SRIMAD MAHABHARATA - AADI PARVA - KHANDAVA DAAHA (UPA) PARVA - PART 228

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Then those foremost of chariot-warriors (Sri Krishna and Arjuna), riding in their chariots and placing themselves on opposite sides of that forest, began a great slaughter, on all sides, of the creatures dwelling in the Khandava (forest). At whatever point any of the creatures residing in the Khandava (forest) could be seen attempting to escape, there rushed those mighty heroes (to prevent its escape). Indeed those two excellent chariots seemed to be but one, and also the two warriors in that place but one individual.

“While the forest was burning, hundreds and thousands of living creatures, uttering frightful yells, began to run about in all directions. Some had particular body parts burnt, some were scorched with excessive heat, some came out, and some ran about from fear. Some grasping their children and some their parents and brothers from excess of affection, died calmly without being able to abandon these that were dear to them. Many there were who biting their lower lips rose upwards and soon fell whirling into the blazing element (Agni) below. Some were seen to roll on the ground with wings, eyes, and feet scorched and burnt. These creatures were all seen to perish there almost soon enough. The tanks and ponds within that forest, heated by the fire around, began to boil; the fishes and the tortoises in them were all seen to perish.

“During that great slaughter of living creatures in that forest, the burning bodies of various animals looked as if fire itself had assumed many forms. The birds that took wings to escape from that fire were pierced by Arjuna with his arrows, and cut into pieces, they fell down into the burning element below. Pierced all over with Arjuna’s arrows, the birds dropped down into the burning forest, uttering loud cries. The denizens of the forest, struck with those arrows, began to roar and yell. The clamour they raised was like to the frightful uproar heard during the churning of the ocean (in ancient days). The mighty flames of the blazing fire reaching the sky, caused great anxiety to Devas themselves. Then all the illustrious dwellers in heaven (Devas) went in a body to Him of a hundred yagnas and thousand eyes, viz., their chief (Lord Indra), that grinder of Asuras. Approaching (Lord) Indra, Devas said, ‘Why, O lord of immortals (Amara in Sanskrit), does Agni burn these creatures below? Has the time come for the destruction of the world?’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of Devas, and Himself seeing what Agni was doing, the slayer of Vritra (Lord Indra) set out for the protection of the forest of Khandava. Vaasava (Lord Indra), the chief of Devas soon covering the sky with masses of clouds of every kind began to shower upon the burning forest. Those masses of clouds by hundreds and thousands, commanded by (Lord) Indra began to pour rain upon Khandava in showers thick as the flag-staffs of battle-chariots. But the showers were all dried up in the sky itself by the heat of the fire and could not, therefore, reach the fire at all! Then the slayer of Namuchi (Lord Indra), getting angry with Agni, collected huge masses of clouds and caused them to yield a heavy downpour. Then with the flames contending with those heavy showers, and with masses of clouds overhead, that forest, filled with smoke and flashes of lightning, became terrible to see.’”