SECTION CCXXX
(Khandava-daha Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then the inhabitants of
the forest of Khandava, the Danavas and Rakshasas and Nagas 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. They saw the forest (burning all around) and Krishna
and Arjuna also ready with their weapons. Frightened at the terrible sounds
that were audible there those creatures lost their power of movement. 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. With that terrible
clamour as also with the roar of fire, the whole welkin resounded, as it were,
with the voice of portentous clouds. Kesava of dark hue and mighty arms, in
order to compass their destruction, hurled at them his large and fierce discus
resplendent with its own energy. The forest-dwellers including the Danavas and
the Rakshasas, afflicted by that weapon, were cut in hundreds of pieces and
fell unto the mouth of Agni. Mangled by Krishna's discus, the Asuras were
besmeared with blood and fat and looked like evening clouds. And, O Bharata, he
of the Vrishni race moved able like death itself, slaying Pisachas and birds
and Nagas and other creatures by thousands. The discus itself, repeatedly
hurled from the hands of Krishna, that slayer of all foes, came back to his
hands after slaughtering numberless creatures. 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 Pisachas, Nagas and Rakshasas. No one among
the celestials, who had mustered there could vanquish in battle Krishna and
Arjuna. 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. Then, O monarch, he of a 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 a hundred sacrifices, said, 'Thy friend
Takshaka, that chief of snakes, hath not been slain! Before the conflagration
commenced in Khandava he had journeyed to Kurukshetra. Know from my words, O
Vasava, that Vasudeva and Arjuna are incapable of being vanquished in battle by
any one! They are Nara and Narayana--those gods of old heard of in heaven! Thou
knowest 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 reverential worship of all the celestials and Asuras; of
Yakshas and Rakshasas and Gandharvas, of human beings and Kinnaras and Nagas.
Therefore, O Vasava, it behoveth thee to go hence with all the celestials. The
destruction of Khandava hath been ordained by Fate!' Then the chief of the
immortals, ascertaining those words to be true abandoned his wrath and
jealousy, and went back to heaven. The dwellers in heaven, O monarch, beholding
the illustrious Indra abandon the fight, followed him with all their soldiers.
Then those heroes, Vasudeva and Arjuna, when they saw the chief of the
celestials retreat accompanied by all the gods, set up a leonine roar. And, O
monarch, Kesava and Arjuna, after Indra had left the scene, became exceedingly
glad. Those heroes then fearlessly assisted at the conflagration of the forest.
Arjuna scattered the celestials 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 amongst the innumerable creatures could escape
from the burning forest. Far from fighting with him, none amongst even the
strongest creatures mustered there could look at Arjuna whose weapons were
never futile. Sometimes piercing hundred creatures with one shaft and sometimes
a single creature with hundred shafts, Arjuna moved about in his car. The
creatures themselves, deprived of life, began to fall into the mouth of Agni
(god of fire), struck down as it were by death itself. On the banks of rivers
or on uneven plains or on crematoriums, go where they did, the creatures
(dwelling in Khandava) found no ease, for wherever they sought shelter there
they were afflicted by the heat. And hosts of creatures roared in pain, and
elephants and deer and wolves set up cries of affliction. At that sound the
fishes of the Ganges and the sea, and the various tribes of Vidyadharas
dwelling in that forest all became frightened. O thou of mighty arms, let alone
battling with them, no one, could even gaze at Arjuna and Janardana of dark
hue. Hari slew with his discus those Rakshasas and Danavas and Nagas that
rushed 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. Gratified with large quantities of flesh, blood, and fat, the
flames rose up to a great height without a curling wreath of smoke. Hutasana
(fire-god) with blazing and coppery eyes, and flaming tongue and large mouth,
and the hair on the crown of his head all fiery, drinking, with the help of
Krishna and Arjuna, that nectar-like stream of animal fat, became filled with
joy. 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. Agni having Vayu for his car-driver, assuming a body with matted
locks on head, and roaring like the clouds, pursued the Asura, desirous of consuming
him. Beholding the Asura, Vasudeva stood with his weapon upraised, ready to
smite him down, seeing the discus uplifted and Agni pursuing from behind to
burn him, Maya said 'Run to me, O Arjuna, and protect me!' Hearing his
affrighted voice Arjuna said, 'Fear not!' That voice of Arjuna, O Bharata,
seemed to give Maya his life. As the merciful son of Pritha said unto Maya that
there was nothing to fear, he of the Dasarha 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 Partha, Agni gifted with great intelligence, burned that
forest for five and ten days. And while the forest burned Agni spared only six
of its dwellers, viz., Aswasena, Maya, and four birds called Sarngakas.'"
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