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.’
नरनारायणौ यौ तौ पूर्वदेवौ विभावसो। संप्राप्तौ मानुषे लोके कार्यार्थं हि दिवौकसाम्
Those two, Nara and Narayana, the ancient gods, O blazing one, have now come to the world of men for the sake of the gods’ purpose.
अर्जुनं वासुदेवं च यौ तौ लोकोऽभिमन्यते। तावेतौ सहितावेहि खाण्डवस्य समीपतः
Those whom the world knows as Arjuna and Vasudeva—know that these two, together, are near Khandava.
तौ त्वं याचस्व साहाय्ये दाहार्थं खाण्डवस्य च। ततो धक्ष्यसि तं दावं रक्षितं त्रिदशैरपि
Seek their help for burning Khandava; then you will burn that forest, even if it is protected by the gods.
तौ तु सत्वानि सर्वाणि यत्नतो वारयिष्यतः। देवराजं च सहितौ तत्र मे नास्ति संशयः
Those two will strive to hold back all the beings, and even the king of the gods, together; of this I have no doubt.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं त्वरितो हव्यवाहनः। कृष्णपार्थावुपागम्य यमर्थं त्वभ्यभाषत
Hearing these words, the swift bearer of offerings, Agni, approached Krishna and Arjuna and spoke to them about the matter.
तं ते कथितवानस्मि पूर्वमेव नृपोत्तम। तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं त्वग्नेर्बीभत्सुर्जातवेदसम्
I have already told you this before, O best of kings; upon hearing Agni's words, Bhībhatsu addressed the fire-born deity.
अब्रवीन्नृपशार्दूल तत्कालसदृशं वचः। दिधक्षुं खाण्डवं दावमकामस्य शतक्रतोः
The tiger among kings spoke words suited to the occasion, desiring to burn the Khāṇḍava forest against the wishes of Śatakratu.
उत्तमास्त्राणि मे सन्ति दिव्यानि च बहूनि च। यैरहं शक्नुयां योद्धुमपि वज्रधरान्बहून्
I possess excellent and many divine weapons, with which I could fight even numerous bearers of the thunderbolt.
धनुर्मे नास्ति भगवन्बाहुवीर्येण संमितम्। कुर्वतः समरे यत्नं वेगं यद्विषहेन्मम
But, O Lord, I do not have a bow that matches the strength of my arms; for my effort in battle, I need one that can withstand my force.
शरैश्च मेऽर्थो बहुभिरक्षयैः क्षिप्रमस्यतः। न हि वोढुं रथः शक्तः शरान्मम यथेप्सितान्
I also require many inexhaustible arrows, for as I shoot them swiftly, no chariot is able to bear the arrows as I desire.
अश्वांश्च दिव्यानिच्छेयं पाण्डुरान्वातरंहसः। रथं च मेघनिर्घोषं सूर्यप्रतिमतेजसम्
I wish for divine horses, white and swift as the wind, and a chariot with thunderous sound and brilliance equal to the sun.
तथा कृष्णस्य वीर्येण नायुधं विद्यते समम्। येन नागान्पिशाचांश्च निहन्यान्माधवो रणे
Likewise, in valor, Krishna has no equal weapon by which Mādhava could slay nāgas and demons in battle.
उपायं कर्मसिद्धौ च भघवन्वक्तुमर्हसि। निवारयेयं येनेन्द्रं वर्षमाणं महावने
O Lord, you should tell us the means for accomplishing this task, so that I may restrain Indra, who pours rain in the great forest.
पौरुषेण तु यत्कार्यं तत्कर्ताऽहं स्म पावक। करणानि समर्थानि भगवन्दातुमर्हसि
Whatever must be done by human effort, I shall accomplish, O Pāvaka; you, O Lord, ought to grant the necessary instruments.
एवमुक्तः स भगवान्धूमकेतुर्हुताशनः। चिन्तयामास वरुणं लोकपालं दिदृक्षया
Thus addressed, the blessed Dhūmaketu, the fire-god, began to contemplate Varuṇa, the guardian of the world, with longing to see him.
आदित्यमुदके देवं निवसन्तं जलेश्वरम्। स च तच्चिन्तितं ज्ञात्वा दर्शयामास पावकम्
He considered the deity Aditya, dwelling in the waters, the lord of the waters; and that god, knowing his thought, revealed himself to Pāvaka.
तमब्रवीद्भमकेतुः प्रतिगृह्य जलेश्वरम्। चतुर्थं लोकपालानां देवदेवं सनातनम्
Dhūmaketu spoke to the lord of the waters, having received him: the fourth among the guardians of the world, the eternal god of gods.
सोमेन राज्ञा यद्दत्तं धनुश्चैवेषुधी च ते। तत्प्रयच्छोभयं शीघ्रं रथं च कपिलक्षणम्
That bow and quiver given to you by King Soma, quickly bestow both, along with the chariot marked with tawny features.
कार्यं च सुमहत्पार्थो गाण्डीवेन करिष्यति। चक्रेण वासुदेवश्च तन्ममाद्य प्रदीयताम्
With Gāṇḍīva, Arjuna will accomplish a great task; and with the discus, Vāsudeva—let these be given to me now.
ददानीत्येव वरुणः पावकं प्रत्यभाषत। तदद्भुतं महावीर्यं यशःकीर्तिविवर्धनम्
Varuṇa replied to Pāvaka, 'I shall give them,'—those wondrous, mighty, fame- and glory-enhancing weapons.