This incident takes place after Arjuna's wedding with Subhadra. This is the Khandava-daha Parva. This has an importance, as here Arjuna and Krishna get weapons, and also the magical palace of Indraprastha is built.
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One summer day, Arjuna and Krishna were sitting on the banks of Yamuna. In the pleasant shade of trees they were talking among themselves when a brahmana came there. He was tall, with a reddish complexion. He had a bright yellow beard. He had matted hair and was dressed in rags. He seems to be blazing, his body giving away light.
The brahmana said he was looking for them , the two greatest warriors on the planet. He said he was hungry and wanted food of his choice. He introduced himself. He was Agni, God of Fire. He said the forest of Khandava was protected by Indra. Whenever he tried to burn it, Indra would rain on it, and the fire would go off. Agni wanted to consume the forest and all its beings. In the forest lived the serpent Takshaka, who a friend of Indra. Indra tried to protect his friend and thus Agni was unsuccessful. Agni said he wanted the help of Arjuna and Krishna. He wanted their help to prevent the rain from reaching the forest, when it was burning.
Arjuna wanted to know why specifically this forest was to consumed by Agni. In the olden days, a king Swetaki performed five sacrifices in a row. The fires burnt continuously and the priests were also finding it difficult, the smoke bothering their eyes. The king sent for more priests to conduct the sacrifices. This went on for years. The priests went to the king and said they could do not do it anymore, which angered the king. The priests then told the king to approach Shiva for help.
The king went to Kailasha there he started worshiping Shiva. Long was his worship and finally Shiva appeared. When he asked the king wanted he wanted, the king said he wanted Shiva's help to complete the sacrifice. Shiva said he had a condition. The king needed to continuously pour butter in the fire for a long period. The king agreed. He asked the king to get the help of the sage Durvasa to help as the priest.
The king returned and got Durvasa to come for the sacrifice. For years this sacrifice happened and was finally completed. In the course of the sacrifice, Agni had consumed large quantities of clarified butter, he thus became pale. He wanted to consume a dry forest to get rid of the butter in him.
He went to Brahma for help. Brahma asked him to consume Khadava forest. Ready to burn, Agni went there but his efforts were ruined by Indra.
In despair he went back to Brahma. Brahma then asked him to approach Krishna and Arjuna who would be able to help him. Thus Agni had approached the two warriors.
Arjuna said they did not have the weapons to combat Indra. Agni then sent for Varuna, the god of water. From Varuna, Agni got for Arjuna the bow called Gandiva and two quivers which were full of arrows and would never be empty. He also gave Arjuna, a chariot on which was a flag, with Hanumana sitting on it.
Agni then gave Krishna, a discus with a iron pole, attached to its center. It was a fiery weapon with jagged edges, This was Sudarshana. He aslo gave Krishna a mace called Kaumodaki.
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One summer day, Arjuna and Krishna were sitting on the banks of Yamuna. In the pleasant shade of trees they were talking among themselves when a brahmana came there. He was tall, with a reddish complexion. He had a bright yellow beard. He had matted hair and was dressed in rags. He seems to be blazing, his body giving away light.
The brahmana said he was looking for them , the two greatest warriors on the planet. He said he was hungry and wanted food of his choice. He introduced himself. He was Agni, God of Fire. He said the forest of Khandava was protected by Indra. Whenever he tried to burn it, Indra would rain on it, and the fire would go off. Agni wanted to consume the forest and all its beings. In the forest lived the serpent Takshaka, who a friend of Indra. Indra tried to protect his friend and thus Agni was unsuccessful. Agni said he wanted the help of Arjuna and Krishna. He wanted their help to prevent the rain from reaching the forest, when it was burning.
Arjuna wanted to know why specifically this forest was to consumed by Agni. In the olden days, a king Swetaki performed five sacrifices in a row. The fires burnt continuously and the priests were also finding it difficult, the smoke bothering their eyes. The king sent for more priests to conduct the sacrifices. This went on for years. The priests went to the king and said they could do not do it anymore, which angered the king. The priests then told the king to approach Shiva for help.
The king went to Kailasha there he started worshiping Shiva. Long was his worship and finally Shiva appeared. When he asked the king wanted he wanted, the king said he wanted Shiva's help to complete the sacrifice. Shiva said he had a condition. The king needed to continuously pour butter in the fire for a long period. The king agreed. He asked the king to get the help of the sage Durvasa to help as the priest.
The king returned and got Durvasa to come for the sacrifice. For years this sacrifice happened and was finally completed. In the course of the sacrifice, Agni had consumed large quantities of clarified butter, he thus became pale. He wanted to consume a dry forest to get rid of the butter in him.
He went to Brahma for help. Brahma asked him to consume Khadava forest. Ready to burn, Agni went there but his efforts were ruined by Indra.
In despair he went back to Brahma. Brahma then asked him to approach Krishna and Arjuna who would be able to help him. Thus Agni had approached the two warriors.
Arjuna said they did not have the weapons to combat Indra. Agni then sent for Varuna, the god of water. From Varuna, Agni got for Arjuna the bow called Gandiva and two quivers which were full of arrows and would never be empty. He also gave Arjuna, a chariot on which was a flag, with Hanumana sitting on it.
Agni then gave Krishna, a discus with a iron pole, attached to its center. It was a fiery weapon with jagged edges, This was Sudarshana. He aslo gave Krishna a mace called Kaumodaki.
I never knew that Gandiva and Sudarshan was given by Agni dev.
ReplyDeleteAs per Mahabharata. As per Bhagwad Purana, Krishna just wished and he had it in his hand. At the end of Mahabharata, Agni comes to Arjuna and asks him to return the Gandiva back, as its role was over.
ReplyDelete