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.
सर्वशस्त्रैरनाधृष्यं सर्वशस्त्रप्रमाथि च। सर्वायुधमहामात्रं परसैन्यप्रधर्षणम्
Unassailable by all weapons, destructive of all weapons, the great arsenal of all arms, capable of overpowering enemy forces.
एकं शतसहस्रेण संमितं राष्ट्रवर्धनम्। चित्रमुच्चावचैर्वर्णैः शोभितं श्लक्ष्णमव्रणम्
A single bow equal to a hundred thousand, increasing the realm, adorned with varied colors, splendid, smooth, and unblemished.
देवदानवगन्धर्वैः पूजितं शाश्वतीः समाः। प्रादाच्चैव धनूरत्नमक्षय्यौ च महेषुधी
Honored for countless ages by gods, demons, and gandharvas, he bestowed the peerless bow and two inexhaustible quivers.
रथं च दिव्याश्वयुजं कपिप्रवरकेतनम्। उपेतं राजतैरश्वैर्गान्धर्वैर्हेममालिभिः
And a chariot yoked with celestial horses, bearing the banner of the foremost monkey, drawn by gandharva steeds adorned with golden garlands.
पाण्डुराभ्रप्रतीकाशैर्मनोवायुसमैर्जवे। सर्वोपकरणैर्युक्तमजय्यं देवदानवैः
With horses white as pale clouds, swift as the mind or wind, equipped with every implement, unconquerable by gods or demons.
भावुमन्तं महाघोषं सर्वरत्नमनोरमम्। ससर्ज यं सुतपसा भौमनो भुवनप्रभुः
That wondrous, resounding, jewel-adorned chariot, delightful in every way, was created by the lord of the world, Bhaumana, through intense austerity.
प्रजापतिरनिर्देश्यं यस्य रूपं रवेरिव। यं स्म सोमः समारुह्य दानवानजयत्प्रभुः
Its form, like the sun, cannot be described, and it was the very chariot upon which Soma mounted to conquer the Dānavas.
नवमेघप्रतीकाशं ज्ललन्तमिव च श्रिया। आश्रितौ तं रथश्रेष्ठं शक्रायुधसमावुभौ
Resembling a fresh raincloud, radiant with splendor, that supreme chariot was taken up by both heroes, armed with Indra's weapons.
तापनीया सुरुचिरा ध्वजयष्टिरनुत्तमा। तस्यां तु वानरो दिव्यः सिंहशार्दूलकेतनः
Its brilliant, unsurpassed banner-staff was of refined gold, and upon it was a divine monkey, bearing the emblems of lion and tiger.
हनूमान्नाम तेजस्वी कामरूपी महाबलः।' दिधक्षन्निव तत्र स्म संस्थितो मूर्ध्न्यशोभत। ध्वजे भूतानि तत्रासन्विविधानि महान्ति च
That was Hanuman by name, radiant, shape-shifting, of immense strength, standing there as if eager to burn, shining atop the banner; and on the banner were many great and diverse beings.