Mahabharata · 1.215.6–7
॥
Devanāgarī
इदम् इन्द्रः सदा दावं खाण्डवं परिरक्षति ॥
तं न शक्नोम्य् अहं दग्धुं रक्ष्यमाणं महात्मना ॥
वसत्य् अत्र सखा तस्य तक्षकः पन्नगः सदा ॥
सगणस् तत्कृते दावं परिरक्षति वज्रभृत् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
idam indraḥ sadā dāvaṃ khāṇḍavaṃ parirakṣati ||
taṃ na śaknomy ahaṃ dagdhuṃ rakṣyamāṇaṃ mahātmanā ||
vasaty atra sakhā tasya takṣakaḥ pannagaḥ sadā ||
sagaṇas tatkṛte dāvaṃ parirakṣati vajrabhṛt ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
इदम् इन्द्रः सदा दावं खाण्डवं परिरक्षतिidam indraḥ sadā dāvaṃ khāṇḍavaṃ parirakṣatiThis forest Khandava, Indra always guards;
तं न शक्नोमि अहं दग्धुं रक्ष्यमाणं महात्मनाtaṃ na śaknomi ahaṃ dagdhuṃ rakṣyamāṇaṃ mahātmanāI cannot burn it, protected as it is by the great [Indra];
वसति अत्र सखा तस्य तक्षकः पन्नगः सदाvasati atra sakhā tasya takṣakaḥ pannagaḥ sadāhere dwells his friend, the serpent Takshaka, always,
सगणः तत्कृते दावं परिरक्षति वज्रभृत्sagaṇaḥ tatkṛte dāvaṃ parirakṣati vajrabhṛtwith his kin; for his sake the wielder of the thunderbolt guards the forest;
शक्नोम्य्śaknomyoriginal form "śaknomy", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
वसत्य्vasatyoriginal form "vasaty", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
सगणस्sagaṇasoriginal form "sagaṇas", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
"This forest Khandava, Indra always guards; I cannot burn it, protected as it is by the great Indra; here dwells his friend, the serpent Takshaka, always, with his kin; for his sake the wielder of the thunderbolt guards the forest."
Version
e86fb55641c0 · published Jul 12, 2026, 6:11:48 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the obstacle is revealed — Indra's intercession on behalf of a friend. It is significant that Indra protects the forest for the sake of friendship with Takshaka: even among the gods, attachment binds the will. Thus even something good [Agni's satisfaction] meets a hindrance in someone's affection. The scripture shows here the reason for Khandava's defense; and before Agni stands the power of Indra himself.