Shloka 8
Arjuna’s Lament, the End of the Yadus, and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure
यत्सन्निधावहमु खांडवमग्नयेऽदा- मिन्द्रं च सामरगणं तरसा विजित्य । लब्धा सभा मयकृताद्भुतशिल्पमाया दिग्भ्योऽहरन्नृपतयो बलिमध्वरे ते ॥ ८ ॥
yat-sannidhāv aham u khāṇḍavam agnaye ’dām indraṁ ca sāmara-gaṇaṁ tarasā vijitya labdhā sabhā maya-kṛtādbhuta-śilpa-māyā digbhyo ’haran nṛpatayo balim adhvare te
તેમની સન્નિધિમાં જ મેં અગ્નિદેવને ખાંડવ વન ભસ્મ કરવા દીધું અને દેવગણসহ ઇન્દ્રને પણ પરાક્રમે જીત્યો. તેમની કૃપાથી ખાંડવની જ્વાળામાંથી મય દાનવ બચ્યો અને તેની અદ્ભુત શિલ્પમાયાથી અમારી સભા બની; જ્યાં રાજસૂય યજ્ઞમાં દિશાઓના રાજાઓ આવીને તમને કર-ભેટ અર્પણ કરતા।
The demon Maya Dānava was an inhabitant of the forest Khāṇḍava, and when the Khāṇḍava Forest was set on fire, he asked protection from Arjuna. Arjuna saved his life, and as a result of this the demon felt obliged. He reciprocated by building a wonderful assembly house for the Pāṇḍavas, which attracted the extraordinary attention of all state princes. They felt the supernatural power of the Pāṇḍavas, and thus without grudge all of them submitted and paid tributes to the Emperor. The demons possess wonderful and supernatural powers to create material wonders. But they are always disturbing elements of the society. The modern demons are the harmful material scientists who create some material wonders for disturbance in the society. For example, the creation of nuclear weapons has caused some panic in human society. Maya was also a materialist like that, and he knew the art of creating such wonderful things. And yet Lord Kṛṣṇa wanted to kill him. When he was chased both by the fire and by the wheel of Lord Kṛṣṇa, he took shelter of such a devotee as Arjuna, who saved him from the wrath of the fire of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Devotees are therefore more merciful than the Lord, and in devotional service the mercy of a devotee is more valuable than the mercy of the Lord. Both the fire and the Lord ceased from chasing the demon as soon as both of them saw that the demon was given shelter by such a devotee as Arjuna. This demon, feeling obliged to Arjuna, wanted to do him some service to show his gratefulness, but Arjuna declined to accept anything from him in exchange. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, however, being pleased with Maya for his taking shelter of a devotee, asked him to render service unto King Yudhiṣṭhira by building a wonderful assembly house. The process is that by the grace of the devotee the mercy of the Lord is obtained, and by the mercy of the Lord a chance to serve the Lord’s devotee is obtained. The club of Bhīmasena was also a gift of Maya Dānava.
FAQs
This verse recalls that in Krishna’s presence Arjuna helped offer the Khāṇḍava forest to Agni and, empowered by Krishna, defeated Indra and the demigod hosts who tried to stop it.
Arjuna is remembering how Krishna’s companionship made the impossible possible—victory even over Indra—and how Krishna’s glory led to royal honor, including the wondrous hall built by Maya and tributes offered during the sacrifice.
It teaches devotional remembrance: when facing loss or uncertainty, recall past instances of divine guidance to strengthen faith, gratitude, and steadiness in dharma.