Shloka 1
Jarītā–Śārṅgā-saṃvāda: Ākhu-haraṇa and the Approach of Agni (आखुहरणं अग्न्यागमनश्च)
हि 770 08 (0) हि. 7 मी 7 द्वाविशर्त्याधेकद्विशततमो< ध्याय: अग्निदेवका खाण्डववनको जलानेके लिये श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनसे सहायताकी याचना करना, अग्निदेव उस वनको क्यों जलाना चाहते थे, इसे बतानेके प्रसंगमें राजा श्वेतकिकी कथा वैशम्पायन उवाच सोडब्रवीदर्जुनं चैव वासुदेवं च सात्वतम् । लोकप्रवीरौ तिष्ठन्तौ खाण्डवस्य समीपत:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca
so 'bravīd Arjunaṃ caiva Vāsudevaṃ ca Sātvataṃ |
lokapravīrau tiṣṭhantau Khāṇḍavasya samīpataḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: He spoke to Arjuna and to Vāsudeva, the Sātvata—those two heroes renowned among men—who were standing near the Khāṇḍava forest. The scene sets the moral and narrative frame for a request that will test the proper use of strength and alliance: great power is about to be enlisted for a destructive act, and the epic invites reflection on intention, necessity, and the consequences of aiding another’s purpose.
वैशम्पायन उवाच