Shloka 37
उपर्याकाशगो भूत्वा विधूम: समपद्यत । दीप्ताक्षो दीप्तजिद्नश्व सम्प्रदीप्तमहानन:,कृष्णमशभ्युद्यतास्त्रं च नादं मुमुचुरुल्बणम् | उन्होंने उस जलते हुए वनको और मारनेके लिये अस्त्र उठाये हुए श्रीकृष्ण तथा अर्जुनको देखा। उत्पात और आर्तनादके शब्दसे उस वनमें खड़े हुए वे सभी प्राणी संत्रस्त- से हो उठे थे। उस वनको अनेक प्रकारसे दग्ध होते देख और अस्त्र उठाये हुए श्रीकृष्णपर दृष्टि डाल भयानक आर्तनाद करने लगे इस प्रकार वनजन्तुओंके मांस, रुधिर और मेदेके समूहसे अत्यन्त तृप्त हो अग्निदेव ऊपर आकाशचारी होकर धूमरहित हो गये। उनकी आँखें चमक उठीं, जिह्नामें दीप्ति आ गयी और उनका विशाल मुख भी अत्यन्त तेजसे प्रकाशित होने लगा
uparyākāśago bhūtvā vidhūmaḥ samapadyata | dīptākṣo dīptajihnaś ca sampradīptamahānanaḥ | kṛṣṇam abhyudyatāstraṃ ca nādaṃ mumucur ulbaṇam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having risen into the upper sky, Agni became smokeless. His eyes blazed, his tongue shone with fire, and his great mouth flared with radiance. Seeing Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna with weapons raised to strike, the creatures of the forest, terrified by ominous portents, let out a dreadful cry.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between cosmic purpose and immediate harm: Agni’s fulfillment and radiance follow destruction, reminding readers that even divinely driven outcomes can impose suffering, and that dharma often involves weighing necessity against compassion.
Agni, having consumed the forest and become fully satiated, rises into the sky and appears smokeless and brilliantly aflame. Meanwhile, the forest beings, seeing Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna with weapons raised, cry out in terror amid ominous disturbances.