01.215
Pancharatra: Agni seeks Arjuna and Krishna's help to burn Kandava forest.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
सोऽब्रवीदर्जुनं चैव वासुदेवं च सात्वतम्। लोकप्रवीरौ तिष्ठन्तौ खाण्डवस्य समीपतः ॥१-२१५-१॥
He spoke to Arjuna and to Vāsudeva, the Sātvata, the two greatest heroes in the world, who were standing near Khāṇḍava.
ब्राह्मणो बहुभोक्तास्मि भुञ्जेऽपरिमितं सदा। भिक्षे वार्ष्णेयपार्थौ वामेकां तृप्तिं प्रयच्छताम् ॥१-२१५-२॥
I am a brāhmaṇa who eats much and always enjoys unlimited food. O Vārṣṇeya and Pārtha, I beg you both, please grant me a single satisfaction.
एवमुक्तौ तमब्रूतां ततस्तौ कृष्णपाण्डवौ। केनान्नेन भवांस्तृप्येत्तस्यान्नस्य यतावहे ॥१-२१५-३॥
After these words were spoken, Kṛṣṇa and Pāṇḍava said to him: "By what food would you be satisfied? Of that food, as you wish, we will bring it."
एवमुक्तः स भगवानब्रवीत्तावुभौ ततः। भाषमाणौ तदा वीरौ किमन्नं क्रियतामिति ॥१-२१५-४॥
Thus addressed, the venerable one then said to both: "While the two heroes were speaking, what food should be prepared?"
नाहमन्नं बुभुक्षे वै पावकं मां निबोधतम्। यदन्नमनुरूपं मे तद्युवां सम्प्रयच्छतम् ॥१-२१५-५॥
I do not desire food; know me as fire. Give me that food which is suitable for me, you both.
इदमिन्द्रः सदा दावं खाण्डवं परिरक्षति। तं न शक्नोम्यहं दग्धुं रक्ष्यमाणं महात्मना ॥१-२१५-६॥
Indra always protects the Khandava forest. I am unable to burn it while it is being guarded by the great-souled one.
वसत्यत्र सखा तस्य तक्षकः पन्नगः सदा। सगणस्तत्कृते दावं परिरक्षति वज्रभृत् ॥१-२१५-७॥
Here, Takshaka the serpent, his friend, always resides; Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, along with his attendants, protects the forest fire for his sake.
तत्र भूतान्यनेकानि रक्ष्यन्ते स्म प्रसङ्गतः। तं दिधक्षुर्न शक्नोमि दग्धुं शक्रस्य तेजसा ॥१-२१५-८॥
There, many beings are incidentally protected. I, desiring to burn him, am not able to burn him due to the energy of Śakra (Indra).
स मां प्रज्वलितं दृष्ट्वा मेघाम्भोभिः प्रवर्षति। ततो दग्धुं न शक्नोमि दिधक्षुर्दावमीप्सितम् ॥१-२१५-९॥
He, seeing me blazing, pours down with rain from the clouds. Therefore, though I wish to burn the desired forest fire, I am unable to do so.
स युवाभ्यां सहायाभ्यामस्त्रविद्भ्यां समागतः। दहेयं खाण्डवं दावमेतदन्नं वृतं मया ॥१-२१५-१०॥
He has come together with you two, who are helpers and knowers of weapons; I should burn the Khandava forest, for this food has been chosen by me.
युवां ह्युदकधारास्ता भूतानि च समन्ततः। उत्तमास्त्रविदो सम्यक्सर्वतो वारयिष्यथः ॥१-२१५-११॥
You two, being excellent knowers of weapons and water-bearers, will properly ward off all those beings from every side.
एवमुक्ते प्रत्युवाच बीभत्सुर्जातवेदसम्। दिधक्षुं खाण्डवं दावमकामस्य शतक्रतोः ॥१-२१५-१२॥
When these words were spoken, Arjuna (Bībhatsu) replied to Agni (Jātavedas), who wished to burn the Khāṇḍava forest, which Indra (Śatakratu) was unwilling to allow.
उत्तमास्त्राणि मे सन्ति दिव्यानि च बहूनि च। यैरहं शक्नुयां योद्धुमपि वज्रधरान्बहून् ॥१-२१५-१३॥
I possess many excellent and divine weapons, by which I could even fight many wielders of the thunderbolt.
धनुर्मे नास्ति भगवन्बाहुवीर्येण संमितम्। कुर्वतः समरे यत्नं वेगं यद्विषहेत मे ॥१-२१५-१४॥
O Lord, there is no bow equal to the strength of my arm; in battle, while exerting effort, there is no force which could withstand me.
शरैश्च मेऽर्थो बहुभिरक्षयैः क्षिप्रमस्यतः। न हि वोढुं रथः शक्तः शरान्मम यथेप्सितान् ॥१-२१५-१५॥
By my many inexhaustible arrows, quickly shot, the chariot is not indeed capable of bearing as many arrows as I desire.
अश्वांश्च दिव्यानिच्छेयं पाण्डुरान्वातरंहसः। रथं च मेघनिर्घोषं सूर्यप्रतिमतेजसम् ॥१-२१५-१६॥
I desire divine horses, white and swift as the wind, and a chariot that thunders like a cloud and shines with the brilliance of the sun.
तथा कृष्णस्य वीर्येण नायुधं विद्यते समम्। येन नागान्पिशाचांश्च निहन्यान्माधवो रणे ॥१-२१५-१७॥
Likewise, by the strength of Kṛṣṇa, there is no weapon equal to his, by which Mādhava could slay serpents and demons in battle.
उपायं कर्मणः सिद्धौ भगवन्वक्तुमर्हसि। निवारयेयं येनेन्द्रं वर्षमाणं महावने ॥१-२१५-१८॥
O revered one, please tell me the means by which I may accomplish the act of restraining Indra, who is causing rain in the great forest.
पौरुषेण तु यत्कार्यं तत्कर्तारौ स्व पावक। करणानि समर्थानि भगवन्दातुमर्हसि ॥१-२१५-१९॥
O Pāvaka (Agni), by courage, whatever is to be accomplished, your two agents, being capable, O Lord, you ought to provide the necessary means.
