Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.2395

c7.2395

1) Introduction. Long ago a King named Śvetaki began to perform a sacrifice of duration of 100 years. Many Brahmins took part in the sacrifice as priests conducting the rituals and ceremonies. These Brahmin priests began to depart after a few years turning blind due to the smoke coming out of the sacrificial fire. Thus the sacrifice was stopped for want of priests. Śvetaki was grieved at this and performed penance to Śiva for getting a priest. Śiva appeared before him and pointed out hermit Durvāsas as the priest. Śvetaki recommenced the sacrifice and under the supervision of Durvāsas the sacrifice was completed. But Fire god caught dysentery due to the continuous eating of oblations offered in the sacrificial fire for a long period. His face became pale, body became lean, and he had no taste for food. At last Fire-god went to Brahmā and complained about his disease. Brahmā said that in the forest of Khāṇḍava there lived so many creatures which were enemies of the devas (gods) and that by eating their fat the disease of Agni would be cured. Accordingly Agni came to the Khāṇḍava forest.