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MBK: 1.14: Burning the Khandava Forest
Chapter 14 Burning the Khandava Forest
The Yadus bestowed vast amounts of wealth on Arjuna, and he left Dwaraka accompanied
by a long train of chariots and elephants as well as hundreds of thousands of cows decorated
with silk and gold. Subhadra rode with him on a fine golden chariot drawn by tall white
steeds. They soon arrived at Indraprastha and Arjuna went straight to Yudhisthira. He
clasped his feet and then worshipped him according to the Vedic injunctions. Arjuna then worshipped
Dhaumya and the other rsis in the royal court. When the ceremonies were complete his other
brothers embraced him with tears in their eyes and asked him to relate to them all his
adventures.
After spending time with his brothers, Arjuna went to see Draupadi. As he entered her chamber,
she turned away from him and said, "O Arjuna, what brings you here at this time? You should
go and be with your new bride. That daughter of the Satvata race must be missing you now."
Draupadi was annoyed. Arjuna was her favorite among the Pandavas and she feared he might
come to prefer Subhadra. The Pandava repeatedly begged her forgiveness and assured her that
his love for her was in no way diminished. Draupadi continued to sulk. "A second tie
always relaxes the first one, no matter how strong it may have been."
Arjuna tried to console the beautiful Draupadi, but she remained silent, always looking away
from him. Seeing that he could not win her over, he left her chamber and went to Subhadra.
He asked her to dress herself as a cowherd girl. He wanted to remind Draupadi that Subhadra
was the sister of Krsna, Draupadi's beloved Lord. Krsna had begun His life as a cowherd
boy in a small village. By having Subhadra appear as a cowherd girl Arjuna hoped that
Draupadi's natural affection for Krsna would be awakened and directed toward His sister.
The Yadu princess was brought into Draupadi's chamber attired in simple red silk. The servant
girls who showed her in said, "This maiden has asked if she could become your servant."
Subhadra immediately bowed before Draupadi and said, "I am here to do your bidding."
Draupadi had never seen Subhadra and did not realize who she was, but seeing her humble
demeanor and being reminded of her Lord by Subhadra's rustic dress, Draupadi's heart
melted. She raised her hands and blessed her, saying, "May you become the wife of a hero
and the mother of a hero. May you be without a rival."
Subhadra replied, "May it be so." She then introduced herself. "I am Subhadra, Krsna's
sister." Draupadi smiled and embraced her co-wife. Her jealousy and anger were dissipated
by Subhadra's gentleness. She asked Subhadra to tell her everything about Dwaraka and Krsna.
They spoke together for hours. Then Draupadi took Subhadra by the hand and led her to meet
Kunti. The two Pandava queens soon became close friends and would spend much time together,
discussing the activities of Krsna and His associates.
A few days after Arjuna's return, Krsna and Balarama came to Indraprastha. Accompanied
by His sons and ministers and riding at the head of a great army, Krsna entered the Pandavas'
city where He was greeted at the gates by Nakula and Sahadeva. As they proceeded in
state down the main highway, thousands of citizens stood along the roadside. They cheered
and worshipped Krsna and His elder brother as they moved slowly toward Yudhisthira's
palace. The Yadus gazed around them at the city. The roads were immaculately swept and
sprinkled with perfumed water. Fences draped with bright garlands ran down the sides of
the wide avenues. On the tops of tall white mansions flew countless flags and standards.
The sweet scent of burning aloes filled the air and the sound of musical instruments could
be heard.
Krsna and Balarama entered the Pandavas' palace and went before Yudhisthira and his brothers.
Yudhisthira worshipped Balarama with all due ceremony and embraced Krsna with affection.
Krsna offered His respects and worship to Yudhisthira and Bhima, then took His seat
in the assembly hall. Many important personalities from Dwaraka also took their places in the
hall, including Akrura, Uddhava, Satyaki, Krtavarma, Sarana and Krsna's sons Pradyumna,
Samba and Aniruddha.
Krsna then gave Arjuna all the bridal gifts for Subhadra that her relatives in Dwaraka
had sent. He gave heaps of gold bricks and precious gems to Yudhisthira. Krsna also presented
the king with one thousand chariots adorned with rows of golden bells, each of them yoked
to four steeds driven by well-trained charioteers, ten thousand milk-bearing cows, one thousand
moonlike white horses with golden harnesses, and a thousand white mules with black manes,
which could run at the speed of the wind. As well as this, Balarama gave Arjuna as a
wedding gift one thousand elephants, each resembling a hill and decked with golden ornaments
and bells. Innumerable other items were offered to the Pandavas, being brought before them
by Krsna's servants. Placed outside the hall, the wealth given by the Yadavas looked like
a sea stretching in all directions.
Yudhisthira graciously accepted the gifts and then arranged for all the Yadavas to be
accommodated in his palace. They and the Pandavas passed many days together in happiness, and
when it came time for them to leave, the Pandavas in turn presented them with brilliant gems
as gifts. With Balarama at their head, the Yadus headed back to Dwaraka, but Krsna decided
to remain behind to spend some time alone with Arjuna.
One day Arjuna suggested, "O Krsna, the days are hot. Let us go for some time to the banks
of the Yamuna. We have constructed many fine pleasure houses there."
Krsna agreed to his proposal and they set off. They soon arrived at a charming spot
amid groves of tall trees. High white mansions stood along the river banks, looking like
a city of the gods. Krsna and Arjuna entered one of the houses where they were served varieties
of exquisitely flavoured food and drinks. They lay down upon golden couches spread with
silk covers. After relaxing for some time they decided to go for a walk in the woods.
The two heroes wandered along the riverbank, discussing martial arts and past battles they
had each fought.
Having walked for a distance, they sat down upon an ivory bench that had been placed near
the edge of a dense forest. As they continued to talk a Brahmin suddenly emerged from the
woods. They looked at him in surprise. He resembled an old sal tree with a complexion
like molten gold. His beard and hair were bright yellow and he shone like the morning
sun. His two eyes were like lotus leaves, and his body was well-formed and powerful.
As the Brahmin approached them, blazing like fire, Krsna and Arjuna stood up and awaited
his order.
In a resonant voice the Brahmin said, "I know you two to be the foremost of all men. I myself
am a voracious Brahmin who eats much. I have therefore approached you in order to beg my
food and to be gratified by you."
Both Krsna and Arjuna folded their palms and asked the Brahmin what food he would like.
The Brahmin replied, "I do not eat ordinary food. Know me to be Agni, the fire-god. Give
me food that suits me. Please help me to devour this Khandava forest." He indicated the jungle
by which they were standing. Although he had already made many attempts to consume the
forest, his efforts had been repeatedly thwarted by Indra. This was because Indra's friend,
the Naga Taksakah, lived in the forest. Whenever Agni blazed up and began to cover the forest,
Indra would send torrents of rain to stop him. The fire-god continued, "Both of you
are experts in arms. By your prowess you will be able to prevent Indra from stopping me.
Thus I shall consume this great forest. O heroes, this is the food I desire to have
from you."
Krsna and Arjuna looked at each other in surprise. They assured Agni that they would do everything
in their power to help him, but they were curious as to why he wanted to consume this
particular forest. The deity explained that the Khandava forest contained numerous varieties
of medicinal herbs. He needed the herbs because he was suffering a malady due to having eaten
excessive amounts of ghee. There had been a great sacrifice performed by a king named
Swetaki in which so much ghee was offered into the fire that Agni became ill. Brahma
then told him that he could be cured if he ate the herbs in the Khandava forest. When
Agni failed in his attempts to consume the forest, Brahma told him that he would succeed
if he could gain the assistance of Krsna and Arjuna.
Brahma had said, "In a previous incarnation, these two men were in fact the ancient and
infallible deities Nara and Narayana. They have appeared on the earth to accomplish the
celestials' purpose. Therefore, ask for their help."
Agni concluded, "I now depend upon you two. I must eat this forest. Brahma has also informed
me that the living beings within the forest are sinful and should be destroyed. Therefore
do not harbor any doubts. This act is sanctioned by authority."
Arjuna replied, "I possess many celestial weapons, but I have no bow capable of bearing
their power. If I am to achieve the task you have set, I will require an inexhaustible
quiver of arrows and a chariot drawn by celestial steeds. If you can provide all this, then
we will surely accomplish your desire."
Agni meditated upon Varuna, god of the nether worlds, and the deity immediately appeared
and said, "What shall I do for you?"
Agni knew that Varuna kept many celestial weapons in the depths of the ocean. Therefore
he asked him to present Arjuna with the celestial bow Gandiva as well as two inexhaustible quivers
of arrows. Agni also asked that Varuna bring forth a chariot belonging to Soma, the moon-god.
Varuna agreed and caused all those things to appear at that spot.
Arjuna looked with wonder at the Gandiva bow. It appeared like a rainbow embedded with celestial
gems. As tall as a man, it was flawless. The Pandava took up the shining bow and forcefully
twanged its string. A sound like the crash of thunder resounded throughout the forest,
terrifying all the creatures. Holding the bow, the joyful Arjuna next approached the
huge, golden chariot. It was filled with varieties of celestial weapons as well as the two inexhaustible
quivers Agni had requested. The chariot was yoked with golden harnesses to silvery steeds
from the land of the Gandharvas. These horses were capable of going anywhere within all
the worlds and could move with the speed of the wind or the mind. Above the chariot flew
a banner bearing an image of Hanuman, Rama's great monkey servant. Hanuman seemed to be
burning everything that fell within his gaze. Other flags flew on the chariot bearing images
of fierce beasts. All the creatures roared terribly from their standards.
Arjuna circumambulated the chariot and then mounted it like a virtuous man ascending to
heaven. He put on the suit of celestial armor that lay there. As he stood with the Gandiva
in his hand, he resembled the sun shining from behind an evening cloud. He then drove
the chariot around, smiling as he heard the loud rumble of its wheels.
Varuna also gave Krsna a club called Kaumodaki, which roared loudly when wheeled about and
which could crush even Daityas and Danavas. Krsna then mounted Arjuna's chariot, saying
that he would become the driver.
Arjuna again addressed Agni, "O fire-god, we are now ready to satisfy your request.
Armed with the Gandiva and assisted by Krsna, I am able to withstand the entire host of
gods united with the Asuras末what then to speak of Indra! Therefore, blaze up as much
as you like and surround this forest."
Agni immediately expanded himself around the forest and began to consume it with his seven
kinds of flames. He assumed the fearful appearance he assumes at the end of an aeon which he
uses to destroy all things. Krsna then began to drive the chariot around the forest. It
moved with such speed that it appeared to be continuously present on every side of the
forest. Whenever Arjuna saw a creature trying to escape from the conflagration he immediately
shot it down. Being slain in the presence of Krsna, the Supreme Deity, all the creatures
dying in that forest assumed spiritual forms and ascended to the highest regions of transcendence.
The roar of the fire could be heard for miles. Red, orange and blue flames shot high into
the sky. The lakes and ponds in the forest were boiled dry and the rocks melted. No creature
was able to escape from the blazing Khandava forest and their screams mixed with the crackling
of the fire. It blazed up to such an extent that it caused fear even to the celestials,
who went in a body to Indra and said anxiously, "O lord of the immortals, why does Agni burn
all creatures below? Has the time come for the world's destruction?"
Indra looked himself to see what was happening on the earth. Feeling concern for his friend
Taksakah, he set out at once to stop the fire. He sent down torrents of rain, which fell
in columns as thick as tree trunks. But the rain was turned to steam by the heat of the
fire even before it reached the forest below. Indra then became angry and amassed huge clouds
over the forest which doubled the volume of rain. With its flames and smoke rising up,
and with lightning and sheets of water falling from the sky, the forest became terrifying.
Arjuna saw Indra's attempt to put out the fire and he sent hundreds of thousands of
arrows in a tight network over the forest. That net of arrows acted as a vast umbrella
and completely checked the falling rain.
The Naga king Taksakah was not present in the Khandava, but both his wife and son were
caught in the blaze. They flew swiftly upwards and were seen by Arjuna. He instantly fired
an arrow which severed the snake lady's head. He then trained another arrow upon Taksakah's
son, Asvasena. Seeing this, Indra raised a violent wind around Arjuna which temporarily
deprived him of his senses. Asvasena escaped and disappeared into the sky.
As he regained his senses, Arjuna became angry with Indra. He shouted a challenge to the
god and covered the sky with his arrows. Indra too became angry with Arjuna and released
his tremendous thunderbolt weapon. Without delay Arjuna invoked the Vayavya weapon which
dispersed the huge black clouds. That powerful wind weapon completely dispelled the energy
of Indra's thunderbolts and lightning flashes. The sky became clear and a gentle breeze began
to blow. Agni blazed up even more, fanned by the breeze and fed with the fat of bodies
burning in the forest. He filled the sky with his roars.
Indra summoned many other celestials to fight with Arjuna. Hosts of powerful heavenly fighters
appeared and began to send their weapons at both him and Krsna. Blazing iron balls, bullets,
rocks and countless arrows shot toward them. Arjuna countered all the missiles with his
arrows末at the same time he cut down his assailants, who fell screaming into the fire.
Arjuna was unconquerable as he stood on the battlefield releasing his deadly arrows, with
Krsna skillfully guiding the chariot.
Indra then mounted his celestial elephant, Airavata, and rushed down upon Arjuna and
Krsna, shouting, "These two are killed." He raised his personal weapon known as the Vajra
and urged on his elephant. Seeing Indra advance the other principal gods followed him. Yamaraja
took up his death-dealing club, Kuvera his mace and Varuna his noose. The commander of
the celestial army, Skanda, raised his Sakti weapon, and Surya came with his brilliant
dart. The other gods charged behind Indra with their own weapons raised. The Visvadevas,
Sadhyas, Rudras, Vasus and Marutas all advanced in a body toward Arjuna and Krsna, who stood
fearlessly below.
Even though they exerted themselves with full force, however, the celestials were unable
to overpower Krsna and Arjuna. Struck by Arjuna's mystical arrows, the gods were forced to retreat.
Indra smiled. He was pleased with Arjuna who was, after all, his son, and he also understood
Krsna's position. Indra knew that no one could overcome Krsna or anyone supported by Him.
Obviously Krsna desired that Agni consume the forest and, at the same time, He was enhancing
the fame and glory of His friend Arjuna.
Then, desiring to test Arjuna's power further, Indra sent down a thick shower of boulders.
Arjuna quickly reduced the stones to dust with his swift arrows. Indra then tore off
the peak of a massive mountain and hurled it at Arjuna. Not disturbed in the least,
Arjuna cut the flying mountain peak into a thousand pieces which rained down upon the
forest below.
Indra was gladdened by Arjuna's prowess. He ordered the celestials to withdraw and, as
he did so, an invisible voice was heard in the sky: "O Indra, your friend Taksakah is
not in the forest at present. Nor will it be possible for you to defeat in battle Arjuna
and Krsna. These two are Nara and Narayana, the immortal and invincible rsis. They are
worthy of even the gods' worship. Desist from the battle, for the burning of the Khandava
has been ordained by fate."
Having heard that voice, which they knew belonged to the universal creator Brahma, the gods
retired to their own abodes. For fifteen days Agni continued to consume the forest along
with its inhabitants. As the forest was destroyed, hordes of Raksasas, Danavas and Nagas rushed
out in fear. Arjuna cut them down with volleys of arrows. None could even look at him as
he stood releasing his searing shafts. Gradually the forest was reduced to ashes and Agni was
gratified.
There was a leader of the Asura race named Maya, who had been dwelling in the Khandava.
Having hid himself underground, he now rushed out of the forest and tried to escape. Agni
chased the Asura and Krsna raised His discus weapon, Sudarsana, ready to kill him. The
intelligent Maya ran to Arjuna and fell at his feet. "O Arjuna, I seek your protection.
Save me! I supplicate myself before you."
Arjuna raised his hand and replied, "Do not fear." He could not refuse to protect anyone
who sought his shelter. He turned toward Krsna and asked Him to spare the Asura's life. Krsna
lowered His weapon and Agni also stood back.
As the flames in the forest died down, Indra again appeared before Arjuna and Krsna. Agni
stood next to him as he said, "O Partha, O Kesava, you have achieved that which could
not be achieved by any celestial. Please ask from me any boon you desire. I am very much
pleased."
Arjuna asked Indra for all his celestial weapons. Indra smiled and replied that he would indeed
give him the weapons末but not yet. When Siva would give Arjuna his Pasupata weapon, then
Indra would bring him to heaven and give him all the fire and wind weapons. That time would
come in the future.
Krsna then asked that His friendship with Arjuna might last forever and Indra said,
"It shall be so."
Finally, Agni said, "I also wish to give you a boon. Just as I pervade this universe, so
by my power will you be able to go anywhere you desire within the universe." The gods
then returned to the heavens.
As Krsna and Arjuna made their way back to their mansion, Maya approached them. He bowed
at Arjuna's feet and said, "O son of Kunti, you have saved me from the angry Krsna and
the hungry Agni. Tell me what I can do for you in return."
Arjuna replied, "I cannot take anything from you to repay me. This is my firm principle.
I act only out of duty. It was my duty to save you and therefore you bear me no obligation.
Go in peace."
Maya praised Arjuna's virtue, but he insisted upon doing something for the Pandava. "I simply
wish to please you, O Partha. You need not see it as repayment."
Arjuna again said that he could not accept anything from Maya. "I do not want to frustrate
your desire. If you want to please me, then do something for Krsna. That will be more
pleasing to me than anything else."
Maya turned and looked expectantly at Krsna who was smiling softly. After reflecting for
a moment he said, "You are the architect of the celestial demons. If you wish to please
Me, then build a splendid assembly hall for Yudhisthira. The like of this hall should
not be found anywhere in the world. It should contain the features of celestial architecture
and be impossible for anyone else to emulate."
The Asura's skills were well known to Krsna. Maya had constructed many wondrous edifices
in the higher planets for the Daityas and Danavas. Maya then assented to Krsna's request
and accompanied Him and Arjuna back to Indraprastha, where he was introduced to Yudhisthira. The
eldest Pandava marveled as Arjuna narrated the story of how the Khandava forest was burnt.
He received Maya with honor and discussed the hall with him. After much thought Maya
drew up a design. He then began to consider where to find the necessary materials for
constructing the celestial hall. He told the Pandavas that he needed to go to the Himalayas.
"I have left there a large quantity of rough diamonds and other precious stones of every
description, including those not found on this earth. I shall go to fetch them."
Maya explained that he had formerly been engaged by Vrsaparva, king of the Danavas, to construct
sacrificial altars for the Asuras. He had gathered all kinds of celestial materials
which he had stored at Vrsaparva's house high up on the Mainaka mountain. There was also
a great club with which Vrsaparva had once withstood the gods in battle. Maya would bring
that club, equal to one hundred thousand ordinary clubs, and give it to Bhima. He would also
fetch from the depths of a lake on Mainaka the large celestial conch shell known as Devadatta
for Arjuna. If Arjuna blew that conch on the battlefield, it would shatter his opponents'
hearts.
Having gained Yudhisthira's permission, the Asura left quickly for the north. He found
all his wealth guarded by Yaksas and Raksasas, and with their assistance he brought it back
to Indraprastha. After presenting the club to Bhima and the conch shell to Arjuna, he
commenced work.