Shloka 25
वैशम्पायन उवाच तथा तत् कृतवानग्निरभ्यनुज्ञाय शा्ड्गकान् | ददाह खाण्डवं दाव॑ समिद्धो जनमेजय,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! शार्कह्कोंकी अनुमतिसे अग्निदेवने वैसा ही किया और प्रज्वलित होकर वे सम्पूर्ण खाण्डववनको जलाने लगे
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tathā tat kṛtavān agnir abhyanujñāya śārṅgakān | dadāha Khāṇḍavaṁ dāvaṁ samiddho Janamejaya ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “So it was done by Agni. Having obtained the consent of the Śārṅgakas, and blazing fiercely, he began to burn the Khāṇḍava forest like a raging wildfire, O Janamejaya.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that even overwhelming force (Agni’s burning) is framed as proceeding with authorization/assent, underscoring the epic’s concern with legitimacy and the ethical weight of sanctioned action, alongside the grave consequences of destructive acts.
Vaiśampāyana tells Janamejaya that Agni, after receiving the Śārṅgakas’ consent, blazed up and began burning the entire Khāṇḍava forest like a great wildfire.