“Vaishampaayana, said, ‘Thus addressed by Arjuna, the smoke-bannered
Hutaashana (Agni), desirous of a meeting
with Varuna, recollected that Aditya (Varuna),--that deity protecting one of the points of the heavens and having
his home in the water and ruling that element. Varuna, knowing that he was
thought of by Paavaka (Agni),
immediately appeared before that deity. The smoke-bannered Deva welcoming with respect
the ruler of the waters (Varuna),
that fourth of the Lokapalas, said to that eternal Maheshwara (Varuna), ‘Give me without loss of time that bow
and arrow basket, and that monkey-bannered chariot also, which were obtained
from king Soma. Paartha (Arjuna)
will achieve a great task with Gandiva, and also Vaasudeva (Sri Krishna) with the Chakra! Give both, therefore, to
me today.’
“Hearing these words, Varuna replied to Paavaka, saying, ‘Well, I am
giving them.’ He then gave that wonderful jewel of a bow (Gandiva) that was filled with great energy. That
bow was the enhancer of fame and achievements, and was incapable of being
injured by any weapon. It was the chief of all weapons, and the grinder of them
all. It was the striker of hostile armies and was alone equal to a hundred
thousand (100,000) bows. It was the
multiplier of kingdoms, and was multi-coloured with excellent colours. It was
well-adorned, beautiful to look, and without a mark of weakness or injury
anywhere. It was always worshipped by Devas, Danavas and Gandharvas. Varuna
also gave two inexhaustible arrow baskets, and he also gave a chariot furnished
with divine weapons and whose flag bore a large monkey. Attached to that
chariot were horses white as silver of the fluffy clouds, born in the region of
the Gandharvas, decked with golden straps, and resembling in fleetness the wind
or the mind. It was equipped with equipment of war, and was incapable of being
vanquished by Devas or Danavas. Its splendour was great and the sounds of its
wheels was tremendous. It delighted the heart of every creature that looked at
it. It had been made by Vishwakarma, the architect of the universe and one of
the lords of creation (Prajapati in Sanskrit), after severe Tapas. Its splendour, like that of the Sun, was so great
that no one could gaze at it. It was the very chariot from which the lord Soma
had vanquished the Danavas. Magnificient with beauty, it looked like an evening
cloud reflecting the effulgence of the setting Sun. It was furnished with an
excellent flag-staff of golden colour and great beauty. There sat upon that
flag-staff a divine monkey of form fierce like that of a lion or a tiger.
Stationed on high, the monkey seemed bent upon burning everything it saw. Upon
the (other) flags were various
creatures of large size, whose roars and yells caused the enemy’s soldiers to
faint.
“Then Arjuna, dressed in armour and armed with the sword, and his fingers
cased in leather gloves, walking round that excellent chariot adorned with
numerous flags and bowing to Devas, ascended it like a man of Dharma riding in
the divine chariot that carries him to heaven. Taking up that divine and first
of bows created by (Lord) Brahma in
ancient times and called Gandiva, Arjuna was filled with joy. Bowing to Hutaashana,
Paartha (Arjuna) filled with great
energy, took up the bow and strung it forcibly. Those who heard the noise that
was made while the mighty Pandava (Arjuna) strung that bow, shaked with fear. Having obtained that chariot and
that bow, the two inexhaustible arrow baskets, the son of Kunti (Arjuna) became glad and thought himself competent
to assist at the task.
“Paavaka (Agni) then gave to
(Sri) Krishna a Chakra with an iron
pole attached to a hole in the centre. It was a fiery weapon and became his (Sri
Krishna’s) favourite. Having obtained
that weapon, (Sri) Krishna also
became equal to the task. Paavaka (Agni) then, addressing (Sri)
Krishna, said, ‘With this, O Madhusudana (Sri Krishna), you shall be able without doubt to vanquish in battle even enemies
that are not human. With this weapon, without doubt, you shall be superior in
battle to men, Devas, Rakshasas, Pisachas, Daityas, Naagaas. You shall certainly
be able with this to strike all. O Maadhava (Sri Krishna), hurled by you in battle at your enemies,
this weapon (Chakra) will
irresistibly slay the enemy and again come back into your hands.’
“The Lord Varuna, after this, gave to (Lord) Krishna a mace (Gada in Sanskrit), of name Kaumodaki, capable of slaying every Daitya and producing,
when hurled, a roar like that of the thunder. Then Arjuna and Achyuta (Sri
Krishna), filled with joy said to Paavaka
(Agni), ‘O noble one, furnished with
weapons and knowing their use, possessed of chariot with flags and flagstaffs,
we are now able to fight with even all Devas and the Asuras (together), let alone the wielder of Vajra (Lord
Indra) desirous of fighting for the sake
of the Naagaa (his friend Takshaka).’
“Arjuna also said, ‘O Paavaka, while Hrishikesha (Sri Krishna), filled with abundant energy, moves on the
battlefield with this Chakra in hand, there is nothing in the three worlds that
he will not be able to consume by hurling this weapon. Having obtained the bow
Gandiva and this couple of inexhaustible arrow baskets, I also am ready to
conquer in battle the three worlds. Therefore, O Lord (Agni), you blaze forth as you like, surrounding
this large forest on every side. We are quite able to help you.’
“Vaishampaayana
continued, ‘Thus addressed both by Daashaarha (Sri Krishna) and Arjuna, the illustrious Deva (Agni) then put forth his most energetic form, and prepared to consume the
forest. Surrounding it on all sides with his seven flames, he began to consume
the forest of Khandava, exhibiting his all-consuming form like that at the end
of the Yuga. O bull of Bharata’s race (Janamejaya), surrounding that forest and catching it from all sides with a roar
like that of the clouds, Agni made every creature within it tremble. O Bharata (Janamejaya), that burning forest then looked magnificent
like the king of mountains, Meru, blazing with the rays of the Sun fallen immediately.’”
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