22 Indraprastha
The conflagration in the house of lac was not the only skirmish with fire experienced by Arjuna during this period. For after leaving the house of lac, while Arjuna had been living as a brahmana, he had saved the life of Maya, a king from the mountains in the north.
King Maya, who was on a pilgrimage, had become trapped in a forest fire. He had fallen and injured himself while running from the advancing flames. Arjuna, who was gathering fruit nearby, heard his cries and reached him just in time. He carried Maya to the hermitage where the king was staying.
In gratitude Maya had offered Arjuna some sacred manuscripts which he carried with him on his pilgrimage. Arjuna then confessed that he was not really a brahmana, but one of the sons of King Pandu, and that it was not p
