तोषितोऽहं नृपश्रेष्ठ त्वयेहाद्येन कर्मणा।। याजनं ब्राह्मणानां तु विधिदृष्टं परन्तप
'I am satisfied, O foremost of kings, by this act you have performed here. The officiating at sacrifices, scorcher of foes, is prescribed for Brāhmaṇas.'
अतोऽहं त्वां स्वयं नाद्य याजयामि परन्तप। ममांशस्तु क्षितितले महाभागो द्विजोत्तमः
'Therefore, I shall not myself officiate for you today, O scorcher of foes. But my own eminent portion on earth, the illustrious Brāhmaṇa—'
दुर्वासा इति विख्यातः स हि त्वां याजयिष्यति। मन्नियोगान्महातेजाः संभाराः संभ्रियन्तु ते
'He who is renowned as Durvāsas, he will officiate for you. By my command, O mighty one, let the sacrificial materials be prepared for you.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं रुद्रेण समुदाहृतम्। स्वपुरं पुनरागम्य संभारान्पुनरार्जयत्
Having heard these words spoken by Rudra, he returned to his city and again gathered the sacrificial materials.
ततः संभृतसंभारो भूयो रुद्रमुपागमत्। `उवाच च महिपालः प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतः स्थितः।' संभृता मम संभाराः सर्वोपकरणानि च
Then, having assembled all the materials, he again approached Rudra. The king, with joined palms and bowed, said: 'All my materials and implements are assembled.'
त्वत्प्रसादानमहादेव श्वो मे दीक्षा भवेदिति। एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य राज्ञो महात्मनः
'By your grace, O great god, may my consecration take place tomorrow.' Having heard these words of that great-souled king—
दुर्वाससं समाहूय रुद्रो वचनमब्रवीत्। एष राजा महाभागः श्वेतकिर्द्विजसत्तम
Rudra summoned Durvāsas and spoke these words: 'This king, O illustrious Brāhmaṇa, Śvetaki—'
एनं याजय विप्रेन्द्र मन्नियोगेन भूमिपम्। बाढमित्येव वचनं रुद्रं त्वृषिरुवाच ह
'O best of Brāhmaṇas, officiate at the sacrifice for this king at my command.' The sage replied to Rudra, 'So be it.'
ततः सत्रं समभवत्तस्य राज्ञो महात्मनः। यथाविधि यथाकालं यथोक्तं बहुदक्षिणम्
Then, that great-souled king held a sacrificial session, as prescribed, at the proper time, as declared, and with abundant gifts.
तस्मिन्परिसमाप्ते तु राज्ञः सत्रे महात्मनः। दुर्वाससाऽभ्यनुज्ञाता विप्रतस्थुः स्म याजकाः
When the king's grand sacrifice was completed, the officiating priests, having been permitted by Durvasa, departed.
ये तत्र दीक्षिताः सर्वे सदस्याश्च महौजसः। सोऽपि राजन्महाभागः स्वपुरं प्राविशत्तदा
All those who had been initiated there, and the powerful members of the assembly, and that illustrious king himself, O ruler, entered his own city at that time.
पूज्यमानो महाभागैर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः। बन्दिभिः स्तूयमानश्च नागरैश्चाभिनन्दितः
He was honored by the noble Brahmins, masters of the Vedas, praised by bards, and welcomed by the townspeople.
एवंवृत्तः स राजर्षिः श्वेतकिर्नृपसत्तमः। कालेन महता चापि ययौ स्वर्गमभिष्टुतः
Thus, that royal sage, the best of kings, Shvetaki, having acted in this way, after a long time, ascended to heaven, praised by all.
ऋत्विग्भिः सहितः सर्वैः सदस्यैश्च समन्वितः। तस्य सत्रे पपौ वह्निर्हविद्वार्दशवत्सरान्
Accompanied by all the officiating priests and assembly members, at his sacrifice, the fire consumed the offerings for twelve years.
सततं चाज्यधाराभिरैकात्म्ये तत्र कर्मणि। हविषा च ततो वह्निः परां तृप्तिमगच्छत
There, through a continuous stream of clarified butter, in that single-minded rite, the fire became fully satisfied by the offerings.
न चैच्छत्पुनरादातुं हविरन्यस्य कस्यचित्। पाण्डुवर्णो विवर्णश्च न यतावत्प्रकाशते
And he did not wish to accept offerings from anyone else; pale and discolored, he did not shine as before.
ततो भघवतो वह्नेर्विकारः समजायत। तेजसा विप्रहीणश्च ग्लानिश्चैनं समाविशत्
Then, a change came over the divine Fire; deprived of brilliance, weariness overtook him.
स लक्षयित्वा चात्मानं तेजोहीनं हुताशनः। जगाम सदनं पुण्यं ब्रह्मणो लोकपूजितम्
Perceiving himself to be lacking in energy, the fire-god went to the holy abode of Brahma, revered by the worlds.
तत्र ब्रह्माणमासीनमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्। भगवन्परमा प्रीतिः कृता श्वेतकिना मम
There, seated before Brahma, he spoke these words: 'O Lord, supreme satisfaction has been given to me by Shvetaki.'
अरुचिश्चाभवत्तीव्रा तां न शक्नोम्यपोहितुम्। तेजसा विप्रहीणोऽस्मि बलेन च जगत्पते
'But now a severe distaste has arisen, which I cannot dispel; I am deprived of energy and strength, O Lord of the world.'
इच्छेयं त्वत्प्रसादेन स्वात्मनः प्रकृतिं स्थिराम्। एतच्छ्रुत्वा हुतवहाद्भगवान्सर्वलोककृत्
'By your grace, I wish to regain my own steady nature.' Having heard this from the fire-god, the blessed creator of all worlds—
हव्यवाहमिदं वाक्यमुवाच प्रहसन्निव। त्वया द्वादश वर्षाणि वसोर्धाराहुतं हविः
—spoke to the carrier of offerings, smiling as if in amusement: 'For twelve years you have consumed clarified butter as your offering.'
उपयुक्तं महाभाग तेन त्वां ग्लानिराविशत्। तेजसा विप्रहीणत्वात्सहसा हव्यवाहन
'That has been enough, O illustrious one; therefore, weariness has come upon you, O fire-god, because you have been deprived of energy.'
मागमस्त्वं व्यथां वह्ने प्रकृतिस्थो भविष्यसि। अरुचिं नाशयिष्येऽहं समयं प्रतिपद्य ते
'Do not be troubled, O Fire; you will return to your own nature. I will remove your distaste, making a promise to you.'
पुरा देवनियोगेन यत्त्वया भस्मसात्कृतम्। आलयं देवशत्रूणां सुघोरं खाण्डवं वनम्
'Long ago, by the command of the gods, you burned to ashes the dreadful Khandava forest, the abode of the enemies of the gods.'
तत्र सर्वाणि सत्वानि निवसन्ति विभावसो। तेषां त्वं मेदसा तृप्तः प्रकृतिस्थो भविष्यसि
'There, O radiant one, all creatures dwell; by consuming their fat, you will be satisfied and restored to your own nature.'
गच्छ शीघ्रं प्रदग्धुं त्वं ततो मोक्ष्यसि किल्विषात्। एतच्छुत्वा तु वचनं परमेष्ठिमुखाच्च्युतम्
Go quickly to burn it; then you will be freed from your sin. Hearing these words, which fell from the mouth of the Lord of Creation,
उत्तमं जवमास्थाय प्रदुद्राव हुताशनः। आगम्य खाण्डवं दावमुत्तमं वीर्यमास्थितः। सहसा प्राज्वलच्चाग्निः क्रुद्धो वायुसमीरितः
Taking up his utmost speed, the Fire-god rushed forth. Arriving at the Khandava forest, filled with great energy, Agni suddenly blazed forth, fanned by the wind, in anger.
प्रदीप्तं खाण्डवं दृष्ट्वा ये स्युस्तत्र निवासिनः। परमं यत्नेमातिष्ठन्पावकस्य प्रशान्तये
Seeing the Khandava forest set aflame, all those who dwelled there exerted themselves with the greatest effort to extinguish the fire.
करैस्तु करिणः शीघ्रं जलमादाय सत्वराः। सिषिचुः पावकं क्रुद्धाः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
The elephants, quickly taking water with their trunks, hurriedly and angrily poured it on the fire by the hundreds and thousands.