Agni Approaches Kåñëa and Arjuna and Gives Them Weapons 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
Living in Indraprastha, the Päëòavas subdued other regional rulers by the order of King Dhåtaräñöra and Bhéñma, son of Çantanu, [and brought those regions within a peaceful and unified Päëòava administration.] Taking shelter of Dharmaräja, the king of virtue, the whole world lived happily, for people depended on the righteous deeds of the king just as they depended on their own bodies. 
The noble Bhärata king, Yudhiñöhira, attended to his religious duties, economic policies, and personal desires in a balanced way, as a man with acquaintances respects them as he does himself and yet sees them as different from himself. So ideal and balanced was the king in his worldly and religious affairs that religion, economy, and personal satisfaction seemed to incarnate on the earth in his person, although he was always apart from these three, as a fourth and transcendental being. 
The Vedas found in the king the supreme student, the grand rituals gained in him the best performer and patron, and the social classes found in their king a pure-hearted protector. In that realm the goddess of fortune found a proper place to live, wisdom gained a shelter, and the laws of God found a true friend. The king appeared to be nobler and finer in the company of his four brothers, as a grand ritual becomes lovelier when united with the four Vedas. 
Equal in splendor to Båhaspati, the leading priests headed by Dhaumya surrounded the king, attending to his requirements, as the immortal gods surround and assist the Prajäpati. The eyes and hearts of the citizens rejoiced exceedingly in that king of virtue, as much as in the spotless full moon. The citizens not only delighted in their destined good fortune, but whatever they desired in their hearts the king endeavored to give them. The king was wise and his speech was elegant, and never did he utter a word that was unbefitting, untrue, deceitful, or unkind. He wielded unusual power, but he found his pleasure in working for the good of all people and of his own soul, O noble Bhärata. So did all the Päëòavas rejoice in the goodness of their works, for the fever of personal ambition did not burn in their hearts. Yet by their personal prowess they instilled a fear of God in all the rulers of the earth. 
After Lord Kåñëa had been staying for some days in Indraprastha, Arjuna said to Him, «Kåñëa, the hot days are here; let us go to the Yamunä River. We will enjoy there with our close friends, Madhusüdana, and we'll come back in the evening–that is, if You like the idea, Janärdana.» 
Çré Kåñëa said: 
Yes, son of Kunté, I also like the idea. Let us go with our close friends, Arjuna, and enjoy in the water as we like. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
Informing King Yudhiñöhira and receiving permission, Arjuna and Govinda departed, surrounded by intimate friends. The recreational area featured a large variety of excellent trees, both simple cottages and palatial estates like that of Indra, a wide range of tasty food, drink, and other comforts, large stocks of wealth, and variegated garlands and necklaces. Indeed, that spot had everything needed for the enjoyment of Arjuna and Kåñëa. Arriving there, the two friends entered the area, which was filled with all types of shining jewels, and everyone began to play and enjoy as they wished, O Bhärata. 
Some of the women sported in the forest, some in the water, and some in the nice cottages. They enjoyed especially wherever Kåñëa and Arjuna went and always tried to please them. At the height of the excitement, Draupadé and Subhadrä offered gifts of priceless clothes and jewelry to all the ladies present. Some of the ladies danced joyfully, while others cried out in the joy of celebration. Some ladies laughed, and others drank fine beverages. Some ladies wept, some wrestled and struck one another, and others discussed seriously together in secluded spots. All around, the opulent forest was filled with the exquisitely rich sounds of flute, véëä, and mådaìga drum. 
As the festival was thus progressing, the darlings of the Kurus and Däçärhas, Kåñëa and Arjuna, went nearby to see a particularly charming area, and those two mighty souls who conquer hostile cities then sat down on most valuable seats. They, Pärtha and Mädhava, enjoyed reminiscing about their many past adventures and romances, and as they sat together very happily, like the two Açvin gods seated in heaven, a brähmaëa arrived and approached them. Standing tall like a big çäla tree, with a complexion like molten gold, tawny skin, a reddish moustache, and an evenly proportioned body, he shone like the newly risen sun. He was dressed in black, with matted locks and a face as delicate as a lotus petal. Blazing with prowess, the tawny man came near Kåñëa and Arjuna, and the two quickly stood up to receive the radiant brähmaëa. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
The brähmaëa said to Arjuna and Lord Kåñëa, leader of the Sätvatas, «You are the two great heroes of the world, standing here by the Khäëòava Forest. I am a brähmaëa who eats a lot. In fact, I always consume immeasurable amounts, and I now beg you two, Kåñëa and Arjuna, that for once you offer me my full satisfaction of food.» 
Thus addressed, Kåñëa and Arjuna said to him, «Tell us what food will satisfy you and we will try to bring it.» 
When the two heroes were thus asking him what kind of food was to be arranged, the lord replied, «I do not eat ordinary grains, for you may know me to be the god of fire. Thus you should offer food that is appropriate for me. 
«Lord Indra always carefully guards this Khäëòava Forest, and because such a mighty personality guards it, I cannot burn it. His friend Takñaka the serpent always resides here with his associates, and for his sake the thunderbolt-wielder carefully guards this forest. Many other beasts are equally protected by this arrangement. I desire to burn the forest, but Indra's might does not allow me to burn it. As soon as he sees me blazing, he rains down water from the clouds and I am unable to burn this desirable forest. But now that I have met you two, who can help me by your unique skill with weapons, I can burn the Khäëòava Forest, (which I have selected as my food). With your supreme knowledge of weapons, you shall ward off the torrents of water and all the beasts on all sides.» 
Addressed thus, fearsome Arjuna replied to the sacred fire, «I have many ultimate weapons of divine power, so I can battle many thunderbolt-wielding Indras. But, my lord, I do not have a bow that fits the strength of my arms and withstands my speed and power in battle. And when I am firing rapidly, I need an inexhaustible supply of arrows; moreover, my chariot will not hold all the arrows I need. I would also request divine horses, white and as swift as the wind, and a chariot that rumbles like the clouds and shines as bright as the sun. 
«Similarly, Çré Kåñëa does not have a weapon equal to His strength, a weapon by which He will slay the serpents and ghosts in battle. My lord, you must declare the means by which to accomplish this task, so that I may ward off Indra when he sends showers into the great forest. Whatever is to be done by manly prowess, we two shall do, O Fire, but you, my lord, should provide the proper instruments.» 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
Thus addressed, the smoke-crested lord of fire fixed his mind on Varuëa, desiring to see that lord of worlds. Varuëa is the son of Aditi, and he is the god of the seas. Within his watery abode he understood that he was being thought of, and so he appeared to fire, who welcomed him and spoke to the lord of the waters, who is the fourth among the leaders of the universe, being a protector and controller. 
«King Soma once gave you a bow and quiver. Please give me both of them at once, and also the chariot marked with Hanumän. for Pärtha will perform a great task with that Gäëòéva bow. And also, for my sake, please give the Cakra disc to Çré Kåñëa.» 
«Yes, I shall give,» Varuëa replied to Fire. He then presented the amazingly potent bow, a weapon that always increased the glory and fame of its owner, for it could not be conquered by any other weapon, being the harasser of all arms, the great one among weapons, devastating to enemy armies. That one weapon was equal to 100,000 weapons, and it made its kingdom flourish. Multicolored with all the hues, smooth and shining, without a scratch or scar, it had been worshiped by the gods and Gandharvas since time immemorial. Varuëa gave that jewel of bows, two great quivers of inexhaustible shafts, and a chariot yoked to divine horses, its banner marked with the foremost of monkeys, Hanumän. The silver Gandharva horses were garlanded in gold. They moved at the speed of the mind or the wind and flashed like swift white clouds. The chariot had all necessary equipment. It could not be conquered by gods or demons, and it radiated light and reverberated with a deep rumbling sound. Its beauty captivated the mind of all who beheld it. 
Viçvakarmä, the lord of design and construction, had created it by the power of his austerities, and its form, like that of the sun, could not be precisely discerned. By mounting this chariot, as big as an elephant or cloud and blazing with splendor, the Moon had overcome the wicked Dänavas. On top of this finest chariot was placed a flag staff that shone like Indra's thunderbolt. It was made of gold and uniquely attractive. On the staff was the divine Vänara, a transcendental monkey with the marks of the lion and tiger. Situated on top of the chariot, he seemed to roar out and shine with power. On the flag were all kinds of powerful creatures, whose fierce roars destroyed the consciousness of enemy armies. 
Arjuna walked reverently around the unique chariot, which shone with variegated flags, and he offered his obeisances to the Supreme Lord and to the secondary deities who had delivered the marvelous car. Tightly fitted with armor, with his sword and wrist- and finger-guards in place, Pärtha mounted the chariot as a pious man mounts the celestial craft that takes him to heaven. Firmly grasping the divine and glorious Gäëòéva bow, which had been constructed long ago by Brahmä, Arjuna rejoiced. Bowing to the sacred fire, the hero then gripped the bow and, exerting his power, strung it with a proper cord. When mighty Arjuna strung his bow, the twanging sound was so piercing that the minds of those who heard it shuddered. 
Having obtained a suitable chariot and bow, along with two inexhaustible quivers of arrows, the son of Kunté was now ready and enthusiastic to assist the god of fire, who then gave to Lord Kåñëa a discus whose hub was a thunderbolt. Holding again His eternal, fiery weapon, which is ever devoted to Him, the Lord was ready to perform His pastimes. 
Fire then said to the Lord, «My dear Kåñëa, slayer of Madhu, with this weapon You will undoubtedly conquer in battle, even against superhuman opponents. With this weapon You will ever be superior in battle to the human beings and even to the gods, and certainly the Räkñasas, the Piçäcas, the wicked Daityas, and the Nägas–no matter how excellent your enemy may be. 
Whenever You throw this weapon, my dear Mädhava, it will strike down the enemy in battle, without ever being struck, and it will always return to Your hand.» 
Varuëa then gave Lord Kåñëa a terrifying club named Kaumodaké, which roared like a thunderbolt and brought death to the wicked. Kåñëa and Arjuna were enlivened by the gifts, and now, prepared with weapons, missiles, chariots, and banners, they said to Fire, «We are ready to fight, lord, even with all the gods and demons, what to speak of Indra, who desires to fight for the sake of a serpent.» 
Arjuna said: 
When Çré Kåñëa, chief of the Våñëis, hurls His disc weapon, no one in the universe will stand unconquered. Taking the Gäëòéva bow and these two inexhaustible quivers of arrows, I too, O Fire, shall boldly conquer all the worlds in battle. My lord, we are ready to help you, and as soon as you like, you may surround the forest with a great fire. This very moment, blaze away as you desire! 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
Thus addressed by Lord Kåñëa of the Däçärhas and Arjuna, the lord of fire assumed a flaming form and began to burn the forest. Surrounding it, the seven-tongued blaze angrily burned the Khäëòava Forest as if to reveal the almighty blaze that destroys the worlds at the end of the millennium. O noble Bhärata, he seized and pervaded the forest with a roar like that of thunder clouds, burning up all the creatures Providence had placed there. As the great woods burned, they revealed a form resembling Mount Meru, the king of mountains, which shines with its skin of gold. 
Indra Fights Arjuna 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
[Lord Kåñëa and Arjuna had appeared in this world to eliminate the large demonic population that infested the earth.] Now these two tigerlike heroes situated themselves on both sides of the forest and carried out the great devastation. Wherever the creatures dwelling in the Khäëòava Forest were seen to be escaping, the two heroes pursued them, and because of the speed and power of their chariots, there was no opening, no escape, for the two warriors and their splendid chariots pervaded the area. 
As the Khäëòava Forest burned, creatures by the thousands leaped up and fled, bellowing out their fearful cries to the ten directions. Some were burned in one part of their body, and others were burned entirely. Their eyes bulging, they were scattered, overwhelmed, and senseless. Some of these beings embraced their offspring; others clung to their fathers and mothers, unable to let go out of affection, and in that posture they met destruction. 
Others leaped up with twisted expressions, and by the thousands they dashed about, finally plunging into the fire. All around, embodied souls could be seen writhing in their death throes on the earth's surface, their wings, eyes, and feet burned. As all the rivers and lakes reached a boil, O Bhärata, the turtles and fish could be seen lying lifeless by the thousands. 
In that destruction of life, the living beings in that forest appeared like embodied fires as their limbs shot up in flames. As they leaped up, Arjuna cut them to pieces with arrows and, smiling, hurled them into the blazing fire. [He knew that by giving up their mortal bodies in the presence of Lord Kåñëa, these demonic creatures would be instantly liberated from the cycle of birth and death.] 
Their limbs covered with arrows, bellowing tumultuously, they thrust themselves up, only to fall back into the fire. The tumult of those forest animals, struck fiercely with arrows and burning up, was like the sound of the great ocean churning. The flames of the joyful fire flew up to the heavens, generating tremendous concern among the celestial denizens. Then all the exalted celestial denizens went for shelter to the king of gods, thousand-eyed Indra, who pulverizes the cities of his enemies. 
The gods said: 
O lord of the immortals, why are all these creatures burning in the presence of Lord Kåñëa? Can it be that the devastation of the worlds has come? 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
Hearing this from them, Indra, killer of the great Våtra, looked down and studied the situation. Then to save the Khäëòava Forest, he set out on the back of a celestial lion. The wielder of the thunderbolt spread the heavens thick with all manner of cloud formations and commenced the heavy rains. Hurling down the hundreds and thousands of torrents as hard and wide as axles, thousand-eyed Indra rained fiercely on the fire-god and his Khäëòava fuel. But before those shafts of rain could even reach their target, the sacred fire with his prowess dried them up in the sky, and none could touch him. 
Then Indra, slayer of Namuci, grew utterly furious with the flaming fire, and again he showered fiercely upon him, hurling a deluge of water. Filled with flames and torrents, crowded with smoke and lightning, and echoing with the crack of thunder, the forest was awful with fear. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
When Indra showered down water, Päëòava Arjuna rushed it away with a shower of arrows, revealing in the process the finest of weapons. The Päëòava covered the entire Khäëòava area with arrows, thus driving the rain away from the forest. So thoroughly did ambidextrous Arjuna blanket the forest with his sky-going shafts that not a single creature was able to escape. 
Takñaka, the mighty serpent king, was not present as the forest was burning, for he had gone to Kurukñetra. However, Takñaka's powerful son Açvasena was there, and he made a frantic effort to save himself from the voracious fire. But harassed by Arjuna's arrows, he was unable to get out. His serpent mother saved him from burning by swallowing him, first gulping down his head and then his tail, stretching to let her son go down. But when the snake woman moved, Arjuna shot off her head with a sharp, wide-bladed arrow. Indra then saw Takñaka's son, and being anxious to save him, the thunderbolt-wielder bewildered Arjuna with sudden bursts of wind and rain, and in that instant Açvasena escaped. 
Seeing the terrible power of illusion, and deceived by the snake, O Bhärata, Arjuna cut into two and three pieces those who fled in the sky. The frightening Arjuna furiously cursed the crooked-moving snake, and Fire and Kåñëa cursed him as well, saying, «He shall have no position or place to rest!» 
Then victorious Arjuna covered the skies with cutting arrows and poured them on thousand-eyed Indra, for he kept remembering the god's deception and went in a rage to battle him. The king of the gods, seeing Arjuna's fury, also took up the battle, releasing his own blazing weapon, which expanded across the firmament. Then the Wind, roaring its challenge, shook up the seas and, standing in the sky, sent forth frenzied torrential clouds. 
But Arjuna was expert in counteracting the enemy, and to neutralize this attack he invoked and unleashed his own supreme air missile. By its power the thunderbolt and clouds of Indra lost all their strength, the rain clouds dried up, and the lightning vanished. In a moment the sky was tranquil, free of passion and destruction, a cool and refreshing wind blew, and the sun disk shone normally upon the earth. Joyful at the sudden collapse of interference, the sacred Fire, in his manifold forms, swirled into an unprecedented blaze, filling the world with his roaring, crackling sound. 
Seeing the two Kåñëasö guarding the forest despite all opposition, the birds, headed by the descendants of Garuòa, pridefully rose up into the sky. The birds in Garuòa's line had beaks and talons like thunderbolts, and they rushed down from the sky toward Kåñëa and Arjuna, eager to strike them. At the same time, hordes of snakes came out near Arjuna, spewing out horrible venom from their burning faces. Arjuna turned his attention to the birds, fighting with such speed that as soon as he saw them he angrily shattered them with his arrows. They fell helplessly into the blazing fire, and their bodies were no more. 
Then the gods united with the Gandharvas, Yakñas, Räkñasas, and serpents and rushed forward, roaring with unheard-of power, eager for combat. Their rage had driven them into a frenzy, and with iron maces and lethal wheels, stones, and fire-spitting missiles in their hands, they came to strike and kill Kåñëa and Arjuna. 
As they cried out and released a shower of weapons, frightening Arjuna harassed their arms and faces with his sharp arrows. [Having descended to this universe to destroy the wicked, most powerful Kåñëa took advantage of the occasion.] With His invincible disc he began slaying entire hordes of Daityas and Dänavas. Others, pierced by the arrows and slammed by the racing disc, crumpled to the earth like waves making their final reach upon the shore. 
Now Indra was raging wildly, and mounting his white elephant, he swiftly charged Kåñëa and Arjuna. Taking his thunderbolt in hand, the slayer of demons instantly hurled the lethal rod, crying out to the gods, «Those two are dead!» 
Seeing that the king of gods had raised and hurled his thunderbolt, the gods took up all their weapons. King Yama, lord of death, grabbed the staff of deadly time; Kuvera, lord of the treasury, his war palanquin; Varuëa his noose; and Çiva his trident. The Açvins held their flaming herbs, Dhätä took his bow, and Jaya grabbed his club. Mighty Tvañöä angrily seized a mountain, Aàça took a spear, and the god of death now brandished an ax. Aryamä, holding up an awesome bludgeon, strode about, while Mitra took a razor-edged disc and positioned himself. Püñä, wrathful Bhaga, and Savitä, O king, took their bows and swords and rushed toward Kåñëa and Arjuna. Then the mighty Rudras, Vasus, Maruts, Viçvedevas, and Sädhyas, ablaze with their own prowess, along with many other gods, ready to strike, advanced with various weapons upon the two exalted personalities Kåñëa and Arjuna. 
In the great battle that ensued, wondrous signs were seen, portents normally visible at the end of the millennium, when the worlds are annihilated, signifying that many creatures will relinquish their lives. Seeing that Indra was furiously attacking with the gods, the two unfailing friends were fearless and invincible, and they stood with ready bows. Seeing the gods advancing from all corners, the two now showed their fury, hurling them back with arrows hard as thunderbolts. 
When time and again their determination was broken, the gods fled the battle in fear and took shelter of Indra. Great sages in heaven were astonished to see that Çré Kåñëa and Arjuna had driven back the gods. Even lord Indra, having repeatedly witnessed the valor of the two in battle, was most pleased, and in a sporting spirit he again went to battle them. 
Indra then released a shower of stones, for he was eager to observe once more the prowess of his son Arjuna. And the ambidextrous Arjuna indignantly shattered the shower with his arrows. Seeing the futility of the effort, even as he was making it, Indra, of the hundred sacrifices, then greatly increased the lethal shower. But with his swift arrows, Arjuna again annihilated the rain of stones, giving joy to his father, the king of the gods. 
Indra then ripped out with his bare hands a gigantic peak of Mandara Mountain and speedily hurled it, trying to strike the son of Päëòu. Then Arjuna, with fast, fiery, and side-winding arrows, blew up the mountain peak into a thousand pieces. The shattering of the mountain peak looked as spectacular as the shattering of outer space with its sun, moon, and stars. And as the great mountain peak came crashing down on the forest, it smashed the bodies of even more of the souls who lived in the doomed forest of Khäëòava. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
The crashing of the mountain terrified the creatures who dwelled in the forest, and hundreds of demonic Dänavas, Räkñasas, serpents, hyenas, bears, maddened elephants and tigers, full-maned lions, deer. buffalo, and birds all fled in panic. As they gazed up at the burning forest and at the two Kåñëas with their upraised weapons, this sight and the clear sounds of devastation left them in utter terror. 
Lord Kåñëa then released his self-effulgent disc, and the wicked communities such as the Dänavas and ghostly Piçäcaras, [who had given so much pain to the earth,] were cut to pieces by the hundreds and fell instantly into the fire. The Räkñasas were ripped apart by Çré Kåñëa's disc, but by the touch of the Lord's weapon their bodies, although drenched in blood and fat, shone as beautifully as a formation of rain clouds at the reddening sunset. 
Lord Kåñëa, chief of the Våñëis, roamed about like deadly time, O Bhärata, cutting down ghostly Piçäcas, evil birds, serpents, and beasts by the thousands. Çré Kåñëa devastates his foes, and as He repeatedly hurled His Cakra disc, it struck down many creatures, and again and again it returned to His hand. As the Lord thus proceeded to slay all the marked creatures of the forest, His appearance terrified all beings. Among all the assembled gods and demons, there was not a one who could conquer Çré Kåñëa and Arjuna in battle. When the gods with all their strength were unable to put out the fire and save the forest, they turned away. Seeing how the hosts of celestials had given up the fight, Indra was pleased. Remaining there, he began to praise Kåñëa and Arjuna. 
When the gods had retired, an invisible voice, mighty and deep, declared to Lord Indra, «Your friend Takñaka, leader of the serpents, was not trapped below, for at the time of burning the Khäëòava Forest he had already gone to Kurukñetra. Listen to my words, Indra. You are unable to conquer Çré Kåñëa and Arjuna, for they are committed to this battle. They are not human beings. Rather, Kåñëa is the Supreme Godhead, Näräyaëa, and Arjuna is His eternal pure devotee who appears as Nara. These two are the divine Nara-Näräyaëa, who are famous even in heaven, and you know well their invincible prowess. These two primeval beings, the Lord and His pure devotee, are the wisest of all, and they cannot even be approached unless they will it. Certainly no one in all the planets of the universe can conquer them, for they are invincible in battle 
«These two above all beings are to be worshiped by all the gods and demons, and by the Yakñas, Räkñasas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, and snakes. Therefore, Indra, you and the gods should leave this place, and you should behold that the Lord has ordained the destruction of the Khäëòava Forest.» 
Hearing this voice and recognizing its words to be accurate, the lord of the immortals gave up his fury and indignation and departed for his heavenly home. When the celestial denizens saw that the great being had departed, they quickly went with him, O king. Seeing that the king of gods was leaving with the other celestials, the two heroes Kåñëa and Arjuna, acting the part of earthly warriors, cried out like conquering lions. 
When the king of gods had gone, O king, Kåñëa and Arjuna were jubilant, and without hestitaion they returned to the burning of the forest. Just as the wind vanquishes the clouds, so Arjuna had vanquished the gods, and now with the firm strikes of his arrows he continued to scatter the living beings who lived in the Khäëòava Forest. As Savyasäcéö fired away, not a single creature there could escape, for every one of them, as destined, was separated from his body. 
The mighty beasts and demonic beings in the forest could not even see Arjuna, so quickly did he fire his infallible shafts, and what to speak of doing battle with him. He shot one creature with a hundred shafts, and with one feathered arrow he brought down one hundred. Creatures fell senseless into the fire, as if struck down by Time Himself.à They found no peace behind barriers, on rough land, or in the temples of the ancestors and gods, for the full fire sprang up everywhere. Elephants, monkeys, deer, birds, and thousands of herds of creatures cried out wretchedly and made such a mighty sound that the aquatics in the Ganges and the ocean were panicstricken. Not a single creature was able to even look upon mighty-armed Arjuna or powerful Kåñëa, what to speak of fighting with them. 
Some groups funneled into hopelessly narrow paths and simply collapsed on the spot. And Lord Kåñëa, with His disc, continued to slay the wicked Räkñasas, Dänavas, and serpents, and with their heads and bodies cut to pieces by the swift power of the disc, their giant bodies fell lifeless into the mouth of the swirling fire. Fueled by the floods of flesh and blood and fat, the fire was swept up and up until it blazed clear and smokeless high in the sky. With blazing eyes, a blazing tongue, a blazing wide, giant mouth, blazing upright hairs, and orange eyes, it drank [the fat of those souls whose bodies were sinful,] and the fire became happy and peaceful. Indeed, he experienced the greatest bliss in the association of Çré Kåñëa and Arjuna, for their association was just like celestial nectar. 
Suddenly Lord Kåñëa saw the Asura named Maya fleeing from the residence of Takñaka. The wind-driven god of fire, eager to burn him, took the body of a sage with matted locks and roared like a rain cloud. Kåñëa also wished to slay him, and standing His ground, He raised His disc. Seeing the upraised disc and the voracious fire, Maya cried out, «Arjuna! Please come and help me!» 
Hearing his fearful cry, Arjuna, son of Påthä, replied to Maya, «Do not fear,» giving him the hope of life. As soon as Arjuna gave Namuci's brother Maya an assurance of safety, Lord Kåñëa did not want to slay him, nor did fire burn him. 
Thus as the forest burned, the fire did not consume six persons: Açvasena, Maya, and the four birds known as the Çärìgakas. 
The Çärìgakas Are Saved 
Janamejaya said: 
When the forest was ablaze, why did Agni hold off burning the Çärìgakas? O brähmaëa, kindly tell me at once. You have explained why the fire did not burn Açvasena and the Dänava named Maya, O brähmaëa, but you have not explained about the Çärìgakas. I find it amazing that they did not perish. Please explain how they survived when Agni, god of fire, was wreaking such devastation. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana replied: 
Even when the fire reached a fierce pitch, it did not burn the Çärìgakas, O Bhärata, and I shall now narrate to you in full how and why they were spared. 
Once there was an ascetic who was strict in his vows and was the very best among those who know sacred law. This saintly and well-educated seer was known as Mandapäla. and he followed the path of celibate saints, who raise their vital fluid to the brain and so nourish their spiritual intelligence. He was scholarly, austere, and a lover of virtue, and having fully controlled his senses, he had freedom to practice his noble convictions. 
Having gone to the highest limit of austerities, he relinquished his material body, O Bhärata, and went to Pitåloka, the planet of ancestors, but he did not achieve the result he had expected. Realizing that even the planets he had attained by austerities did not bestow the results he desired, he inquired of the celestial residents in the presence of Yamaräja. 
«Why do these planets seem concealed from me, even though I have fairly acquired them by my austerities? What did I fail to accomplish in my religious practices, that I have obtained such a result for all my works? I shall make up whatever is lacking, whatever it is that keeps these planets, the fruit of my austerities, closed to me. Tell me what I lack, O celestial denizens.» 
The demigods replied: 
Human beings are born in debt, O brähmaëa. Hear now what their obligations are: to perform sacred rites, to practice celibate student life, and to beget progeny. The entire debt is paid by sacrifice, austerity, and offspring.You have lived the austere life of a celibate and have offered sacrifice, but you have no offspring. Because of this lack, the planets you earned are still sealed off to you. Beget progeny, and then you will enjoy these immortal realms. O sage, a son saves his father from the hell known as Put, and thus a son is called putra, the savior from hell. O best of the brähmaëas, you must therefore endeavor to beget a son to perpetuate your line. 
Vaiçampäyana said: 
Hearing such a declaration from the celestial beings, the sage Mandapäla wondered, «Where can progeny be had quickly and in good quantity?» Considering the matter, he realized that birds have many offspring. So, transforming himself into a Çärìgaka bird, he approached a young female Çärìgaka named Jaritä and begot in her four sons who would become learned Vedic scholars. But while they were still in their eggs, the sage left his young sons in the woods with the mother and went after a female named Lapitä. 
When the great soul had flown off after Lapitä, O Bhärata, Jaritä worried constantly out of affection for her children. The sage had abandoned his sons even though the young should not have been left in the forest while still in their eggs. The aggrieved mother Jaritä did not desert them, and when they were born she was moved by affection and did everything she could do to maintain them, O king, in the ill-fated Khäëòava Forest. 
As Mandapäla moved about the woods with Lapitä, the sage realized that Agni was coming to burn down the Khäëòava Forest. Understanding the fire-god's purpose and realizing that his children would be trapped in the blaze, the learned brähmaëa sage fearfully offered prayers of praise to the sacred fire, the powerful ruler of the world, entrusting his sons to the god's mercy. 
Mandapäla said: 
O Agni, you are the mouth of all the gods, for it is you who carry the ritual oblation. O Agni, you dwell undetected within all beings. The wise say that you are one, and again they say that you are threefold, and calling you eightfold, they render you the one who bears the sacrificial offering. It is by you, O Agni, that the world is created; so say the exalted sages. O sacred fire, without you the entire universe would immediately cease to exist. After offering their obeisances to you, the brähmaëas journey with their wives and children to the eternal destination they have won by their good deeds. 
The learned say you are the rain cloud suspended in the sky and flashing with lightning. The fire that burns all beings emanates from you. Great is your splendor, O sacred fire, for this cosmic creation is yours, and all deeds and all beings, both moving and unmoving, are arranged by you. You have set the primeval waters on their course. All the worlds rest in you. Offerings to the gods and forefathers are established within you, exactly as they are meant to be. 
O Agni, you alone are the fire, the sustainer, the seer Båhaspati, the twin Açvins, the lord of friendship, the moon, and the wind. 
Vaiçampäyana said: 
Thus praised by Mandapäla, Fire was satisfied, O king, with that sage of immeasurable splendor and said to him, «What may I do to please you?» 
With folded hands Mandapäla addressed the sacred fire, «When you burn the Khäëòava woods, please spare my sons.» «So be it!» promised the lord of fire, and at that very moment he entered the Khäëòava Forest, eager to burn. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
When the fire began to blaze, the Çärìgakas were very aggrieved and disturbed. Indeed they were utterly terrified, for they could find no shelter. Seeing her little sons in such danger, Jaritä agonized over them and wailed, O king. 
«The fearful fire is coming, burning every hiding place, igniting the world and giving me grief more and more. And my children are pulling on me, for they are young and don't know what to think. They have not even grown their feathers or feet, and they are the hope of our ancestors, yet the terrifying flames are coming. Now the flames are licking and tasting the nearby trees. Even though I could escape, my sons have no strength and could not make it, and if I carry my sons then I will be too weak to escape. And I do not have the power to leave them. Oh, how my heart is shaking! Which son could I leave behind, and which son would I take with me? What should I do? What is to be done? My dear sons, think of what to do. I am thinking of how to save you, but I find no solution. I shall simply cover you with my own body and give up my life with you. 
« `Jaritäri is our eldest son, and certainly our family line depends on him. Särisåkva will beget progeny and bring prosperity to our ancestors. Stambamitra should perform austerities, and Droëa will be a superb Vedic scholar.' After saying all this, your cruel father departed. If I must now flee, whom shall I take and who will inherit this final disaster? What is my duty? How can I act properly?» 
Thus overwhelmed, she could not find within her mind a way to save her sons from the fire, and she continued to speak and lament until her children, the little Çärìgakas, replied to their mother, «Dear mother, give up this sentiment and fly away from the fire! Even when we perish, you will beget other sons, but if you perish, mother, we will be too young to survive and perpetuate our family line. Understand these two options and do what is best for our family, for now is your last chance to act, mother. You must not let your affection for your sons destroy the family. Our father begot us so that he could attain the higher planets, and his endeavor must not go in vain.» 
Jaritä said: 
Here is a mouse hole near the tree. Enter it quickly now so that the fire will not harm you! Then I shall cover the hole with dirt, my sons. I think this is the solution to the raging fire. When the fire is over, I will return and remove the pile of dirt. Isn't this the solution to save you from the fire? 
The Çärìgakas said: 
We have not developed our feathers and flesh. The carnivorous rat would devour us. Considering this certain danger, we could not possibly live in that hole. How will the fire not burn us? How will the rat not eat us? How will our father's life not be in vain? How will our mother take care of us? We birds must perish in the rat hole or from the fire, and considering the two options, burning in the fire is better than being eaten alive. It is an abominable death to be eaten alive by a rat in a hole. The learned have ordained that one should relinquish one's body unto fire. 
Jaritä said: 
When the small mouse came out of the hole, a hawk carried it away in his talons. There is no further danger. 
The Çärìgakas said: 
There is no way that we can definitely know that the hawk took away the mouse. Anyway, there will be others in the hole that will threaten us. There is some doubt that the fire will come, for we can see that the wind is dying. But there is no doubt, mother, that the hole-dwellers will kill us. A doubtful death, mother, is better than a doubtless one. Take to the skies as you must, and you will find other beautiful sons. 
Jaritä said: 
I myself saw the hawk coming, for I was nearby, and the mighty bird walked around and then grabbed the mouse out of the hole and took it away. As the hawk flew away I quickly followed it, pronouncing blessings upon the bird for having taken the mouse out of the hole. 
«O king of hawks, you have taken away our enemy, and now you go on your way. May you move through the heavens in a golden form free of enemies.» 
When the hungry bird had eaten the mouse, I got his permission and returned home. Now, my sons, go into the hole with full confidence; there is no danger for you. The hawk took the mouse before my eyes; there's no doubt about it. 
The Çärìgakas said: 
We still don't know, mother, if the mouse was taken from the hole, and until we clearly know that we are unable to enter the hole. 
Jaritä said: 
But I do know it–the hawk took the mouse! Thus there is no danger, please do what I say. 
The Çärìgakas said: 
You cannot dispel our great fear by trying to help us in this deceitful way. When a person's faculties are fully disturbed, he does not act rationally. 
We have never done anything for your benefit, nor do you know our real identity. Who are you, so good and dutiful that you are willing to be tortured by caring for us? Who are we to you? You are young and beautiful and capable of satisfying the desires of your husband. Go along now to your husband, and you will have other beautiful children. By entering the fire we are sure to attain the worlds of the blessed. Or if the fire does not burn us, you will come to us again. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
At these words, the Çärìgaka mother left her sons in the Khäëòava Forest and quickly went to a safe place where fire had not settled. Thereupon the raging fire with its harsh, cutting flames headed straight for the little Çärìgaka sons of the sage Mandapäla. When the children saw the fire blazing with its power, the eldest child, Jaritäri, spoke to his brothers so that Fire could hear him. 
Jaritäri said: 
Before the time of troubles a wise man awakens, and when the difficult times come he never succumbs to pain. However, one who remains dull and unaware as long as troubles are not directly upon him and does not awaken beforehand is shaken in time of trouble and does not comprehend anything. 
Särisåkva said: 
Sober you are and wise, for a life-threatening problem comes fast upon us. Surely out of many people, only one is actually brave and learned. 
Stambamitra said: 
The eldest is truly the savior, for the eldest saves one from troubles. If the eldest does not understand, what will the younger do? 
Droëa said: 
The fire-god of golden seed comes quickly blazing to our abode. The lank fire comes crawling, licking with his seven flaming tongues. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
Thus addressed by his brothers, Jaritäri folded his hands in humility. Now hear, O king, how he was able to satisfy the mighty fire. 
Jaritäri said: 
You are the soul of the wind, you are its purifying power, and you are the body of green growing things. O Fire, water is your source, and you are the source of the water. Your flames, O powerful one, go upward and downward and seep out to the sides, like the wide rays of the sun. 
Särisåkva said: 
Our mother has gone to save herself, and we do not know our father. Our wings are not yet grown, and we have no other savior, Fire, but you. Thus it is clear that you, who are a unique hero, must fully protect us. 
O Fire, with your benevolent form, made beautiful by seven shooting flames, protect us now. We worship you, seeking your shelter. Because you are the sacred fire, into which offerings are made to the Supreme Lord, you alone are the instrument by which the austerities of sages become offerings to the Lord. It is fire that digests our food, and thus you give strength to the senses. O lord, care for us, for we are but infant sages. Your duty is to carry oblations to the Lord, and our duty is to offer them, so kindly pass us by and go elsewhere. 
Stambamitra said: 
O Fire, the whole universe depends on you, for you sustain all creatures. You maintain the world, and thusöyou aloneöare all things. You, Fire, carry the religious offerings to the Lord, and you are yourself the highest offering. The wise worship you in many ways, although you are one. 
As the source of vision you manifest the three worlds, and when the time has come you devour them in your blazing heat. You are the source of heat, and therefore birth depends on you. Thus you are the foundation of the whole living world. Dwelling within the embodied souls, O lord of the world, you ever flourish by burning the food they eat, and thus everything depends on you. 
Droëa said: 
O sacred Fire, you are the rays of the sun, and thus you take all the waters of the earth and all the earth's juices, and again at the time of creation you send them forth as rain, nourishing all the world, O luminous one. 
O bright one, from you all the herbs and vines again garb themselves in green, and the lotus ponds and the sea and the great ocean arise. Our abode, O sharp-rayed one, is dedicated to Varuëa, lord of waters, and it should not be consumed by fire. Please be our benevolent savior and do not destroy us now! O yellow-eyed, red-throated, oblation-eating fire, blazing the black path, go beyond and let us be, as you spare the ocean mansions. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
Thus addressed by Droëa, who had never put anyone into trouble, the sacred Fire was pleased, and keeping his promise to Mandapäla, he said to Droëa, «You are a sage, Droëa, for you have spoken spiritual wisdom. I shall do as you desire; you have nothing to fear. Mandapäla has previously entrusted all of you to me, for he said, `You must spare my little sons when you go to burn the forest.' I respect very much both his words and yours. Tell me now what I can do to help you. O powerful brähmaëa, you have pleased me greatly by your prayer. May you be blessed.» 
Droëa said: 
O Fire, these cats always threaten and disturb us. O sacred fire, please place them and their relatives between your ferocious teeth. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
The fire did just that, O Janamejaya, and giving leave to the Çärìgakas, he went on blazing and burned the Khäëòava Forest. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
My dear Kauravya, in the meantime Mandapäla went on worrying for his sons. Although he had appealed to the god of fire and received assurances, he thought, «Fire may not stop himself from burning them.» 
Constantly worrying about his sons, he said to Lapitä, «My little sons are not even able to fly, Lapitä. When the sacred fire swells and the wind is whipping about, my children will be unable to escape. And their mother is certainly unable to save them. When she fails to find a way to save them, she will be overcome by grief. Burning with sorrow over my helpless sons, who can neither run nor fly, she must be screaming in anguish and racing about. What about my son Jaritäri, and what about my Särisåkva, and what about Stambamitra and Droëa, and their poor suffering mother?» 
As the sage Mandapäla continued to lament in the forest, O Bhärata, Lapitä said to him as if with envy, «There is no need to think of your sons. You yourself said they are all brilliant and powerful sages who have nothing to fear from the fire. And in my presence you entrusted them to the fire-god, and that great soul promised to spare them. Fire is a world ruler, and he would never speak a lie. Your sons are quite capable of explaining themselves. Your concern is not really for them. You are really suffering because you worry about that woman who is my rival. I know you don't love me the way you once loved her. Even if a man has given his love to another and doesn't care for his own family, he is not indifferent when he has the power to help them. Just go to Jaritä, the one for whom you lament. I shall wander about alone, like all the women who have bad men. 
Mandapäla said: 
I am not acting as you so proudly imagine. I am thinking about my progeny, for they are in trouble. The world derides a fool who gives up his actual wealth and then depends on future profit. You may do as you wish. The fire is blazing, eagerly lapping up the trees, and it causes conflict and anguish in my heart. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
When the fire had passed over that region, Jaritä rushed back to her sons, eager to care for them. When she came to the forest and saw they were all healthy and had been saved from the fire, the poor mother cried out with emotion at this most unbelievable sight. Again and again she went up to her sons, one by one, all the time weeping. 
Suddenly Mandapäla arrived there, O Bhärata, but not a single one of his sons welcomed him. Though he eagerly and repeatedly spoke to them, one by one, and to Jaritä, they would say nothing to the sage, good or bad. 
Mandapäla said: 
Which is the eldest son and which one is next? Who is the middle son, and who is the youngest among you? Why don't you answer me when I am speaking to you with such anguish in my heart? I cannot find any peace in my life since I left you to the fire. 
Jaritä said: 
What do you want with your eldest son? What do you have to do with your next son? What business do you have with your middle son, or with the youngest, who is an ascetic? When I was completely helpless, you rejected me and went your way. Go to that Lapitä. Go to the young one with the pretty smile. 
Mandapäla said: 
Apart from an illicit lover, nothing ruins a woman's character as much as rivalry with another woman. The whole world has heard of Arundhaté, a most faithful and noble woman who lost all faith in her husband Vasiñöha although he was an exalted sage of pure character who was always devoted to her welfare and happiness. But she began to think badly of him even though he was one of the seven sages of heaven and a courageous thinker, and by her contempt she became like the red dawn when it is covered by smoke. Sometimes visible, sometimes not, she is not a handsome sight, for she appears like a strange omen. 
You took me as your husband to beget progeny in this world, and if you reject me, whom you once desired, now that it has come to this, then you will become like that lady. It is impossible for men to trust their wives, for once they have children even chaste women forget their duties to their men. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
My dear king, all the sons then properly welcomed and revered him, and he began to comfort and reassure his own begotten children. 
Mandapäla said: 
I informed the fire-god about you so that you would be saved, and he agreed and gave his word. Thus knowing of Fire's promise, of your mother's knowledge of duty, and of your own supreme heroism, I did not come sooner. You should not have worried about dying, my sons, for even the god of fire recognizes the wise sages, and all of you have learned the Vedic wisdom. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
Thus comforting his sons and taking them and his wife, O Bhärata, Mandapäla then went from that land to another land. 
The hot-rayed lord of fire, along with Kåñëa and Arjuna, then burned up the blazing Khäëòava Forest, and by doing so he relieved the whole world of fear. The fire drank up waves of marrow and fat, cleansing the earth. Completely satisfied, he revealed himself to Arjuna. 
The lord of the celestials, Indra, then came down from middle space, surrounded by the hosts of wind-gods, and said to Arjuna and Çré Kåñëa: «You two have performed a task which even the immortal gods could hardly accomplish. Such is my satisfaction that I wish to bestow gifts upon you. Choose whatever you wish, even if it is difficult to obtain and beyond the scope of human beings.» 
Arjuna chose from Indra all sorts of weapons, and Indra established a time in which Arjuna could take possession of them. «When in the future the mighty god Çiva is pleased, Päëòava, he will bestow upon you all these weapons. I alone know when that time will come, O child of the Kurus, and because of your great austerities I shall see that you obtain all the weapons you requested. You will take possession of all the fire weapons, wind weapons, and all of my own weapons, Dhanaïjaya.» 
Lord Kåñëa chose eternal loving friendship with His devotee Arjuna, and the king of gods happily granted this boon. Having awarded the two heroes their wishes, and pleased with the whole situation, Lord Indra took leave of Fire and returned with the gods to the heavenly abode. 
Fire was quite satiated, for he had burned the forest with its fated birds and beasts for five days and one, and now he rested. Cleansing the world of the flesh and marrow of those fated creatures, Fire felt the greatest joy, and he said to Lord Kåñëa and Arjuna, «All my desires have been fulfilled by you two, who are the best of all personalities. I beg to grant you leave. You are true heroes, and you may go where your desire takes you.» 
When the glorious Fire had thus bid them farewell, Arjuna, Çré Kåñëa, and the mystic Dänava named Maya all circumambulated the god, O Bhärata king, and together they sat at their leisure on the charming bank of the river. 
This last chapter of the First Canto, Ädi-parva, of the Mahäbhärata was completed on the eve of the Appearance Day of Çri Advaita Äcärya, February 1, 1990, in the area of New Dvärakä Dhäma, Los Angeles, California, by the mercy of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda and Their Lordships Çré Çré Rukmiëé-Dvärakädhéça.