The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 227

Section CCXXVII. *( Khandava-daha Parva continued. )* Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by Arjuna, the smoke-bannered Hutāshana, desirous of an interview with Varuna, recollected that son of Aditi,—that deity protecting one of the points of the heavens and having his home in the waters and ruling that element. And Varuna knowing that he was being thought of by Pāvaka (Agni), immediately appeared unto that deity. And the smoke-bannered celestial welcoming with reverence the ruler of the waters, that fourth of the *Lokapalas*, said unto that eternal god of gods, 'Give me without loss of time that bow and quiver, and that ape-bannered car also, which were obtained from king Soma! Pārtha will achieve a great task with the Gāndiva, and Vāsudeva also with the discus! Give both, therefore, unto me to-day!' Hearing these words, Varuna replied unto Pāvaka, saying, 'I am giving.' And he then gave (unto Arjuna) that wonderful jewel of a bow that was endued with great energy. And that bow was the enhancer of fame and achievements, and was incapable of being injured by any weapon. And it was the chief of all weapons, and the grinder of them all. And it was the smiter of hostile hosts, and was alone equal to an hundred thousand bows. And it was the enhancer of kingdoms, and was variegated with excellent colors. And it was well-adorned and beautiful to behold and without a mark of weakness or injury anywhere. And it was worshipped both by the celestials and the Gandharvas for ever. And Varuna also gave (unto Arjuna) two inexhaustable quivers. And he also gave (unto Arjuna) a car furnished with celestial weapons and whose banner bore a large ape. And yoked unto that car were horses white as silver or the fleecy clouds, and born in the region of the Gandharvas, and decked in golden harness, and resembling in fleeting the wind or the mind. And it was furnished with every utensil of war, and was incapable of being vanquished by the celestials or the Asuras. And its splendour was great and the sound of its wheels was tremendous. And it delighted the heart of every creature that looked on it. And it had been created by Viswakarma, architect of the universe and one of the lords of the creation, after severe ascetic medidation. And its splendour, like that of the sun, was so great that no one could gaze at it. And it was the very car riding upon which the lord Soma had vanquished Dānavas. And resplendent with its beauty, it looked like an evening cloud reflecting the effulgence of the setting sun. And it was furnished with an excellent flag-staff of golden color and great beauty. And there sat upon that flag-staff a celestial ape of form fierce like that of a lion or a tiger. And stationed on high, the ape seemed bent upon burning every thing if beheld. And upon the (other) flags were various creatures ot large size, whose roars and yells caused the enemy's soldiers to faint. And Arjuna, accoutered in mail and armed with the sword, and his fingers cased in leather, then walking round that excellent car adorned with numerous flags and bowing down unto the gods, ascended it like a virtuous man riding upon the celestial car that carries him to heaven. And taking up that celestial and first of bows created by Brahmā of old and called Gāndiva, Arjuna was filled with joy. And bowing down unto Hutāshana, Pārtha endued with great energy, took up the bow and stringed it forcibly. And those who heard the noise that was made while the mighty Pandava stringed that bow, quaked with fear. And having obtained that car and that bow and the two inexhaustible quivers, the son of Kunti became glad and thought himself competent to assist at the task. And Pāvaka then gave unto Krishna a discus with an iron stick attached to a hole in the centre, which was a fiery weapon and became his favorite. And having obtained that weapon, Krishna also became equal to the task. And Pāvaka then addressing Krishna said, 'With this, O slayer of Madhu, thou shalt be able without doubt to vanquish in battle even foes that are not human. And with this weapon, without doubt, thou shalt be superior in battle to men and gods, and Rakshasas and Pishāchas, and Daityas and Nāgas. And thou shalt certainly be able with this to smite all. And, O Mādhava, hurled by thee in battle at thy foes, this weapon irresistibly slaying the enemy will again come back into thy hands.' And the lord Varuna, after this, gave unto Krishna a mace of name *Kaumadaki*, capable of slaying every Daitya and producing when hurled a roar as that of the thunder. Then Arjuna and Achyuta, filled with gladness, said unto Pāvaka, 'O exalted one, furnished with arms and knowing their use, possessed of cars with flags and flag-staffs, we are not able to fight with even all the celestials and the Asuras (drawn up together), let alone the wielder of the thunder-bolt desirous of fighting for the sake of the Nāga (his friend Takshaka).' And Arjuna also said, 'O Pāvaka, while Hrishikesha, endued with abundant energy, moves on the field of battle with this discus in hand, there is nothing in the three worlds that the powerful Janārddana will not be able to consume by hurling this weapon. And having obtained the bow Gāndiva and this couple of inexhaustible quivers, I am also ready to conquer in battle the three worlds. Therefore, O lord, blaze thou forth as thou likest, surrounding this large forest on every side. We are quite able to help thee!'" Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed both by Dāsārha and Arjuna, the illustrious god then putting forth his most energetic form, prepared to consume that forest. And surrounding it on all sides with his seven flames, he began to consume the forest of Khāndava, exhibiting his all-consuming form as at the end of the Yuga. And, O thou bull of the Bharata race, surrounding that forest and catching it on all sides, with a roar as that of the clouds, Agni made every creature within it tremble. And, O Bhārata, that burning forest then looked resplendent like the king of mountains, Meru, refulgent with the rays of the sun fallen thereupon." Thus ends the two hundred and twenty-seventh Section in the Khāndava-dāha of the Adi Parva.