When Agni consumed the Khandava in wrath, there was certainly a grave cause for it. I desire to hear from you all this in detail. O Rishi, tell me why the Khandava (forest) was consumed (by fire) in the days of yore.
न ह्येतत् कारणं ब्रह्मन्नल्पं सम्प्रतिभाति मे। यद् ददाह सुसंक्रुद्धः खाण्डवं हव्यवाहनः॥ एतद् विस्तरशो ब्रह्मञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। खाण्डवस्य पुरा दाहो यथा समभवन्मुने॥