Agni Approaches Krishna and Arjuna

One day, the Pandavas and Krishna went for a stroll on the banks of the Yamuna. Krishna and Arjuna walked toward a thicket and sat beneath one of the trees. As they chatted, a poor Brahmin approached them and asked for food. When they asked him what kind of food he preferred, he said he didn't eat human food, but ate whatever was consumed by fire. He added that he had a very large appetite.

As Krishna and Arjuna appeared disinterested, the Brahmin said, "I am Agni, the god of fire. I wish to burn the entire Khandava forest. But whenever I attempt to do so, Indra, the god of rain, extinguishes the fire, and I remain hungry."

"But why does he do that?" asked Arjuna and Krishna.

"Because the forest is inhabited by Takshaka, the king of serpents, who is his close friend. Please protect me from the rain until my hunger is satisfied."

"All right," they said. "But we have no weapons to protect you from Indra's wrath."

"I will procure them for you," said Agni, and vanished.