Shloka 83

Jarītā–Śārṅgā-saṃvāda: Ākhu-haraṇa and the Approach of Agni (आखुहरणं अग्न्यागमनश्च)

Devanagari script

अनेन तु प्रकारेण भूयो भूयश्व प्रज्वलन्‌ | सप्तकृत्व: प्रशमित: खाण्डवे हव्यवाहन:,इस तरह खाण्डववनमें अग्निने बार-बार प्रज्वलित होकर सात बार उसे जलानेका प्रयास किया; परंतु प्रतिबार वहाँके निवासियोंने उन्हें बुझा दिया

Transliteration

anena tu prakāreṇa bhūyo bhūyaś ca prajvalan | saptakṛtvaḥ praśamitaḥ khāṇḍave havyavāhanaḥ ||

Translation

In this very manner, the Fire-god (Havyavāhana) flared up again and again in the Khāṇḍava forest. Yet, seven times he was subdued—each time the forest-dwellers there managed to extinguish him.

Word by Word

अनेनby this

तुbut/indeed

प्रकारेणin the manner/way

भूयःagain, repeatedly

चand

प्रज्वलन्blazing, flaring up

सप्तकृत्वःseven times

प्रशमितःwas quenched/was pacified

खाण्डवेin (the forest) Khāṇḍava

हव्यवाहनःAgni (the carrier of oblations)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Agni (Havyavāhana)

Khāṇḍava forest

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the interplay of force and counter-force: even divine power (Agni) can be repeatedly restrained when circumstances and opposing agents align. Ethically, it foreshadows questions about when destruction is justified, and how resistance can delay—even if it cannot always prevent—an impending outcome.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana states that Agni repeatedly tried to blaze and burn the Khāṇḍava forest, but on seven occasions he was extinguished by those residing there, indicating strong opposition within the forest and setting up the later events leading to the burning of Khāṇḍava.