Burning of Khandava
“When fire asks for help, divine bonds are forged in flame.”
Story Summary
After Indraprastha rises from the wilderness, Krishna and Arjuna find themselves by the ancient Khandava forest. Agni, the fire god, approaches them with an urgent request: he must consume the forest, but Indra keeps preventing him with torrential rains. Arjuna questions why they should help destroy such a vast forest, but Krishna understands the deeper purpose. Together, they agree to assist—Arjuna will use his archery to prevent Indra's rains, while Krishna will guide and protect. What follows is a spectacle of divine power: Arjuna's arrows form an impenetrable shield against the downpour, while Krishna's presence reveals glimpses of cosmic form. The forest burns, and those meant to escape do so under their protection. As reward, Agni grants them celestial weapons—Arjuna receives the Gandiva bow and divine quivers, while their friendship deepens into something unbreakable. In the ashes of Khandava, a bond is forged that will one day guide an archer through his darkest hour.