Krishna and Arjuna nodded to each other and then looked at Agni. "We will protect you Agni. But I think there is something which we need first.... " Krishna started speaking as Agni interrupted them.

Agni looked at the two of them curiously and then turned to Arjuna, "Arjuna, you do realize that Indra is your father. You still are willing to fight him for me."

(As Pandu could not have any children of his own, his wife Kunti helped him on this regard. She knew of an mantra which could invoke any Deva. The mantra was so powerful that once invoked the Deva had to grant the woman invoking the mantra, with a child possessing all the characteristics of that Deva.

Kunti invoked various Devas and that was how the five sons of Pandu were born. Arjuna was in reality the son of Lord Indra himself. Though Pandu acknowledged his paternity over the five boys making them his own sons.)

Arjuna smiled as he looked at Krishna and turned back to Agni, "My Lord! What you are doing is right. Indra is wrong. And Krishna is with me." Arjuna said looking at Krishna again. "So yes. I will fight Indra for you."

Agni looked relieved and looked at the two of them with a sense of pride.

Krishna spoke again, "My Lord! I am entirely confident that I can face up to Indra. But he is the king of Devas. I need some good weapons to fight with him. If I use these earthly weapons, I may not be able to face Indra to the fullest of my ability. Why, these weapons may not even last the first round of attack from Indra! I think you need to provide us with some heavenly weapons, so that we would be better armed to face Indra."

Agni looked at the two of them considering their request. He slowly nodded his head, "I believe that you are the greatest archer in the world, Arjuna."

Arjuna's heart swelled with pride as Agni spoke, "I think you deserve the Gandiva."

Arjuna's eyes opened wide.

The Gandiva. That was the ultimate bow which could be had by anyone. The Gandiva bow along with the two quivers of arrows, which were never exhausted. The arrows just reappeared again and again in the quiver. And that weapon was going to be given to him.

Arjuna's heart was dancing.
Agni turned to Krishna, "My Lord! I do not really need to tell you the best weapon for you. It is obviously the Sudarshana Chakra. I think it will be perfect for you."

Krishna smiled but did not say anything.

Looking at the two of the them, Agni continued, "I will give you a chariot with horses that are as swift as the wind. You just have to think and the horses would turn. I think that will prove very useful during the battle."

Arjuna looked curiously at Agni, "Where is the Gandiva right now?"

"It is with Varuna, the Sea God". Agni said looking at Arjuna. "I think he will give it to me. " Saying this Agni closed his eyes and concentrated.

Arjuna looked with wide eyed wonder as a chariot with beautiful white horses appeared before him.

The chariot was filled with weapons of different kinds. But Arjuna had eyes only for the Gandiva. He lovingly picked up the bow and touched it and smiled. He felt a connection with the Gandiva which he had never felt before. The bow felt like it was his.

Arjuna closed his eyes and said a prayer of thanks. He then picked up one of the two quivers of the arrows and was strapping one of it to himself.

Krishna smiled as he saw his dark friend look at the Gandiva. Arjuna did not know it, but Krishna knew the importance of Gandiva to Arjuna.

(The Gandiva was created by the Brahman [the Force which was within all of us]. The Gandiva passed among the greatest of warriors and was the single greatest factor which would decide the winner in any war.)

Krishna knew that a great war was coming. Arjuna was going to be one of the most important warriors of the war. The Gandiva coming to him just proved that the war could not be avoided.

Krishna sighed and shook his head. He had another job at hand now. He had to deal with Indra now.

Krishna picked up the Sudarshana Chakra and smiled. It felt like he got his friend back. The Sudarshana Chakra was the weapon of Lord Narayana.

Now that it had come to Krishna, who was an avatar of Lord Narayana, it just meant that Krishna and Arjuna were starting the path which destiny had set out for them.

Arjuna and Krishna armed themselves and went near the edge of the Khandava forest. Krishna nodded to Agni. Agni then turned to his natural form.

A small fire started in the forest of the Khandava....