Adi Parva›The Burning of the Khandava Forest

Arjuna Spares the Asura Maya from the Fire

Why "Minor"?

Causal ReachTop 98%

Character WeightTop 85%

State ChangeTop 85%

Narrative RecallTop 50%

~1 min read

As the Khandava forest burns, the asura Maya flees Takshaka's abode, pursued by Agni in the form of a roaring hermit. With Krishna's chakra raised to kill him, Maya screams one name for salvation: Arjuna's.

Then Madhusudana (Krishna) saw an asura named Maya suddenly attempting to escape from Takshaka’s abode. Agni, whose charioteer was the wind, assumed the form of a hermit with matted hair. Roaring like thunderclouds, he pursued Maya with the single intention of consuming him. Vasudeva stood with his chakra raised, ready to kill. Seeing the raised discus and the fire-hermit ready to consume him, Maya cried out, “O Arjuna! Save me.” Hearing these scared words, Arjuna replied, “Do not be frightened.” Partha’s words seemed to instill new life into Maya, who was the brother of the demon Namuchi. When Arjuna told Maya he need not fear, Dasharha (Krishna) no longer desired to kill him, and the fire did not burn him either. In that flaming forest, Agni did not burn six beings—Ashvasena, Maya, and the four Sharngakas.

Adi Parva, Chapter 219

Arc Complete

The Burning of the Khandava Forest

Continue the Story

Next on the main storyline

The Construction of the Maya Sabha

Will the Pandavas, with Maya's help, build a hall worthy of a great king?

Side stories from this arc

Khandava AftermathSide Quest The Union of Bhima and HidimbaSide Quest

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