The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 230

Section CCXXX. ( *Khandava-daha Parva continued.* ) Vaisampayana said, "Then the inhabitants of the forest of Khāndava,—the Dānavas and Rākshas and Nāgas and wolves and bears and other wild animals, and elephants with rent temples, and tigers, and lions with manes, and deer and buffaloes by hundreds, and birds, and various other creatures,—frightened at the falling stones and extremely anxious, began to fly in all directions. And they saw the forest (burning all around) and Krishna and Arjuna also ready with their weapons. And frightened at the terrible sounds that were audible all around, those creatures lost their power of locomotion. And beholding the forest burning in innumerable places and Krishna also ready to smite them down with his weapons, they all set up a frightful roar. And with that terrible clamour as also with the roar of fire, the whole welkin resounded, as if with the voice of portentous clouds. Then Keshava of dark hue and mighty arms, for compassing their destruction, hurled at them his large and fierce discus resplendent with its own energy. The dwellers of the forest, including the Dānavas and the Rākshas, afflicted by that weapon, were cut into hundreds of piece and fell into the mouth of Agni. And mangled by Krishna's discus, the Asuras were covered with blood and fat and looked like evening clouds. And, O Bhārata, he of the Vrishni race moved about like Death himself, slaying Pishāchas and birds and Nāgas and other creatures by thousands. And the discus itself, repeatedly hurled from the hands of Krishna, that slayer of all foes, came back to his hands after slaughtering numberless creatures. And the face and form of Krishna—that soul of every created thing—became fierce to behold while he was thus employed in the slaughter of the Pishāchas, Nāgas and Rākshas. And no one amongst the celestials who had mustered there could vanquish in battle Krishna and Arjuna. And when the celestials saw that they could not protect that forest from the might of Krishna and Arjuna by extinguishing that conflagration, they retired from the scene. And, O monarch, he of an hundred sacrifices (Indra), beholding the immortals retreat, became filled with joy and applauded Krishna and Arjuna. And when the celestials gave up the fight, an incorporeal voice, deep and loud, addressing him of an hundred sacrifices, said, 'Thy friend Takshaka, that chief of snakes, hath not been slain! Before the conflagration commenced in Khāndava he had gone to Kurukshetra. Know from my words, O Vasava, that Vāsudeva and Arjuna are incapable of being vanquished in battle by any one! They are Nara and Nārāyana—those gods of old heard in heaven! Thou knowest what their energy is and what their prowess. Invincible in battle, these best of old Rishis are incapable of being vanquished by any one in all the worlds! They deserve the most reverential worship of all the celestials and Asuras, of Yakshas and Rākshasas and Gandharvas, of human beings and Kinnaras and Nāgas. Therefore, O Vāsava, it behoveth thee to go hence with all the celestials! The destruction of Khāndava hath been ordained by fate!' Then the chief of the immortals, ascertaining those words to be true, forsook his wrath and jealousy, and went back to heaven. And the dwellers of heaven, O monarch, beholding the illustrious Indra abandon the fight, followed him with all their soldiers. Then those heroes Vāsudeva and Arjuna, when they saw the chief of the celestials retreat accompanied by all the gods, set up a leonine roar. And, O monarch, Keshava and Arjuna, after Indra had left the scene, became exceeding glad. And those heroes then fearlessly assisted at the conflagration of the forest. And Arjuna, scattering the celestials like the god of wind scattering the clouds, slew by his showers of arrows numberless creatures that dwelt in Khāndava. And cut off by Arjuna's arrows, no one amongst the innumerable creatures could escape from the burning forest. And let along fighting with him, none amongst even the strongest creatures mustered there could look at Arjuna whose weapons were never futile. And Arjuna sometimes piercing hundred creatures with one shaft and sometimes a single creature with hundred shafts, the creatures themselves deprived of life began to fall into the mouth of Agni as if struck down by Death himself. On the banks of rivers or on uneven plains or on cremation grounds, nowhere did the creatures (dwelling in Khāndava) fight any ease, for wherever they sought shelter they were afflicted by the heat. And crowds of creatures roared out in pain, and elephants and deer and wolves set up a yell of affliction. And at that sound the fishes of the Ganges and the sea, and the various tribes of Vidyadharas dwelling in that forest, all became frightened. And, O thou of mighty arms, let along battling with them, no one could even gaze at Arjuna or Janārddana of dark hue. And Hari slew with his discus those Rākhasas and Dānavas and Nāgas that were rushing at him in bands. Of huge bodies, their heads and trunks were cut off by the swift motion of the discus, and deprived of life they fell down into the blazing fire. And gratified with large quantities of flesh, of blood, and fat, the flames rose up to a great height without a curling wreath of smoke. And Hutāshana with blazing and copper-colored eyes, and with flaming tongue and large mouth, and hair on crown all of fire, drinking with the help of Krishna and Arjuna that nectar-like stream of animal fat, became filled with joy. And gratified greatly, Agni derived much happiness. "And it so happened that the slayer of Madhu suddenly beheld an Asura of the name of Maya escaping from the abode of Takshaka. And Agni having Vāyu for his charioteer, assuming a body with matted locks on head, and roaring like the clouds, was pursuing the Asura, desirous of consuming him. And beholding the Asura, Vāsudeva stood with his weapon upraised, ready to smite him down. And beholding the discus upraised and Agni pursuing from behind to burn him, Maya said, 'Run to me, O Arjuna, and protect me!' And hearing his affrighted voice, Arjuna said, 'Fear not!' And that voice of Arjuna, O Bhārata, seemed to give Maya his life. And the merciful son of Prithā having said unto Maya that there was nothing to fear, he of the Dasārha race no longer desired to slay Maya who was the brother of Namuchi,—and Agni also burned him not." Vaisampayana continued, "Protected from Indra by Krishna and Pārtha, Agni, gifted with great intelligence, burned that forest for five and ten days. And while the forest burned, Agni burned not six only of its dwellers, *viz*, Aswa-sena, Maya, and four birds called *Sharngakas.*" Thus ends the two hundred and thirtieth Section in the Khāndava-dāha of the Adi Parva.