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Mahābhārata The History of the Great India
<< 115 The Fire-god's Request >>
 |  | As they sat together very happily, like the two Asvin gods seated in heaven, a brahmana arrived and approached them. Standing tall like a big sala tree, with tawny skin, a reddish mustache, an evenly proportioned body, and an effulgence like molten gold, he shone like the newly risen sun. He was dressed in black, with matted locks and a face as delicate as a lotus petal. Blazing with prowess, the tawny man came near Krsna and Arjuna, and the two quickly stood up to receive the radiant brahmana.
| | | The brahmana said to Arjuna and Lord Krsna, leader of the Satvatas, "You are the two great heroes of the world, standing here by the Khandava Forest. I am a brahmana who consumes immeasurable amounts, and I now beg you two, Krsna and Arjuna, that for once you offer me my full satisfaction of food."
| | | Thus addressed, Krsna and Arjuna said to him, "Tell us what food will satisfy you, and we will try to bring it."
| | | The brahmana replied, "I do not eat ordinary grains, for you may know me to be the god of fire. Thus you should offer food appropriate for me.
| | | "Lord Indra always carefully guards this Khandava Forest, and because such a mighty person guards it, I cannot burn it. His friend Taksaka the serpent always resides here with his associates, and for his sake thunderbolt-wielding Indra carefully guards this forest. Many other beasts are equally protected by this arrangement. I desire to burn the forest, but Indra's might does not allow me to do so. As soon as he sees me blazing, he rains down water from the clouds, and I am unable to burn this desirable forest. But now that I have met you two, who can help me by your unique skill with weapons, I can burn the Khandava Forest, [which I have selected as my food]. With your supreme knowledge of weapons, you shall ward off the torrents of water and all the beasts on all sides."
| | | Addressed thus, fearsome Arjuna replied to the sacred Fire, "I have many ultimate weapons of divine power, so I can battle many thunderbolt-wielding Indras. But, my lord, I do not have a bow that fits the strength of my arms and withstands my speed and power in battle. And when I am firing rapidly, I need an inexhaustible supply of arrows. Moreover, my chariot will not hold all the arrows I need. I would also request divine horses, white and as swift as the wind, and a chariot that rumbles like the clouds and shines as bright as the sun.
| | | "Similarly, Sri Krsna does not have a weapon equal to His strength, a weapon by which He will slay the serpents and ghosts in battle. My lord, you must declare the means by which to accomplish this task, so that I may ward off Indra when he sends showers into the great forest. Whatever is to be done by manly prowess, we two shall do, O Fire, but you, my lord, should provide the proper instruments."
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