Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच सोऽब्रवीदर्जुनं चैव वासुदेवं च सात्वतम् लोकप्रवीरौ तिष्ठन्तौ खाण्डवस्य समीपतः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Thereupon that Brahmana thus spoke to Arjuna and Vasudeva of Satvata race," You two, who are now staying so near the Khandava, are two foremost of men.
ब्राह्मणो बहुभोक्तास्मि भुञ्जेऽपरिमितं सदा भिक्षे वार्ष्णेयपार्थौ वामेकां तृप्तिं प्रयच्छताम्
M. N. Dutt: I am a voracious Brahmana that eats much. o descendants of Vrishni and Pritha, I ask you to gratify me by giving me sufficient foot.”
एवमुक्तौ तमब्रूतां ततस्तौ कृष्णपाण्डवौ केनान्नेन भवांस्तृप्येत्तस्यान्नस्य यतावहे
M. N. Dutt: Having been thus addressed, Krishna and the Pandava (Arjuna) thus spoke to him, “ Tell us what food will gratify you. We shall try to give it to you."
एवमुक्तः स भगवानब्रवीत्तावुभौ ततः भाषमाणौ तदा वीरौ किमन्नं क्रियतामिति
M. N. Dutt: Having been thus addressed, the illustrious Brahmana thus spoke to those two heroes who were enquiries what kind of food he wanted.
नाहमन्नं बुभुक्षे वै पावकं मां निबोधतम् यदन्नमनुरूपं मे तद्युवां संप्रयच्छतम्
M. N. Dutt: The Brahmana said ; I do not wish to eat ordinary food. Know that I am Agni (fire). Give me that food which suits me.
इदमिन्द्रः सदा दावं खाण्डवं परिरक्षति तं न शक्नोम्यहं दग्धुं रक्ष्यमाणं महात्मना
M. N. Dutt: This Khandava (forest) is every protected by Indra. I always fail to consume it, because it is ever protected by that illustrious god.
वसत्यत्र सखा तस्य तक्षकः पन्नगः सदा सगणस्तत्कृते दावं परिरक्षति वज्रभृत्
M. N. Dutt: There lives in this forest) his friend the Naga Takshaka with his relatives and followers. It is for him that the wilder of thunder (Indra) protects it.
तत्र भूतान्यनेकानि रक्ष्यन्ते स्म प्रसङ्गतः तं दिधक्षुर्न शक्नोमि दग्धुं शक्रस्य तेजसा
M. N. Dutt: Many other creatures are also protected by him (in this forest) for the sake of Takshaka. Although I am ever desirous of consuming it, I cannot do it for Indra's prowess.
Supplementary Passages:
1.215.8 After 8ab, K0.3.4 D5 ins.: *2107 बहूनि घोररूपाणि उग्रवीर्याणि चैव हि
स मां प्रज्वलितं दृष्ट्वा मेघाम्भोभिः प्रवर्षति ततो दग्धुं न शक्नोमि दिधक्षुर्दावमीप्सितम्
M. N. Dutt: Whenever he sees me blazing up in this forest), he pours upon me waters from the clouds. I cannot thus succeed to consume it, though very much desirous of doing it.
स युवाभ्यां सहायाभ्यामस्त्रविद्भ्यां समागतः दहेयं खाण्डवं दावमेतदन्नं वृतं मया
M. N. Dutt: I have now come to you, you are both great experts in arms. I shall be able to consume Khandava with your help. This is the food I desire to have from you.
युवां ह्युदकधारास्ता भूतानि च समन्ततः उत्तमास्त्रविदौ सम्यक्सर्वतो वारयिष्यथः
M. N. Dutt: Expert as you are in excellent weapons, I pray you to prevent the showers of rain from coming down upon me and to prevent also any creatures from escaping when I begin to consume it (the forest).
एवमुक्ते प्रत्युवाच बीभत्सुर्जातवेदसम् दिधक्षुं खाण्डवं दावमकामस्य शतक्रतोः
AI Translation: Thus addressed, Bibhatsu replied to the knower of the Vedas, the fire that was burning the Khandava forest, unwillingly, O hundred-armed one,
Supplementary Passages:
1.215.12 After 12ab, N ins.: *2108 अब्रवीन्नृपशार्दूल तत्कालसदृशं वचः
उत्तमास्त्राणि मे सन्ति दिव्यानि च बहूनि च यैरहं शक्नुयां योद्धुमपि वज्रधरान्बहून्
M. N. Dutt: "I have numberless excellent celestial weapons with which I can fight even with many wielders of thunder(Indra).
धनुर्मे नास्ति भगवन्बाहुवीर्येण संमितम् कुर्वतः समरे यत्नं वेगं यद्विषहेत मे
M. N. Dutt: But, O illustrious one, I have no bow suited to the strength of my arms and capable of bearing the might I put fourth in battle.
शरैश्च मेऽर्थो बहुभिरक्षयैः क्षिप्रमस्यतः न हि वोढुं रथः शक्तः शरान्मम यथेप्सितान्
M. N. Dutt: In consequence of the great lightness of my hands, I require arrows that will be inexhaustible (in the quiver). My car also is hardly able to bear the load of arrows that I desire to keep by me.
Supplementary Passages:
1.215.15 After 15ab, M6-8 ins.: *2109 उपासंगौ च मे न स्तः प्रतियोद्धुं पुरंदरम्
अश्वांश्च दिव्यानिच्छेयं पाण्डुरान्वातरंहसः रथं च मेघनिर्घोषं सूर्यप्रतिमतेजसम्
M. N. Dutt: I desire to have (some) celestial horses of pure white colour, possessing the speed of the wind and (I also desire to have) a car, possessing the splendour of the sun; the clatter of its wheels should resemble the roars of clouds.
तथा कृष्णस्य वीर्येण नायुधं विद्यते समम् येन नागान्पिशाचांश्च निहन्यान्माधवो रणे
M. N. Dutt: Then there is no weapon suited to Krishna's prowess. He requires weapon like the one with which Mahadeva (Shiva) kills Nagas and Pishachas in the battle.
उपायं कर्मणः सिद्धौ भगवन्वक्तुमर्हसि निवारयेयं येनेन्द्रं वर्षमाणं महावने
M. N. Dutt: O illustrious one, you should give us the means by which we may gain success; and we can prevent Indra from pouring rains on that extensive forest.
पौरुषेण तु यत्कार्यं तत्कर्तारौ स्व पावक करणानि समर्थानि भगवन्दातुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: O Agni, we are ready to do what is possible to be done by manliness and prowess. O illustrious one, but you should give us the proper means.