Shloka 1
अग्निभय-प्रसङ्गे मन्दपालस्य शोकः
Mandapāla’s Lament amid the Threat of Fire
ऑपन--माज बछ। ्-ज्:डि् चतुर्विशर्त्याधेकद्विशततमो<ध्याय: अग्निदेवका अर्जुन और श्रीकृष्णको दिव्य धनुष, अक्षय तरकस, दिव्य रथ और चक्र आदि प्रदान करना तथा उन दोनोंकी सहायतासे खाण्डववनको जलाना वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्त: स भगवान् धूमकेतुर्हुताशन: । चिन्तयामास वरुणं लोकपाल दिदृक्षया,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! अर्जुनके ऐसा कहनेपर धूमरूपी ध्वजासे सुशोभित होनेवाले भगवान् हुताशनने दर्शनकी इच्छासे लोकपाल वरुणका चिन्तन किया
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: evam uktaḥ sa bhagavān dhūmaketur hutāśanaḥ | cintayāmāsa varuṇaṃ lokapālaṃ didṛkṣayā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: When Arjuna had spoken thus, the blessed Fire-god Hutaśana—whose banner is smoke—began to contemplate Varuṇa, the guardian of the world, desiring to behold him (and seek his aid).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even divine aims proceed through proper channels: Agni does not act in isolation but seeks the support of Varuṇa, suggesting that power is ideally exercised in alignment with cosmic order and cooperative responsibility among guardians.
After Arjuna’s response, Agni (Fire) wishes to burn the Khāṇḍava forest and therefore invokes/meditates upon Varuṇa, the world-guardian, intending to meet him and obtain assistance (notably resources connected with waters and divine equipment).