Long ago, King Swetaki liked to conduct long sacrifices that left the priests sick and tired. So when he wanted to conduct a hundred-year sacrifice, they all refused and sent him to Rudra. Rudra told him to offer ghee in a sacrificial fire himself non-stop for twelve years. He did that, pleased Rudra and finally after the great sacrifice went to heaven. Meanwhile Agni, the Fire-god, was ill because of too much ghee! He was looking for something to burn to restore his strength. When he could not burn Khandava forest, Brahma told him to seek the help of Krishna and Arjuna who were praying on the banks of the Yamuna river. In return for their help in burning Kandava forest, he got Varuna to give the chakra and a mace, Kaumodaki, to Krishna, and the bow, Gandiva, with a never-ending quiver of arrows and a chariot drawn by white horses to Arjuna.
How Arjuna got Gandiva
