“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Then the inhabitants of the forest of Khandava,
Danavas, Rakshasas, Naagaas, wolves, bears and other wild animals, elephants
with rent temples, tigers, lions with long hair, deer, buffaloes by hundreds,
birds, and various other creatures, frightened at the falling stones and
extremely anxious, began to fly in all directions. They saw the forest (burning
all around) and (Sri) Krishna and Arjuna also ready with their
weapons. Frightened at the terrible sounds that were audible there those
creatures lost their power of movement. Seeing the forest burning in
innumerable places and (Sri) Krishna
also ready to strike them down with his weapons, they all set up a frightful
roar. With that terrible uproar as also with the roar of fire, the whole sky
resounded, as it were, with the voice of inauspicious clouds. Keshava (Sri
Krishna) of dark colour and mighty arms,
in order to compass their destruction, hurled at them his large and fierce Chakra
glowing with its own energy.
“The forest-dwellers including the Danavas and the Rakshasas, pained by
that weapon, were cut in hundreds of pieces and fell to the mouth of Agni. Crushed
by (Sri) Krishna’s Chakra, the
Asuras were covered with blood and fat and looked like evening clouds. O
Bharata (Janamejaya), he of the
Vrishni race (Sri Krishna) moved
able like death itself, slaying Pishaachaas, birds, Naagaas and other creatures
by thousands. The Chakra itself, repeatedly hurled from the hands of (Sri) Krishna, that slayer of all enemies, came
back to his hands after slaughtering numberless creatures. The face and form of
(Sri) Krishna that soul of every
created thing--became fierce to look while he was thus employed in the
slaughter of the Pishaachaas, Naagaas and Rakshasas.
“No one among Devas, who had assembled there could vanquish in battle
(Sri) Krishna and Arjuna. When Devas saw
that they could not protect that forest from the might of (Sri) Krishna and Arjuna by extinguishing that fire,
they retired from the scene. Then, O monarch (Janamejaya), He of a hundred yagnas (Lord Indra), looking the immortals (Amara in
Sanskrit) retreat, became filled with
joy and applauded (Sri) Krishna and
Arjuna. When Devas gave up the fight, a voice with no physical body, deep and
loud, addressing Him of a hundred yagnas, said, ‘Your friend Takshaka, that
chief of Naagaas, has not been slain! Before the fire commenced in Khandava he
had journeyed to Kurukshetra. Know from my words, O Vaasava (Lord Indra), that Vaasudeva (Sri Krishna) and Arjuna are incapable of being
vanquished in battle by any one! They are Nara and Narayana -- those Devas of ancient
times heard of in heaven! You know what their energy is and what their prowess.
Invincible in battle, these best of old Rishis are unconquerable by any one in
all the worlds! They deserve the most respectful worship of all Devas and
Asuras; of Yakshas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, of human beings and Kinnaras and Naagaas.
Therefore, O Vaasava, it is your duty to go there with all Devas. The
destruction of Khandava has been ordained by Fate!’
“Then the chief of the immortals (Amara in Sanskrit), discovering those words to be true
abandoned his anger and jealousy, and went back to heaven. The dwellers in
heaven (Devas), O monarch (Janamejaya), seeing the illustrious (Lord) Indra abandon the fight, followed Him with
all their soldiers. Then those heroes (Veera in Sanskrit), Vaasudeva (Sri Krishna) and Arjuna, when they saw the chief of Devas
(Lord Indra) retreat accompanied by
all Devas, set up a lion-like roar. O monarch (Janamejaya), Keshava (Sri Krishna) and Arjuna, after (Lord) Indra had left the scene, became
exceedingly glad. Those heroes then fearlessly assisted at the forest fire.
Arjuna scattered Devas like the wind scattering the clouds, and slew with
showers of his arrows, numberless creatures that dwelt in Khandava. Cut off by Arjuna’s
arrows, no one among the innumerable creatures could escape from the burning
forest. Far from fighting with him, none among even the strongest creatures rallied
there could look at Arjuna whose weapons were never fruitless.
“Sometimes piercing hundred creatures with one arrow and sometimes a
single creature with hundred arrows, Arjuna moved about in his chariot. The
creatures themselves, deprived of life, began to fall into the mouth of Agni,
struck down as it were by death itself. On the banks of rivers or on uneven
plains or on crematoriums, wherever they went, the creatures (dwelling in
Khandava) found no ease, for wherever
they sought shelter there they were pained by the heat. Hosts of creatures
roared in pain, and elephants and deer and wolves set up cries of pain. At that
sound the fishes of Ganga (river)
and the sea, and the various tribes of Vidyadharaas dwelling in that forest all
became frightened.
“O you of mighty arms (Janamejaya), let alone battling with them, no one, could even look at Arjuna and
Janaardana (Sri Krishna) of dark colour.
Hari (Sri Krishna) slew with his Chakra
those Rakshasas, Danavas and Naagaas that rushed at him in bands. Of huge
bodies, their heads and trunks were cut off by the swift motion of the Chakra,
and deprived of life they fell down into the blazing fire. Pleased with large
quantities of flesh, blood, and fat, the flames rose up to a great height
without a curling ring of smoke. Hutaashana (Agni) with blazing and coppery eyes, flaming tongue and large mouth, and the
hair on the crown of his head all fiery, with the help of (Sri) Krishna and Arjuna, drinking that
nectar-like stream of animal fat, became filled with joy. Satisified greatly,
Agni derived much happiness.
“It so happened that Madhusudana (Sri Krishna) suddenly saw an Asura of the name of Maya
escaping from the abode of Takshaka (Khandava forest). Agni having Vaayu for his chariot-driver, assuming a body with matted
locks on head, and roaring like the clouds, pursued the Asura, desirous of
consuming him. Looking the Asura, Vaasudeva (Sri Krishna) stood with his weapon upraised, ready to strike
him down, seeing the Chakra uplifted and Agni pursuing from behind to burn him,
Maya said ‘Run to me, O Arjuna, and protect me!’ Hearing his frightened voice
Arjuna said, ‘Fear not!’ That voice of Arjuna, O Bharata (Janamejaya), seemed to give Maya his life. As the merciful
son of Pritha (son of Kunti, i.e., Arjuna) said to Maya that there was nothing to fear, he of the Dashaarha race (Sri
Krishna) no longer desired to slay Maya
who was the brother of Namuchi, and Agni also burned him not.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Protected from (Lord) Indra by (Sri) Krishna and Paartha (Arjuna),
Agni gifted with great intelligence, burned that forest for fifteen (15) days. While the forest burned Agni spared
only six of its dwellers – Ashwasena, Maya, and four birds called Shaarngakaas.’”
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