Warning : If you have trauma related to fire do not proceed. Contains some images which some might find disturbing, some description of death and forest fire.

'Dharma'

The dozing forest came alive to smoke tinged air and fast spreading fire. Various animals came out of their shelters to investigate the source of the disturbance. Fires were not uncommon. They had seen the forest dwelling Nagas, Gandharvas, daityas and danavas lighting small fires; singing and dancing merrily around them. The shrieks of the birds alerted them that the unthinkable has happened. Frightened, the hunter and hunted, both ran amuck. Hoards of deer, buffaloes, lions, elephants, boars, hyenas, tigers and jackels ran around trying to escape the creeping flames that threatened to swallow them whole.

They envied the birds that screeched and flew upwards into the safety of the heavens above. But it was shortlived as a plethora of arrows struck down every bird that had dared to escape the burning boughs. Amidst this choas, the Brahmin stood calmly. His eyes contained a barely restrained hunger while his lips were curled in a satisfied smile as the flames lapped on the living and non-living alike. But it was not enough.

Closing his eyes, the Brahmin recalled his true nature. Steam rose from his form as his flesh started to melt away. Discarding his mortal shroud, Agnidev emerged in all his glory burning with pure energy. He expanded and merged with the fire set by Arjun's arrows. He moved unfettered, devouring hungrily, twisting and swaying through the woods leaving behind charred remains.

'Dharma.'

A Nag woman limped blindly towards their King's wife who was standing unnaturally still watching their settlement burn. "RaniMaa (Queenmother), we need to get out. Nagraj is away to Kurukshetra at this hour of peril. The Nagas need you. Our children, RaniMaa," the Nag woman coughed up blood. Nagrani showed no change in expression. "Vimla's five sons are lost to the flames. We need to get out." The suffocating air didn't allow her to speak anymore. Heaving for breath, she knelt infront of her queen. "Save them." The lifeless body toppled over before Ranimaa's feet.

Nagrani noted the protruding arrows sticking out of the dead woman's abdomen in a deatched manner. The screams and wails of her people seemed far away before the rampaging fire. Trees crashed into another Naga, this time a teen boy. His head was split open with eyes bulging out. His mouth was opened in a scream that didn't get the chance to escape his throat. His curly hair reminded her of her son's. Her son. Nagrani gasped out loud. She couldn't save her people but she could still save her son.

"Mai, Mai," she frantically looked around to pinpoint the direction of her son's voice. Ashvasena came running accompanied by young Naga men.

"Putra," Nagrani touched her son's face carefully looking for any grave wounds. Her son's face was marred with black soot, blisters and small curts. "Ranimaa, guide us. Ranimaa," came a scratchy voice of a Nag man which was echoed by others. Nagrani composed herself. She stepped away from her son and addressed her living kin," In the absence of Nagraj, as his wedded wife and daughter of serpants, it rests upon me that I take charge of our people. Fear not my brethen! The King of the Devas have promised us protection. Until his arrival, gather the men and women. Let us defend our land from barbaric invaders that think themselves to be superior!"

The gloom was drowned in battle cries and determination was forged with rage. Morphing into snakes, the Nags slithered through the blackened ground.

"It's no use Mai. Devraj will not be able to help us," Nagrani turned to see Ashvasena's pale frightened face. He clutched her hand tightly. "One of the attackers is Arjun of the Kuru. He is descendent of Aryaka Nag and is also the son of IndraDev. I don't think-"

His words ever cut off by loud thunder overhead. Nagrani felt hope rise within her. Maybe they would be spared. "He is Devraj, putra. He will keep his word. Now come, fulfill your duty as the heir of Nagraj."

Ashasena watched his mother run ahead yelling at the fighters. He looked up at the sky. It was overcast with thunderous grey clouds. He sent a prayer to IndraDev before following his mother. The King of the Devas was their last hope.

'Dharma..'

In his abode, IndraDev was informed about Agnidev consuming the forest of Khandava and all it's dwellers. He didn't waste anymore time. Summoning the majestic Airavat, he descended to the mortal realm. The sky was covered with dark grey clouds churning over the alight Khandava tract. Indra sent a heavy torrent of rain to extinguish the fire.

Seeing this, Agni expanded himself further. The heat of his form was so immense that it dried up the showers mid air. It didn't affect the fire at all. The King of the Devas was thus angered. Lighting crackled to emphasise his displeasure. This time he sent rain down in heavier torrents. The fire and the rain fought like snake and mongoose trying to suffocate each other mingled with smoke and thunder. The fire was starting to diminish.

'Dharma...'

It was exhilarating to be able to finally weild such a bow that could bear all the weapons Arjun had attained from his Gurudev. His chariot moved swiftly along with Madhav's as if circumambulating around the sacrificial fire. The rush of the air, the heat of the fire, the weight of his newly acquired divine bow Gandhiv made Savyasachi heady from the rush of adrenaline within him.

His arms were unstoppable as he took arrows after arrows from his inexhaustible quiver, notched and let them fly cutting through even the tiniest animal that tried to escape the devouring fire. Thunder and lightning alerted Parth a moment before thick shafts of rain fell on the burning forest. He expected the fire to remain unaffected like before but this time the fire grew smaller as thick smoke arose from smouldering remains of flesh and trees like. He couldn't allow this to happen.

Arjun drew back the string of the Gandhiv mounted with numerous arrows and let go. He built a dome over the forest to prevent rain from touching the fire. Agni smiled and burned ferociously like he had before.
The Nags were attacking him and Madhav along with danavas and daityas. But it did nothing to slow his spontaneity or disrupt his focus. The wails and screams of his defeated pushed him to fight even more vigourously. He let out a long held breath when the numbers thinned down a bit. Then he noticed two serpants to the far western outskirts behind a few still standing trees. Notching another arrow on his bow, Arjun took aim.

'Dharma...'

The Nags were being slaughtered mercilessly. Ashvasena watched his kin being cut down. But there was no time for grief. He ran towards his mother and dragged her away from the fighters. Just like him, she was drenched from the rain, covered in burns, cuts, soot and blood.

"Mai, mai, listen to me. We have to leave. Devraj won't be able to save us," he pleaded. Nagrani shook her head. "We cannot leave. The childr-" Ashvasena grasped his mother by her shoulders. "They'll kill us all. They'll kill me." His frightened wild eyes looked at the butchered blackened flesh of his family, his mates he had played with, his kin, his people. "Devraj promised he will protect the place Pita resides in. Pita is not here. As soon as he realises this, he will not fight for us. Arjun and Vasudev of the Yadus will not spare any of us."

Nagrani felt the little hope within her extinguish when the sky was covered with Savyasachi's arrows. The fire roared anew. She glanced at her friend. Her serpant husband had been cut down and now her two sons were dead as well. Her friend glanced back at her and smiled before leaping into the fire. Nagrani gritted her teeth cursing the Kurus and Yadus with her every exhale. They were entrapped in the dome of arrows with the fire enclosing on them quickly.

"Come fast," Nagrani knew what she had to do. Both mother and son morphed into snakes. They slithered to the far western wall made of arrows. Nagrani changed back into her human form and started digging a narrow hole that opened on the other side. Urging her son to go through that hole, she took her serpant figure and followed him. Agnidev, understanding her motive, burned the western wall made of arrows. Seeing the advancing flames, Nagrani opened her jaws wide and started to swallow up Ashvasena.

'Devraj, please save my son, the heir of our clan,' she thought as she tried to enclose Ashasena's form inside her. Her flesh would protect her son from the fire which he can pierce through later and escape. An arrow cut through the head of the Nagrani. Ashasena stared his death, Arjun in the eye with bated breath.

A torrent of heavy rain landed directly on Parth blinding him momentarily. Ashasena fled leaving behind the beheaded body of his mother and burned remains of his family. He didn't look back.

'Dharma..'

Arjun seethed in anger on missing his target. "You, the Nag who flees without facing me in battle, leaving behind your kin shall never earn any fame. You shall remain a neglected afterthought, you coward." Krishna joined in on the words of Parth," Let it be as my friend says."

Savyasachi, in anger, flung arrows at Indradev who churned the sky with thunderous clouds pelting the former with rain, hail and sleet. Arjun was drenched to the bone along with Krishna whose crown had fallen somewhere. Seeing his friend's state, Parth chanted the mantra of vayavya weapon. He let it loose. Immediately the sky was cleared of all clouds. Gentle breeze blew encouraging Agnidev to burn brightly.

Garuda along with his feathered friends of Suparna lineage attacked the duo with their sharp talons and iron beaks. The remaining serpants joined them as they spewed venom on Parth and Madhav. But the warriors were relentless. They cut down many while a few retreated after accepting defeat.

IndraDev charged the duo with vajra accompanied by the Adityas, the Maruts, the Rudras, the Vaishvadevas and the Sandhyas who took up their respective weapons. Both Krishnas readied their bows. Arrow after arrow flew at the attackers. The earth quaked from the ferocity of the battle. The yakshas, the gandharvas, the rakshasas and the serpants joined the gods intent on defeating the warriors. Krishna let his chakra fly which sliced through everything that came across it's path. Mangled mutilated bodies piled on, feeding the earth with their blood. Cries arose from the alive for their lost members. They were either silenced by Parth's arrows or their voices went hoarse before suffocating in the smoke.

IndraDev having long forgotten his anger now felt intrigued and proud on seeing his mortal son's prowess. He showered Arjun with rocks which the later countered by his arrows. Pleased, IndraDev decided to test his son more. He flung the peak of Mandara with his bare hands but Arjun splintered it to many pieces. The boulders fell on the scared inhabitants of the forest killing tens and hundreds of them.

Krishna's chakra descended menancingly upon the fleeing animals. Some let out a tiny whimper before dying while most didn't get a chance to make a sound. The gods were relentless in their attacks but when the chakra turned on them, they fled from the battle. Arjun was startled by Krishna's laughter. He looked at his friend chortling in glee as his chakra chased the gods.

Parth grinned and continued his attack on the daityas and danavas. Covered in blood, grinning from ear to ear with slightly singed smoking clothes, Arjun made a terrifying image. The scant serpants could no longer move from their spot as death ascended on them in the form of Savyasachi's arrows.

"Vibhatsu," one whispered before gurgling as his dead body rolled on the ground.

"Vibhatsu! Vibhatsu!" another screamed trying to flee but it was in vain. Arrows pierced her as well.

Arjun- Vibhatsu laughed.

'Dharma.

The gods did not get an upper hand on the duo. Neither of them showed any signs of fatigue even after days of intense battle. The sages of the heavens saw they were at an impasse and were concerned that the contained battle might get out of hand if not stopped. They prayed to Brahma, the Creator.

Hearing the request of the sages, Brahma spoke to Indra in his mind. "Devraj, your friend Takshak Nag is not present hence there is no need for you to stand in the way of the incarnations of Nara and Narayan, the invincible sages. Return back to your abode. The burning of Khandava is destined."

IndraDev heeded to Brahmandev's words. He was reminded of the cowherd from Vrindavan who lifted the entire Gowardhan hill on his little finger. His son along with the incarnation of Narayan were Achutyas (untouchable) in battle. Being very pleased seeing their prowess and knowing the truth of the Creator's words, he along with other gods left for their abode to watch the duo complete the burning of Khandava.

Agni understood he had Devraj's consent now. He grew even larger encompassing all resigned inhabitants who knew they couldn't avoid death today.

'Dharma..'

On one side of the forest, the four Sharngakas were left unharmed by Agni on the request of their father Rishi Mandapala while on the other side, the flames chased an asur named Maya.

Mayasur had used his illusionary skills to hide himself till then but now the fire consumed his maya too. Tired and frightened, he tried to flee from the fire but was blocked by Vasudev ready with his deadly chakra. He turned to his only hope, the third Pandav and fell before his feet surrendering himself. "Save me, O Arjun."

Vibhatsu stared at the panicked eyes of the creature before him. The smell of burned trees and flesh felt suffocating. Relaxing his form, he let out a breath. "Don't be afraid," Arjun said gently to Mayasur who clutched his feet spilling words of relief and gratitude. Madhav and Agni accepted Savyasachi's wish to spare the one who had sought shelter from him.

Standing up, Mayasur paid his respect to Krishna and Agni. Before them lay the bare charred remains of Khandava; the once mysterious dark green forest reduced to blackened desert with dried up blood stains and ashes. Yamuna flowed undisturbed silently carrying the echoes of the screams with her to far-off lands.

Arjun gripped his bow tighter. He made sure his gait did not tremble.

'Dharma...'

Six days. For six days, Khandava burned. Abhijishya had watched it burn quietly mourning the screams and the following silence. She seemed alone in this because the people were exhilarated; singing praises of the gods, of Vibhatsu's prowess and Vasudev's valour. "The gods have blessed us," they said. "It is such good fortune that they chose the Pandavs to make an offering of Khandava to the pure illustrious Agni. Praise be to them. Salutions be to them."

The nonchalance and happiness was terrifying for Abhijishya. Bheem had been jovial as ever boasting about his younger brother's skill every chance he got. Draupadi beamed with pride when the handmaids praised her husband and her friend. She didn't know what to make of Jyesth Yudhisthir's calm smiles and soft tones while speaking to the sages. Sahadev and Nakul had stuck to each other the entire time except when her husband came to sleep at night. She had a feeling their melancholy was about the death of animals especially the wild horses.

Disbelief was predominant over devastation in her heart. How could they go about so easily with their lives, have merry feasts, thank the gods for her child while mothers, children, fathers, brothers, sisters died a mile away? The turmoil was gnawing at her insides as she stayed mum; incapable of expressing it to anyone.

She stood silently yet again witnessing IndraDev give boons to Parth and Madhav. Arjun asked for all of Devraj's weapons which he would acquire once he pleased Mahadev with his prowess while Krishna grinned and asked that he might always be loving towards Parth. IndraDev chuckled and promised that he would ask Viswakarma, the divine architect to construct a city for their settlement. Agnidev expressed his gratitude and took their leave.

The eyes of Devraj found Abhijishya standing some distance away. She didn't show any reverence, join her hands or praise the gods like others. Unflinching dark brown eyes returned his gaze.

"Shakra?" her lips mumbled while confusion clouded her mind. Devraj let out a miniscule gasp and left hastily followed by the Maruts. It didn't escape Krishna's observant eyes. Searching out Abhijishya over the crowd, he walked towards her.

Her tear stained blank face rebuked him. He came to a halt. Abhijishya shook her head and turned away.

The sigh of disappointment laced with the unasked question,'Dharma? Is this the dharma you speak of?' echoed in Madhav's mind. His blood splattered clothes asked the same.

~°•~°•~°•~°•~°•~°•~°•~

A.N. - Congrats to DrKanu Yudi bro and jimmyprotested29 Ruku on crossing 100K views!!!! WOOOHOOOOO 🎊🎊💓💓 PARTY CHAHIE!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩

*fixes my hair becuz i jumped around madly*

*coughs* Right... I am late again in delivering the update but hope you found it worth the wait. Khandavadahan was difficult to write. I dunno how this turned out to be... if this was boring or not SO COMMENT!! I need your comments on this because this is my first time writing about forest fire and scene like this.

I did not want to gloss over such a defining part of Parth and Madhav's character. I know when it happened in Mahabharata but I placed it here so bear with me.

KuruFamily have arranged Writer's Calibre Awards so if you people want to enter your books or think someone could enter their book then please spread the word. Fanfiction, Romance, Poetry and Historical Fiction are filled up but other genres still have spots.

This time DaisyGooyal jessiedolly Nisarga2007 widluvdaisy asked for update so here it is. Special mention becuz u ppl reminded me that I should start writing the chapter. 😂😅💓

Recs : Euphoria Utopic by _Avishruti_

Through Divine Eyes by DityaaRajput10

These two are new but the concept of later has a lot of potential while the former is a book of poems so check them out.

sujhesha and Sonaligajbhiye loved getting my notis spammed by your votes and comment. 💓💓💓

agirlwithblackshoes *gives you shoe shiner* Yudi ko best bole meko nai bole *sobs in a corner* 💔😭 (tumko alag se thanks nhi bolenge abeej manus)

Srija_Siya Charu, good to be back in touch with you. *hugs*

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, this chapter is dedicated to Hershey Golden_Cloak 💓💓💓💓 Lobe you so much my platonic married partner *hugs tightly*

*deapans at people staring* Yea, I made that up...

Also Ava_2312, let's not burn down forests as a bonding activity. PAAARRTTHHHH *jumps on you and hugs u hard*

*runs away with Parth before BetsMD Pandu catches us*

P.s. Vote and Comment. Do it ppl. YOSH!!