Devalok
From the epics · 2 tellings · Central India

Agni guards Mahishmati

Who is in it

Places: Mahishmati · Texts: Mahabharata

The story, beat by beat

  1. Sahadeva, collecting tribute for Yudhishthira's sacrifice, attacks King Nila at Mahishmati.
  2. His army appears to be on fire, for Agni fights for Nila.
  3. Earlier: Nila's sacred fire blazed only when his daughter blew on it.
  4. Agni visited her as a brahmin and was caught by the king, who ordered him punished.
  5. Agni flamed up, the king bowed and gave him his daughter.
  6. Agni granted that Nila's troops would never panic and burnt all attackers thereafter.
  7. Sahadeva purifies himself and praises Agni by his names.
  8. He tells Agni he should not obstruct a sacrifice and sits on kusha grass before the flames.
  9. The fire does not pass over him.
  10. Agni says he was testing him, but must protect the city while Nila's line lasts.
  11. At Agni's command Nila honours Sahadeva and pays tribute.

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How it is told, place by place

Base telling · Primary text (translation)

Mahabharata, Sabha Parva 30 (Sahadeva's southern campaign)

Central India · Mahishmati on the Narmada All traditions

Sahadeva's troops catch fire before Mahishmati because Agni defends King Nila. The epic explains that Agni had loved Nila's daughter, who alone could make the royal fire blaze; discovered in a brahmin's form, he flared up, was given the princess, and granted that the king's army would never panic. Sahadeva praises Agni with his many names, reminds him not to hinder a sacrifice and sits down on sacred grass. The flames stop at him. Agni says he was testing him and must guard the city as long as Nila's line lasts, then has Nila pay tribute.

The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § sabha.30

Primary text (translation)

Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva 2 (Bhishma)

Central India · Mahishmati on the Narmada All traditions

King Duryodhana of Mahishmati, of the Ikshvaku line, has by the river Narmada a daughter, Sudarshana. Agni asks for her as a poor brahmin and is refused; he vanishes from the king's sacrifice. The priests seek him and he says he wants the princess. The king gladly agrees and asks as bride-gift that Agni stay in Mahishmati always. They have a son, Sudarshana. The text notes that this is why Sahadeva met Agni there.

What is different here:

Different king and a named princess; a proper request and refusal instead of a discovered visit; Agni's leverage is leaving the sacrifice; the boon is his permanent presence, asked by the king.

The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § anushasana.2

Sources: The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer

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