease those priests.
चक्षुर्विकलतां प्राप्ता न प्रपेदुश्च ते क्रतुम्। ततस्तेषामनुमते तद्विप्रैस्तु नराधिपः
Their sight impaired, they could no longer perform the sacrifice; then, with their consent, the king, with those Brahmins...
सत्रं समापयामास ऋत्विग्भिरपरैः सह। तस्यैवंवर्तमानस्य कदाचित्कालपर्यये
He completed the sacrificial session together with the other officiating priests; and as he thus continued, at some point, with the passage of time—
सत्रमहार्तुकामस्य संवत्सरशतं किल। ऋत्विजो नाभ्यपद्यन्त समाहर्तुं महात्मनः
Desiring to perform a great sacrifice in every season, for a hundred years, indeed, the priests did not consent to gather again for the great-souled one.
स च राजाऽकरोद्यत्नं महान्तं ससुहृज्जनः। प्रणिपातेन सान्त्वेन दानेन च महायशाः
And that king, renowned for his great fame, made tremendous efforts, along with his friends, through reverence, conciliation, and gifts.
ऋत्विजोऽनुनयामास भूयो भूयस्त्वतन्द्रितः। ते चास्य तमभिप्रायं न चक्रुरमितौजसः
He persistently entreated the priests again and again, tirelessly; but those of immeasurable energy did not fulfill his intention.
स चाश्रमस्थान्राजर्षिस्तानुवाच रुषान्वितः। यद्यहं पतितो विप्राः शुश्रूषायां न च स्थितः
Then the royal sage, filled with anger, spoke to those ascetics: 'If I have fallen, O Brahmins, and am not steadfast in service—'
आशु त्याज्योऽस्मि युष्माभिर्ब्राह्मणैश्च जुगुप्सितः। तन्नार्हथ क्रतुश्रद्धां व्याघातयितुमद्य ताम्
'Then quickly I am to be abandoned by you, and regarded with contempt by the Brahmins; yet you should not destroy today the faith in sacrifice.'
अस्थाने वा परित्यागं कर्तुं मे द्विजसत्तमाः। प्रपन्न एव वो विप्राः प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हथ
'To cast me aside without cause, O best of twice-born, is not fitting; since I have taken refuge with you, O Brahmins, you ought to show me favor.'
सान्त्वदानादिभिर्वाक्यैस्तत्त्वतः कार्यवत्तया। प्रसादयित्वा वक्ष्यामि यन्नः कार्यं द्विजोत्तमाः
'With words of conciliation, gifts, and the like, in accordance with truth and propriety, having appeased you, I shall declare what is to be done, O best of Brahmins.'