अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः
The Commencement of the Great Departure
अहमग्नि: कुरुश्रेष्ठा मया दग्धं॑ च खाण्डवम् | अर्जुनस्य प्रभावेण तथा नारायणस्य च,“कुरुश्रेष्ठ वीरो! मैं अग्नि हूँ। मैंने ही अर्जुन तथा नारायणस्वरूप भगवान् श्रीकृष्णके प्रभावसे खाण्डव-वनको जलाया था
aham agniḥ kuruśreṣṭhā mayā dagdhaṃ ca khāṇḍavam | arjunasya prabhāveṇa tathā nārāyaṇasya ca |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「クル族の最勝者よ、我はアグニである。アルジュナの威力と、ナーラーヤナ(シュリー・クリシュナ)の神威によって、カーンダヴァの森を焼き払ったのはこの我であった。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights layered causality: Agni claims the act, yet credits its success to Arjuna’s prowess and Nārāyaṇa’s divine power—suggesting that great outcomes arise when personal effort aligns with higher order and rightful support.
A speaker identifies himself as Agni and recalls the earlier burning of the Khāṇḍava forest, attributing that event to the combined efficacy of Arjuna and Nārāyaṇa (Kṛṣṇa), thereby linking the present scene to a well-known past episode.