क्षिप्तं क्षिप्तं रणे चैतत्त्वया माधव शत्रुषु। हत्वाऽप्रतिहतं सङ्ख्ये पाणिमेष्यति ते पुनः
O Mādhava, whatever you hurl again and again in battle at the enemies, after slaying them, that unfailing weapon will return to your hand once more.
वरुणश्च ददौ तस्मै गदामशनिनिःस्वनाम्। दैत्यान्तकरणीं घोरां नाम्ना कौमोदकीं प्रभुः
And Varuṇa gave him a mace, resounding like thunder, dreadful, destroyer of demons, called Kaumodakī, O mighty one.
ततः पावकमब्रूतां प्रहृष्टावर्जुनाच्युतौ। कृतास्त्रौ शस्त्रसंपन्नौ रथिनौ ध्वजिनावपि
Then, delighted, Arjuna and Acyuta, both accomplished in weapons, equipped with arms and banners, spoke to Agni.
कल्यौ स्वो भगवन्योद्धुमपि सर्वैः सुरासुरैः। किं पुनर्वज्रिणैकेन पन्नगार्थे युयुत्सता
O Lord, today we are able to fight even all the gods and demons together; what then of only Indra, who wishes to battle for the sake of the serpents?
चक्रपाणिर्हृषीकेशो विचरन्युधि वीर्यवान्। चक्रेण भस्मसात्सर्वं विसृष्टेन तु वीर्यवान्। त्रिषु लोकेषु तन्नास्ति यन्न कुर्याज्जनार्दनः
Hrishikesha, wielder of the discus, valiant in battle, with his discus can reduce everything to ashes when released; in the three worlds, there is nothing that Janardana cannot accomplish.
गाण्डीवं धनुरादाय तथाऽक्षय्ये महेषुधी। अहमप्युत्सहे लोकान्विजेतुं युधि पावक
Taking up the Gandiva bow and inexhaustible arrows, I too, O Agni, am able to conquer the worlds in battle.
सर्वतः परिवार्यैवं दावमेतं महाप्रभो। कामं संप्रज्वलाद्यैव कल्यौ स्वः साह्यकर्मणि
Thus, having surrounded this blazing fire on all sides, O mighty one, let it burn as it wishes today; we are ready for the task of assistance.
यदि खाण्डवमेष्यति प्रमादा- त्सगणो वा परिरक्षितुं महेन्द्रः। शरताडितगात्रकुण्डलानां कदनं द्रक्ष्यति देववाहिनीनाम्
If Mahendra himself, with his hosts, comes here to protect Khandava out of carelessness, he will witness the slaughter of the divine armies, their bodies struck by our sharp arrows and adorned with earrings.
एवमुक्तः स भगवान्दाशार्हेणार्जुनेन च। तैजसं रपमास्थाय दावं दग्धुं प्रचक्रमे
Thus addressed by Dāśārha and Arjuna, the divine one, assuming a fiery form, began to burn the forest.
सर्वतः परिवार्याथ सप्तार्चिर्ज्वलनस्तथा। ददाह खाण्डवं दावं युगान्तमिव दर्शयन्
Then, having surrounded everything, the seven-flamed blazing fire burned Khandava like the fire at the end of an age.
प्रतिगृह्य समाविश्य तद्वनं भरतर्षभ। मेघस्तनितनिर्घोषः सर्वभूतान्यकम्पयत्
Having received permission, O bull among the Bharatas, the cloud entered that forest, its roar like thunder shaking all creatures.
दह्यतस्तस्य च बभौ रूपं दावस्य भारत। मेरोरिव नगेन्द्रस्य कीर्णस्यांशुमतोंशुभिः
As the forest was burning, the form of the fire shone, O Bhārata, like the lord of mountains, Meru, covered with the rays of the sun.
तौ रथाभ्यां रथश्रेष्ठौ दावस्योभयतः स्थितौ। दिक्षु सर्वासु भूतानां चक्राते कदनं महत्
Those two best of charioteers, standing on both sides of the fire in their chariots, wrought great slaughter among the beings in all directions.
यत्र यत्र च दृश्यन्ते प्राणिनः खाण्डवालयाः। पलायन्तः प्रवीरौ तौ तत्रतत्राभ्यधावताम्
Wherever the creatures of Khandava were seen fleeing, those two mighty ones pursued them there and there.
छिद्रं न स्म प्रपश्यन्ति रथयोराशुचारिणोः। आविद्धावेव दृश्येते रथिनौ तौ रथोत्तमौ
No opening could be seen in the path of those two swift-moving chariots; the two excellent charioteers appeared as if joined together.
खाण्डवे दह्यमाने तु भूतान्यथ सहस्रशः। उत्पेतुर्भैरवान्नादान्विनदन्तः समन्ततः
As Khandava was burning, thousands of beings arose, uttering terrifying cries on all sides.
दग्धैकदेशा बहवो निष्टप्ताश्च तथाऽपरे। स्फुटिताक्षा विशीर्णाश्च विप्लुताश्च तथाऽपरे
Many were burned in one place, others were scorched, some had their eyes burst, others were shattered, and still others were scattered.
समालिङ्ग्य सुतानन्ये पितॄन्भ्रातॄनथाऽपरे। त्यक्तुं न शेकुः स्नेहेन तत्रैव निधनं गताः
Some embraced their sons, others their fathers or brothers; out of affection, they could not abandon them and met their end right there.
सन्दष्टदशनाश्चान्ये समुत्पेतुरनेकशः। ततस्तेऽतीव घूर्णन्तः पुनरग्नौ प्रपेदिरे
Others, with clenched teeth, sprang up in countless numbers; then, staggering greatly, they again rushed into the fire.
दग्धपक्षाक्षिचरणा विचेष्टन्तो महीतले। तत्रतत्र स्म दृश्यन्ते विनश्यन्तः शरीरिणः
With wings, eyes, and feet scorched, writhing upon the earth, bodies were seen here and there, perishing.
जलाशयेषु तप्तेषु क्वाथ्यमानेषु वह्निना। गतसत्वाः स्म दृश्यन्ते कूर्ममत्स्याः समन्ततः
In the water reservoirs, heated and boiling by fire, lifeless turtles and fish were seen everywhere.
शरीरैरपरे दीप्तैर्देहवन्त इवाग्नयः। अदृश्यन्त वने तत्र प्राणिनः प्राणिसंक्षये
Others, with bodies blazing, appeared like living fires; creatures were seen in the forest as life was being destroyed.
कांश्चिदुत्पततः पार्थः शरैः संछिद्य खण्डशः। पातयामास विहगान्प्रदीप्ते वसुरेतसि
Arjuna, with arrows, struck down some who were flying, cutting them to pieces, and made the birds fall into the blazing Khāṇḍava.
ते शराचितसर्वाङ्गा निनदन्तो महारवान्। ऊर्ध्वमुत्पत्य वेगेन निपेतुः खाण्डवे पुनः
Those whose bodies were pierced all over with arrows, crying out loudly, sprang upward with speed and again fell into Khāṇḍava.
शरैरभ्याहतानां च सङ्घशः स्म वनौकसाम्। विरावः शुश्रुवे घोरः समुद्रस्येव मथ्यतः
From the groups of forest-dwellers struck by arrows, a terrible roar was heard, like the churning of the ocean.
वह्नेश्चापि प्रदीप्तस्य खमुत्पेतुर्महार्चिषः। जनयामासुरुद्वेगं सुमहान्तं दिवौकसाम्
From the blazing fire, great flames rose up to the sky, causing immense alarm among the dwellers of heaven.
तेनार्चिषा सुसन्तप्ता देवाः सर्षिपुरोगमाः। ततो जग्मुर्महात्मानः सर्व एव दिवौकसः। शतक्रतुं सहस्राक्षं देवेशमसुरार्दनम्
Tormented by that intense blaze, the gods, led by the sages, all the celestial beings of great soul, went to Śatakratu, the thousand-eyed lord of gods and destroyer of asuras.
किं न्विमे मानवाः सर्वे दह्यन्ते चित्रभानुना। कच्चिन्न संक्षयः प्राप्तो लोकानाममरेश्वर
"Why are all these mortals being burned by the brilliant fire? Has destruction come upon the worlds, O lord of immortals?"
तच्छ्रुत्वा वृत्रहा तेभ्यः स्वयमेवान्ववेक्ष्य च। खाण्डवस्य विमोक्षार्थं प्रययौ हरिवाहनः
Hearing this, the slayer of Vṛtra, after considering himself, went forth with the carrier of Hari to release Khāṇḍava.
महता रथबृन्देन नानारूपेण वासवः। आकाशं समवाकीर्य प्रववर्ष सुरेश्वरः
With a great host of chariots of various forms, Vāsava, the lord of gods, filled the sky and began to pour down rain.