Fire : 2016

Hear, O beloved of earth ! Agni was married to daughter swaha of Nila-dhwaja and jwala rulers of mahishmati near narmada river. It happened thus: Sometime before, his daughter sought to know who was best in the three worlds, engaged indevotion^ and greatly pleased the god of fire ; who thenceforward lived with the damsel in the city^ as her hushand. By virtue of this^i, Pravira seized and bound Arjun's horse.

Seeing the horse made fast, the guardian warriors threatened. Pravira^s wrath was stirred. " I give you battle. If he be able, let Arjun come with his army to fight with me," he said, and fixed an arrow on his bow. His speech reached Arjun ; who, with an angry smile, looked on his hosts. His forces then, with all their armed array, marched forward.

The rush of the van of the armies hemmed in the city ; the dust concealed the sky ; the clang of the loud sounding instruments of music pervaded every quarter. By the terror that their prosperity would be ruined, fear that its refulgent lustre would fade, dread lest their amazing wealth should pass away,
— the courage of the people, the motion of the sun, and the wisdom of the eight quarters' elephants, were utterly annihilated.

Like a sea that has overflowed its hounds ; like a mass of clouds at the time of the world's destruction ; the van of Arjun's army eagerly hemmed in Pravira on every side. By vigorous might he remained unmoved as the mind of a holy saint who, by the power of divine knowledge, restrains the anguish arising
from the continuous sorrows of mortal existence, — with unfailing presence of mind and firmness.

Sharply watching on every side, Pravira alone, slew, by his shafts, all the foremost of the hosts that surrounded him. Seeing which, Pradyumna, S&tyaki, Vrishaketu, Suv^ga, Anus&lva, Kritawarma, and other mighty warriors seized their bows, and, with rage, came swiftly to the fight,showering their arrows like the rain of deluge-cloud» escaped from their long restraint^^.

Pravira, in various mddes, boldly contended with them all in battle. Here Niladhwaja issued from the city with the niultitude of his forces. How shall I describe it ? The rays of the sun, the motion of the wind, the flowing rivers, the sky, the earth, were swallowed up, as at the destruction of all things.
The three worlds hecame mere dust.

The hrave household troops of the valiant Niladhwaja broke through the hostile forces, drew Pravira back, brought down the power of the enemy's army, each of himself pierced the foe's array with cavalry, chariots, and powerful elephants. Slaying, they increased in daring, and exulted in mighty valour.

The powerful warriors, (on both sides,) in battle, clashed like two mingling waves; rushed together like masses of clouds; fell upon each other with a confused noise of shouting, like swarming bees; smiting, they battered to the ground and overthrew the forest of their foes, like a storm of wind; they crushed
each other to atoms like the fiercest lightning; and were transported with heroic frenzy.

The valiant warriors seeing the demons drag off and devour the corpses of the heroes who perished fighting, and the heavenly courtezans embracing, and kissing them in glorious bodies where they had been carried, taunted and reproached each other, saying, " Do heroes flinch ?" And, mingling toge-
ther in combats hand to hand^, with strength unfailing, they put forth all their might.

Then— what shall I say ?— The followers of Niladhwaja destroyed in battle

the vehemence of Kritawarma, the ardour of Anus&lva^
the valour of the powerful Suv^ga,
the prowess of the son of Karna,
the bravery of S&tyaki,
the matchless heroism of the monarch Youvan&shwa,
the haughty violence of Aniruddha, and
the might of the terror of his foes, Pradyumna.

Arjun saw it. The enemy's powerful forces became too dreadful for even the gods to endure. ^^How is it that my people cannot conquer ? " he said, and, in fierce rage, seized and twanged his bow, and came forward with a shout. Are there in the world any who could oppose him as he advanced roaring like a pouring thunder cloud at the end of all things, and shooting his darts ? Routed and scattered, the hosts of Niladhwaja fled broken to the city.

seizing each other by the taft of hair that is left growing, on the crown of the head.

Seeing the army returning routed^ Pravira cursed, seized his bow, and met the son of Kunti. Vrishak^tu interposed, and, fought, his equal. Anusklva put back the son of Kama, stood to the front, and vanquished him. When he (Pravira) was wounded, Niladhwaja himself, with all his distinguished

forces in close array, fell upon Aijun's hosts.

Arjun, enraged, overthrew the army of Niladhwaja, and covered him with a countless multitude of darts. Perplexed, he said to Agni who was standing near, " How is it that all this calamity has befallen me, whilst I have you for a son-in-law ? Deliver me from the terror of Arjun.'* Agni heard, entered

Arjun's army, and commenced to burn.

Parasols, fly-brushes, bucklers, shields, saddles, variega-ted banners, umbrellas, standards, coats of mail, armour, accoutrements, cords, clothes, vehicles, musical instruments, darts,quivers, carriages, beautiful winged arrows, bows, chariots.

wheels, whips, yokes, axles, were set on fire. In Arjun's army all were terrified; and, shaking oflf the fire, fled routed and dispersed.

The rising, curling smoke went all around, and filled every quarter of the sky. The fire flew upward, and descended in a falling shower of sparks. The wreaths of crackling flame pursued and seized upon them. Thus the fiery blaze in Arjun's army began to consume them all.

At the pursuing and burning smoke and flame of Agni, the army of Pandu's son cried out in anguish, and fled to every quarter, — ^like the living beings of the sea when distressed and confounded by the heat of the blazing, pointed arrows of B&ma enraged, and full of wrath^s. At Agni's violence Aijun was

vexed and grieved, saying, ** What prodigy is this ? '*

Some of his army were discomfited ; some, their armour burnt, were naked ; some were enveloped in the huge flaming fires. " Alas ! Is the son of Dharma's sacrifice impeded ? My God! My God!'* he cried, and grieved. "For this I will worship the god of fire, and see/' he said, laid down the bow he held in his hand, purified himself, and supplicated Agni.

Then, with- words prescribed for the worship of Agni, he praised him, prostrated himself on the ground, stood up, and prayed, " Why art thou angry ? Is not this sacrifice for thee ? Besides, all the gods by thee receive their portions. Thou pervadest all animate and inanimate things. The three worlds exist and perish by thee. Enough ! Grant me a way, (for the performance of the sacrifice,) and spare me ! "

" My God ! 'Twas thou who formerly gavest me my bow G&ndiva. If thou considerest, P&nch&ld sprung from

thee*®. ' Say ! Are we strangers to thee ? " Thus Arjun praised and besought.

The god of fire was pleased, and said, *' Hear, O Arjun ! I ana not angry. But, having Krishna's

presence, why do you want the horse-sacrifice ? It is like longing for butter-milk when one has ambrosia."

" True ! Can I transgress your word'^ ? The society of Krishna is enough. Who, in the world, is the performer of virtuous deeds ? At the command of Krishna they are done. But besides all this, Krishna has graciously commanded us to perform the sacrifice. What do you say to this?" Aijun replied;

and Agni said, "I cease to burn," gave him assurance, and thus addressed Niladhwaja : —

"Cease to fight with Arjun. Enough! Let free his horse. Go to the city." Thus Agni politely induced the king to return. Here Arjun shot a water-arrow^^, and put an end to the calamitous fire. In the meantime the jewel of the sky was seen on the top of the western mountain, like the beautiful ruby that adorns the hair of the lady of the west.

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