Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.140

c4.140

7) *The story of how Agni burnt the big forest, Khāṇḍava.* When the indigestion continued without abate for some time Agni approached Brahmā and asked for a cure. Brahmā declared that his indigestion would be cured if Agni could burn the huge forest, Khāṇḍava, the abode of the enemies of the Devas. Agni immediately started consuming the forest. But the inhabitants of the forest soon quenched the fire. Disappointed Agni went to Brahmā again and the latter advised him to wait for some time till the advent of Nara-Nārāyaṇas to that forest. They would then help Agni to burn the forest. Agni waited for the time to come. At that time the Pāṇḍavas were living in Indraprastha with Śrī Kṛṣṇa. When the heat became unbearable there Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa came to the banks of river Yamunā. Hearing about the arrival of Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna who were none but the incarnations of Nārāyaṇa and Nara, Agni disguised as a brahmin approached them and requested them to help him to burn the Khāṇḍava forest. Agni added that any attempt of his to burn the forest was