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.

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.”

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."

Having been thus addressed, the illustrious Brahmana thus spoke to those two heroes who were enquiries what kind of food he wanted.

The Brahmana said ; I do not wish to eat ordinary food. Know that I am Agni (fire). Give me that food which suits me.

This Khandava (forest) is every protected by Indra. I always fail to consume it, because it is ever protected by that illustrious god.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Janamejaya said : Why did the high-souled Agni desire to consume the forest of Khandava, abounding in various living creatures and protected by Indra?

When Agni consumed the Khandava in wrath, there was certainly a grave cause for it. I desire to hear from you all this in detail. O Rishi, tell me why the Khandava (forest) was consumed (by fire) in the days of yore.

O king, hear I am telling you the whole story of why Khandava forest was consumed by the fire.

Vaishampayana said : O best of men, I shall narrate to you the story of the destruction of the Khandavas as told by the Rishis in the Puranas.

O king, it has been heard in the Puranas that there was a king named Shvetaki who was endued with both strength and prowess and who was a rival to Indra himself.

None has equalled him in sacrifices, charity and intelligence. He performed five great sacrifices and many other smaller ones, in all of which Dakshinas (presents to Brahmanas) were very large.

O king, the heart of that monarch was always set upon sacrifices, religious rites and gifts of all kind. That greatly intelligent king performed sacrifices for many years, assisted by the Ritvijas till they, becoming weak and their eyes afflicted with smoke, left that king, wishing never more to assist him at his sacrifices. The king, however, again and again asked them to come to him, but on account of their sore eyes, they did not come.

Thereupon the king with the permission of the Ritvijas completed his sacrifices with the assistance of other Ritvijas.

Some days after, he desired to perform another sacrifice which would extend for one hundred years. But the illustrious king did not get any Ritvijas.

They high-souled king with his friends and relatives again and again courted them by bowing down to them, by conciliatory speeches and by the gifts of wealth. But they refused to accomplish the purpose of that greatly effulgent (king).

Thereupon that royal sage thus spoke to them in anger, sitting in their own hermitage, “O Brahmanas, if I were a fallen person, if I were in wanting in service to you, I should then deserve to be abandoned by you and other Brahmanas.

O excellent Brahmanas, as I am neither degraded, nor wanting in homage to you, you should not obstruct sacrifice performed by me and abandon me thus without sufficient reason. O Brahmanas, I seek your protection, you should be propitious to me. () excellent Brahmanas, if you abandon me from enmity alone, I shall go to other Brahmanas and I shall ask for their assistance at my sacrifice. Conciliating them with sweet words and speeches, I shall tell them what is my business to be done so that they may accomplish it."

Having said this, the king became silent. The Brahmanas knew well that they could not assist that chastiser of foes at his sacrifice; therefore they pretended to be angry with that best of kings and they said, "O best of kings, your sacrifices are incessant.

We have been fatigued by assisting you (at your sacrifices). We are tried in consequence of this labour; therefore, you should give us leave (to go away). O sinless one, from your loss of judgement only you cannot wait. Go to Rudra (Shiva); he will assist you at your sacrifice."

Having heard these words of censure and wrath, the king Shvetaki became angry. Going to the Kailasa mountain, he begin to worship the God (Shiva), observing rigid vows and performing austere penances. Giving up all food, he passed many years.

He only ate fruits and roots sometimes at the twelfth and sometimes at the sixteenth hour of the day.

He stood like the trunk of a tree. For six months with upraised arms and eyes fixed, the king performed the severest penances there (on the Kailasa mountain).

O descendant of Bharata, Shankara (Shiva) was greatly pleased; and he at last appeared before him.

He said," O chastiser of foes, O best of men, I have been much pleased with your asceticism.

O king, now ask the boon you desire," Hearing these words of the immeasurably effulgent Rudra (Shiva). The royal sage bowed to him and thus replied to him,

"O illustrious one, O chief of the celestial, O god of gods, if you are pleased with me, assist me then in my sacrifices.” Having heard these words of the king, the deity was pleased and smilingly replied,

"We ourselves do not assist at scarifics. But O king, O chastiser of foes, as you have undergone the severest of penances with the desire of obtaining a boon, I shall assist you at your sacrifice on this condition.

Rudra said: O king of kings, if for full twelve years you can incessantly pour libations of ghee into the sacrificial fire, you yourself leading all the while the life of a Brahmachari. Then, o king, you can obtain me, for the purpose for which you ask me."

Having been thus addressed by Rudra, the king Shvetaki did what he was asked to do by the wielder of Shula (Shiva). When twelve years were completed, he again came to Maheshwara (Shiva).

On seeing the king and being much pleased with him, the creator of the world Shankara (Shiva) spoke thus to that best of monarchs, Shvetaki.

"O best of kings, I have been pleased with your (great) act. O chastiser of foes, the duty of assisting at scarifies belongs to the Brahmanas.

O chastiser of foes, therefore, I shall not myself assist you at your sacrifice today. There is one earth a greatly illustrious and best of Brahmanas who is a portion of my own self.

He is known by the name of Durvasa. He will assist you at your sacrifice. He is endued with ascetic powers, he will assist you. Therefore, let every preparation be made (by you)".

Having heard these words of Rudra, the king returned to his capital and begin to collect all that were necessary for his sacrifice.

When every thing had been collected, the king again appeared before Shankara and said, “Every necessary things has been collected. And through your grace all my preparations are ready. O god of gods, let me, therefore be installed in the sacrifices tomorrow.” Having heard these words of the illustrious king. Rudra summoned Durvasa and spoke to him thus, O best of Brahmanas, this is the high-souled king Shvetaki. O chief of Brahmanas assist him at his sacrifice at my command." The Rishi said to Rudra, “Be it so."

Thereupon the sacrifice for which the illustrious king made preparations who performed according to the ordinance, at the proper season and a with large amount of Dakshinas.

When the sacrifice of that illustrious king came to an end, all the other priests that assisted at it went away with the permission of Durvasa. All other greatly effulgent Sadasyas also, who had been installed in that sacrifice, went away. O king, then that high-souled (royal sage) entered his own palace.

The Brahmanas well-versed in the Vedas adorned him and singers praised him. The people of the city welcomed him.

The great king Shvetaki was always righteous. After a long time, adorning by all, he went to the herven accompanied by all members and Ritvijas of the sacrifice. Agni drank ghee for twelve years in his sacrifice.

In that unique sacrifice Agni drank large quantity of Ghee, which provided him enormous satisfaction.

Now, he had no desire to take more oblation from others. Thereupon the illustrious Agni became pale, (because he drank a very large quantity of ghee in that sacrifice). He could not shine as before.

Then the lord Agni brought some mistransformations in his stomach. Being lusterless he felt hatred.

Seeing himself pale, Agni went to the sacred abode of Brahma ever adorned by all.

Coming to Brahma seated (on his throne), he spoke to him thus, King Svetaki satisfied me by his sacrifice. O lord of the universe, I am reduced both in splendour and strength. I desire to regain my own permanent nature through your grade."

Having heard these words of Agni, the illustrious creator of all the worlds. Smilingly thus spoke to Agni, “You have drunk continuously for twelve years a very large quantity of ghee poured into your mouth. O exalted Deity, it is for this you have been affected with illness. O Agni, you have, therefore, suddenly lost both your splendour strength. O Agni, do not grieve for it. You shall soon regain your own nature. I shall dispel you this malady.

O Agni, the abode of the enemies of the celestial, the fearful forest of Khandava, which at the request of the celestial you reduced to washes in the days of yorc has again been filled with numerous creatures. When you will eat the fat of all those creatures (now living in the Khandava), you will then regain your own nature.

Go there soon to consume it with all its living creatures. You will then certainly be cured of your malady." Having heard these words that were uttered by the Supreme Deity, Agni proceeded with great speed (towards that great forest). Arriving at the fearful Khandava forest in full vigour, he suddenly blazed up with the help of the wind.

Seeing the Khandava on fire, the dwellers of that forest made great efforts to extinguish it.

Hundreds and thousands of elephants speedily brought water in their trunks and they scattered it over the fire in great wrath.

Many-headed snakes, becoming mad with anger, speedily scattered on the fire water from their many hoods.

O best of the Bharata race, they and the other creatures that lived in that forest soon extinguished the fire by various means and efforts.

Thus Agni blazed forth again and again in the Khandava (forest), but the blazing fire was again and again extinguished by the dwellers of that forest.