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.
बहुशीर्षास्ततो नागाः शिरोभिर्जलसन्ततिम्। मुमुचुः पावकाभ्याशे सत्वराः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः
Then the many-headed serpents, filled with wrath, swiftly released streams of water from their heads near the fire.
तथैवान्यानि सत्वानि नानाप्रहरणोद्यमैः। विलयं पावकं शीघ्रमनयन्भरतर्षभ
Likewise, other creatures, employing various weapons and means, quickly subdued the fire, O best of the Bharatas.
अनेन तु प्रकारेण भूयोभूयश्च प्रज्वलन्। सप्तकृत्वः प्रशमितः खाण्डवे हव्यवाहनः
In this way, though he blazed forth again and again, the fire in Khandava was extinguished seven times.
स तु नैराश्यमापन्नः सदा ग्लानिसमन्वितः। पितामहमुपागच्छत्संक्रुद्धो हव्यवाहनः
Then, falling into despair and always afflicted with fatigue, the Fire-god, filled with anger, approached the Grandsire.
तच्च सर्वं यथान्यायं ब्रह्मणे संन्यवेदयत्। उवाच चैवनं भगवान्मुहूर्तं स विचिन्त्य तु
He reported everything properly to Brahma, and after considering for a moment, the Blessed Lord spoke to him.
उपायः परिदृष्टो मे यथा त्वं धक्ष्यसेऽनघ। कालं च कंचित्क्षमतां ततस्तद्धक्ष्यते भवान्
I have discerned a means by which you, O sinless one, will be able to burn it. Be patient for a while, and then you shall consume it.
भविष्यतः सहायौ ते नरनारायणौ तदा। ताभ्यां त्वं सहितो दावं धक्ष्यसे हव्यवाहन
At that time, you will have two allies: Nara and Narayana. With their help, O Fire-god, you will burn the forest.
एवमस्त्विति तं वह्निर्ब्रह्माणं प्रत्यभाषत। संभूतौ तौ विदित्वा तु नरनारायणावृषी
‘So be it,’ replied Agni to Brahma. Knowing that Nara and Narayana had appeared,
कालस्य महतो राजंस्तस्य वाक्यं स्वयंभुवः। अनुस्मृत्य जगामाथ पुनरेव पितामहम्
Remembering the words of the self-born Lord about the great destined time, the king of fires again went to the Grandsire.
अब्रवीच्च तदा ब्रह्मा यथा त्वं धक्ष्यसेऽनल। खाण्डवं दावमद्यैव मिषतोऽस्य शचीपतेः
Then Brahma said to him, ‘Now, as you watch, O slayer of foes, you shall burn the Khandava forest today, in the presence of the lord of Sachi.’