One day Arjuna and Krishna were sitting on the banks of Yamuna. A gentle breeze was blowing. A grand feast had been organized and all were enjoying themselves. A think brahmana approached Arjuna and Krishna and said he was hungry and wanted food.
Arjuna said there was ample food there and the brahmana could take what he wanted.
The brahmana then said he was Agni and he was sick. He wanted to eat something that would help him get rid of his sickness. The only way he could be well was if he consumed the Khadava forest along with all its inhabitants.
At this point, Janmajeya wanted to know about the Khandava forest and how Agni became sick.
The sage said , in the Satya Yuga, there was a king called Shwetaki. He was an expert in performing fire sacrifices and would spend all his time in that. For years, his sacrifice continued. The brahmanas performing the sacrifice became frustrated and started leaving.
The king begged them to stay and asked them if they were angry with him and if that was why they were leaving. The brahmanas said they were leaving as they were not able to bear the heat of the fire anymore. Their eyes were burning from the smoke and all hair on their body was getting singed. They asked the king to please Shiva as only he had the capability to perform this sacrifice.
The king started meditating on Shiva performing austere penances. Pleased Shiva appeared before him. The king told Shiva about the fire sacrifice that was not complete. Shiva said, for that a brahman was needed. He told the king to invite Durvasa, who was an incarnation of Shiva. Durvasa would be able to complete the sacrifice.
The king went back to his palace, There, for twelve years, he arranged for all that would be needed for the sacrifice. He then meditated on Shiva once more, and when Shiva appeared, the king told Shiva that he was ready. Shiva then asked Durvasa to help the king.
For twelve years, the sacrifice continued. Durvasa made offerings of butter in the fire. Twelve years of butter made Agni sick.
Agni went to Brahma and spoke about his problem.
Brahma said the problem was due to over consumption of butter. To solve the problem, Agni needed to consume the Khadava forest along with all its inhabitants.
Agni went and started burning the forest. The inhabitants of the forest started running around. A bunch of elephants collected water in their trunks and extinguished the fire.
Agni went back to Brahma. Brahma asked Agni to be patient. Nara and Narayana would be born on the earth. With their help, the Khandava forest would burn. Once Dwapara Yuga started, Agni went back to Brahma. Brahma told Agni to approach Arjuna and Krishna.
Agni told all this to Krishna and Arjuna. They agreed to help him. Agni said the forest was under the protection of Indra. Arjuna said he was to afraid of countless Indras. What he wanted was weapons that would help in the fight.
Agni then asked Varuna to appear. Agni asked Varuna to provide the chariot called Chadradutta which was armed with quivers full of arrows which would never become empty and the bow called Gandiva. The chariot was a grand chariot with a flag of Hanumana. Krishna was given the mace called Kaumudaki and a chakra called Sudarshana. Krishna climbed on his chariot, the flag of which had Garuda sitting on it. Arjuna got on the chariot given by Varuna.
Agni started burning the forest. Flames shot up. Arjuna and Krishna entered the forest to prevent the escape of the inhabitants. When elephants and other animals tried to prevent the fire, they were thwarted by Arjuna and Krishna. Happy, Agni kept burning the forest.
Some of the Gods residing there, fled to Indra and told him that the forest of Khadava that was under his protection, was burning.
Arjuna said there was ample food there and the brahmana could take what he wanted.
The brahmana then said he was Agni and he was sick. He wanted to eat something that would help him get rid of his sickness. The only way he could be well was if he consumed the Khadava forest along with all its inhabitants.
At this point, Janmajeya wanted to know about the Khandava forest and how Agni became sick.
The sage said , in the Satya Yuga, there was a king called Shwetaki. He was an expert in performing fire sacrifices and would spend all his time in that. For years, his sacrifice continued. The brahmanas performing the sacrifice became frustrated and started leaving.
The king begged them to stay and asked them if they were angry with him and if that was why they were leaving. The brahmanas said they were leaving as they were not able to bear the heat of the fire anymore. Their eyes were burning from the smoke and all hair on their body was getting singed. They asked the king to please Shiva as only he had the capability to perform this sacrifice.
The king started meditating on Shiva performing austere penances. Pleased Shiva appeared before him. The king told Shiva about the fire sacrifice that was not complete. Shiva said, for that a brahman was needed. He told the king to invite Durvasa, who was an incarnation of Shiva. Durvasa would be able to complete the sacrifice.
The king went back to his palace, There, for twelve years, he arranged for all that would be needed for the sacrifice. He then meditated on Shiva once more, and when Shiva appeared, the king told Shiva that he was ready. Shiva then asked Durvasa to help the king.
For twelve years, the sacrifice continued. Durvasa made offerings of butter in the fire. Twelve years of butter made Agni sick.
Agni went to Brahma and spoke about his problem.
Brahma said the problem was due to over consumption of butter. To solve the problem, Agni needed to consume the Khadava forest along with all its inhabitants.
Agni went and started burning the forest. The inhabitants of the forest started running around. A bunch of elephants collected water in their trunks and extinguished the fire.
Agni went back to Brahma. Brahma asked Agni to be patient. Nara and Narayana would be born on the earth. With their help, the Khandava forest would burn. Once Dwapara Yuga started, Agni went back to Brahma. Brahma told Agni to approach Arjuna and Krishna.
Agni told all this to Krishna and Arjuna. They agreed to help him. Agni said the forest was under the protection of Indra. Arjuna said he was to afraid of countless Indras. What he wanted was weapons that would help in the fight.
Agni then asked Varuna to appear. Agni asked Varuna to provide the chariot called Chadradutta which was armed with quivers full of arrows which would never become empty and the bow called Gandiva. The chariot was a grand chariot with a flag of Hanumana. Krishna was given the mace called Kaumudaki and a chakra called Sudarshana. Krishna climbed on his chariot, the flag of which had Garuda sitting on it. Arjuna got on the chariot given by Varuna.
Agni started burning the forest. Flames shot up. Arjuna and Krishna entered the forest to prevent the escape of the inhabitants. When elephants and other animals tried to prevent the fire, they were thwarted by Arjuna and Krishna. Happy, Agni kept burning the forest.
Some of the Gods residing there, fled to Indra and told him that the forest of Khadava that was under his protection, was burning.
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