Shloka 76
तत्र सर्वाणि सत्त्वानि निवसन्ति विभावसो । तेषां त्वं मेदसा तृप्त: प्रकृतिस्थो भविष्यसि,'पूर्वकालमें देवताओंके आदेशसे तुमने दैत्योंक जिस अत्यन्त घोर निवासस्थान खाण्डववनको जलाया था, वहाँ इस समय सब प्रकारके जीव-जन्तु आकर निवास करते हैं। विभावसो! उन्हींके मेदसे तृप्त होकर तुम स्वस्थ हो सकोगे
tatra sarvāṇi sattvāni nivasanti vibhāvaso | teṣāṃ tvaṃ medasā tṛptaḥ prakṛtistho bhaviṣyasi |
There, O Vibhāvasu (Agni), all kinds of living beings now dwell. By being satiated with their fat, you will regain your natural steadiness and strength. (The speaker recalls that Khāṇḍava forest—once burned by Agni at the gods’ command as a dreadful abode of the Daityas—has again become a habitat for creatures, and suggests it as the means for Agni’s restoration.)
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames restoration of power as returning to one’s proper nature (prakṛti-stha). It also hints at the ethical tension between divine mandate and the suffering of living beings: even actions done ‘by command’ have consequences for creatures and habitats.
Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses Agni (Vibhāvasu), pointing to the place previously burned—Khāṇḍava forest—now repopulated by many creatures, and states that by consuming their fat Agni will be satisfied and regain strength.