॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ षट्षष्टितमोऽध्यायः - ६६ ॥
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Discourse LXVI
Pauṇḍraka and others killed (Preamble)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
नन्दव्रजं गते रामे करूषाधिपतिर्नृप ।
वासुदेवोऽहमित्यज्ञो दूतं कृष्णाय प्राहिणोत् ॥ १॥
त्वं वासुदेवो भगवानवतीर्णो जगत्पतिः ।
इति प्रस्तोभितो बालैर्मेन आत्मानमच्युतम् ॥ २॥
दूतं च प्राहिणोन्मन्दः कृष्णायाव्यक्तवर्त्मने ।
द्वारकायां यथा बालो नृपो बालकृतोऽबुधः ॥ ३॥
दूतस्तु द्वारकामेत्य सभायामास्थितं प्रभुम् ।
कृष्णं कमलपत्राक्षं राजसन्देशमब्रवीत् ॥ ४॥
वासुदेवोऽवतीर्णोहमेक एव न चापरः ।
भूतानामनुकम्पार्थं त्वं तु मिथ्याभिधां त्यज ॥ ५॥
यानि त्वमस्मच्चिह्नानि मौढ्याद्बिभर्षि सात्वत ।
त्यक्त्वैहि मां त्वं शरणं नो चेद्देहि ममाहवम् ॥ ६॥
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Śrī Śuka began again : Parikṣit, when Śrī Balarāma had gone to Nanda's Vraja, Pauṇḍraka, the ruler of Karūṣa, sent a messenger to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, saying, " I am Vāsudeva"! Steeped as he was in ignorance, he was flattered by stupid people, who said, " You are the glorious Lord Vāsudeva, protector of the universe, who have appeared on earth (for its protection)", and the fellow began to look upon himself as Vāsudeva (the immortal Lord). (1-2)
Just as a foolish boy set up by other boys as a king in sport would behave, so did the dull-witted fellow, unaware of the reality of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose ways are inscrutable, sent his messenger to Dvārakā. (3)
The messenger came to Dvārakā and delivered (the following) message of his king to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa of lotus-like eyes, who was seated in the council hall. (4)
"I alone am Vāsudeva, and there is no other. I have come down on earth to bless all beings with my grace. You have falsely assumed that name, which you should now give up. (5)
O scion of Yadu, abandon all my marks that you have adopted through (sheer) folly and come to me for shelter, or you should give me battle."(6) (1-6)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
कत्थनं तदुपाकर्ण्य पौण्ड्रकस्याल्पमेधसः ।
उग्रसेनादयः सभ्या उच्चकैर्जहसुस्तदा ॥ ७॥
उवाच दूतं भगवान् परिहासकथामनु ।
उत्स्रक्ष्ये मूढ चिह्नानि यैस्त्वमेवं विकत्थसे ॥ ८॥
मुखं तदपिधायाज्ञ कङ्कगृध्रवटैर्वृतः ।
शयिष्यसे हतस्तत्र भविता शरणं शुनाम् ॥ ९॥
इति दूतस्तदाक्षेपं स्वामिने सर्वमाहरत् ।
कृष्णोऽपि रथमास्थाय काशीमुपजगाम ह ॥ १०॥
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Śrī Śuka continued : Hearing this bragging of the dull-witted Pauṇḍraka, King Ugrasena and (all) others who were present in the assembly at that time loudly laughed. (7)
When their jokes were over, the Lord replied through the messenger (as follows): " O foolish one, I shall (no doubt) discharge My (discus and other) insignia on you and (all) those associates of yours, encouraged by whom you brag in this manner. (8)
O fool, hiding those lips (with which you are bragging) you will (then) lie down dead on the ground, surrounded by buzzards, vultures and other (carnivorous) birds, and (instead of giving shelter to Me,) you will serve as subsistence for dogs." (9)
The messenger (returned) and conveyed the whole of this retort to his master. Śrī Kṛṣṇa too (for His part) mounted His chariot and invaded Kāśī (for the ruler of Karūṣa was then staying with his friend, the king of Kāśī). (10) (7-10)
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पौण्ड्रकोऽपि तदुद्योगमुपलभ्य महारथः ।
अक्षौहिणीभ्यां संयुक्तो निश्चक्राम पुराद्द्रुतम् ॥ ११॥
तस्य काशिपतिर्मित्रं पार्ष्णिग्राहोऽन्वयान्नृप ।
अक्षौहिणीभिस्तिसृभिरपश्यत्पौण्ड्रकं हरिः ॥ १२॥
शङ्खार्यसिगदाशार्ङ्गश्रीवत्साद्युपलक्षितम् ।
बिभ्राणं कौस्तुभमणिं वनमालाविभूषितम् ॥ १३॥
कौशेयवाससी पीते वसानं गरुडध्वजम् ।
अमूल्यमौल्याभरणं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ १४॥
दृष्ट्वा तमात्मनस्तुल्यवेषं कृत्रिममास्थितम् ।
यथा नटं रङ्गगतं विजहास भृशं हरिः ॥ १५॥
शूलैर्गदाभिः परिघैः शक्त्यृष्टिप्रासतोमरैः ।
असिभिः पट्टिशैर्बाणैः प्राहरन्नरयो हरिम् ॥ १६॥
कृष्णस्तु तत्पौण्ड्रककाशिराजयो-
र्बलं गजस्यन्दनवाजिपत्तिमत् ।
गदासिचक्रेषुभिरार्दयद्भृशं
यथा युगान्ते हुतभुक्पृथक् प्रजाः ॥ १७॥
आयोधनं तद्रथवाजिकुञ्जर-
द्विपत्खरोष्ट्रैररिणावखण्डितैः ।
बभौ चितं मोदवहं मनस्विना-
माक्रीडनं भूतपतेरिवोल्बणम् ॥ १८॥
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Having received the news of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's invasion, Paṇḍraka, the great car-warrior, hastily sallied forth from the city with (an army consisting of) two Akṣauhīnis; and his friend, the king of Kāśī, followed him as a commander in the rear, O king, with (a subsidiary force of) three Akṣauhīnis. Paṇḍraka could be (easily) distinguished by his conch, discus, sword and mace, the Śārṅga bow and (the mark of) Śrīvatsa, bore a Kaustubha gem and was decked with a wreath of sylvan flowers. (11—13)
He was clad in two pieces of yellow silk and bore the design of Garuḍa on his ensign, wore a priceless crown and brilliant crocodile-shaped ear-rings. (14)
All this outfit was so artificial that he looked like an actor on the stage. Finding Paṇḍraka closely imitating Him in dress, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa heartily laughed. (15)
(Now) the enemies assailed Śrī Kṛṣṇa with their pikes, maces, iron clubs, lances, spears, darts, bludgeons, swords, Paṭṭiśas and arrows. (16)
Like the fire raging at the time of universal destruction, which destroys all creatures severally, Śrī Kṛṣṇa utterly crushed with His mace, sword, discus and shafts that (joint) army of Paṇḍraka and the king of Kāśī, consisting (as it did) of elephants, chariots, horses and footmen. (17)
The (whole) field was strewn with chariots and (dead bodies of) horses, elephants, men, donkeys and camels—cut to pieces by the discus of Śrī Kṛṣṇa—and looked as fearful as the place where Śaṅkara carries on His deadly dance of destruction (at the end of a Kalpa). Its sight afforded delight to the brave. (18) (11-18)
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अथाह पौण्ड्रकं शौरिर्भो भो पौण्ड्रक यद्भवान् ।
दूतवाक्येन मामाह तान्यस्त्राण्युत्सृजामि ते ॥ १९॥
त्याजयिष्येऽभिधानं मे यत्त्वयाज्ञ मृषा धृतम् ।
व्रजामि शरणं तेऽद्य यदि नेच्छामि संयुगम् ॥ २०॥
इति क्षिप्त्वा शितैर्बाणैर्विरथीकृत्य पौण्ड्रकम् ।
शिरोऽवृश्चद्रथाङ्गेन वज्रेणेन्द्रो यथा गिरेः ॥ २१॥
तथा काशीपतेः कायाच्छिर उत्कृत्य पत्रिभिः ।
न्यपातयत्काशीपुर्यां पद्मकोशमिवानिलः ॥ २२॥
एवं मत्सरिणं हत्वा पौण्ड्रकं ससखं हरिः ।
द्वारकामाविशत्सिद्धैर्गीयमानकथामृतः ॥ २३॥
स नित्यं भगवद्ध्यानप्रध्वस्ताखिलबन्धनः ।
बिभ्राणश्च हरे राजन् स्वरूपं तन्मयोऽभवत् ॥ २४॥
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Now Śrī Kṛṣṇa addressed Paṇḍraka, (as follows): "Hullo Paṇḍraka, you asked Me through the mouth of your messenger to give up the weapons (I carry on My person). I shall accordingly discharge them on you. (19)
I shall compel you to give up My name, which has been falsely assumed by you, O ignorant one. You asked Me to take refuge in you. I would do so today, if I avoided a clash with you." (20)
Reproaching him thus, Śrī Kṛṣṇa shattered the chariot of Pauṇḍraka with His sharp arrows and lopped off his head with His discus, (even) as Indra would knock down wings of a mountain with his thunderbolt. (21)
Śrī Kṛṣṇa likewise severed the head of the king of Kāśī from his body with His arrows and caused it to (fly and) fall into the city of Kāśī even as the wind would carry away a lotus-bud. (22)
Thus putting an end to (both) Pauṇḍraka and his ally (the king of Kāśī), who had been nursing enmity towards Him, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa returned to Dwārakā, the Siddhas singing His stories, sweet as nectar. (23)
Parikṣit, Pauṇḍraka ever used to think intensely of the Lord. All the ties of his Karma were cut asunder by this; and as he (constantly) remembered the Lord's Form, when imitating Him, he attained the same Form as His (after death). (24) (19-24)
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शिरः पतितमालोक्य राजद्वारे सकुण्डलम् ।
किमिदं कस्य वा वक्त्रमिति संशिश्यिरे जनाः ॥ २५॥
राज्ञः काशीपतेर्ज्ञात्वा महिष्यः पुत्रबान्धवाः ।
पौराश्च हा हता राजन् नाथ नाथेति प्रारुदन् ॥ २६॥
सुदक्षिणस्तस्य सुतः कृत्वा संस्थाविधिं पितुः ।
निहत्य पितृहन्तारं यास्याम्यपचितिं पितुः ॥ २७॥
इत्यात्मनाभिसन्धाय सोपाध्यायो महेश्वरम् ।
सुदक्षिणोऽर्चयामास परमेण समाधिना ॥ २८॥
प्रीतोऽविमुक्ते भगवांस्तस्मै वरमदाद्भवः ।
पितृहन्तृवधोपायं स वव्रे वरमीप्सितम् ॥ २९॥
दक्षिणाग्निं परिचर ब्राह्मणैः सममृत्विजम् ।
अभिचारविधानेन स चाग्निः प्रमथैर्वृतः ॥ ३०॥
साधयिष्यति सङ्कल्पमब्रह्मण्ये प्रयोजितः ।
इत्यादिष्टस्तथा चक्रे कृष्णायाभिचरन् व्रती ॥ ३१॥
ततोऽग्निरुत्थितः कुण्डान्मूर्तिमानतिभीषणः ।
तप्तताम्रशिखाश्मश्रुरङ्गारोद्गारिलोचनः ॥ ३२॥
दंष्ट्रोग्रभ्रुकुटीदण्डकठोरास्यः स्वजिह्वया ।
आलिहन् सृक्किणी नग्नो विधुन्वंस्त्रिशिखं ज्वलत् ॥ ३३॥
पद्भ्यां तालप्रमाणाभ्यां कम्पयन्नवनीतलम् ।
सोऽभ्यधावद्वृतो भूतैर्द्वारकां प्रदहन् दिशः ॥ ३४॥
तमाभिचारदहनमायान्तं द्वारकौकसः ।
विलोक्य तत्रसुः सर्वे वनदाहे मृगा यथा ॥ ३५॥
अक्षैः सभायां क्रीडन्तं भगवन्तं भयातुराः ।
त्राहि त्राहि त्रिलोकेश वह्नेः प्रदहतः पुरम् ॥ ३६॥
श्रुत्वा तज्जनवैक्लव्यं दृष्ट्वा स्वानां च साध्वसम् ।
शरण्यः सम्प्रहस्याह मा भैष्टेत्यवितास्म्यहम् ॥ ३७॥
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Seeing a human head with ear-rings lying at the entrance of the palace (in Kāśī), the people wondered whose head it was, and how it came. (25)
Recognizing (at last) that it was the head of their king (the ruler of Kāśī), the queens, sons and relations of the king and the citizens wailed loudly saying, "O lord, O master, O king, alas, we are (all) undone." (26)
The king's son, Sudakṣiṇa, performed the funeral rites to his father and resolved in his mind that he would repay the debt to his father by killing his slayer. With the help of his priest Sudakṣiṇa began to worship Śaṅkara with the utmost concentration. (27-28)
Pleased with his worship at Kāśī, Lord Śaṅkara offered him a boon. Sudakṣiṇa replied, "Lord, (if You are pleased with me) tell me by what means I can kill the slayer of my father. That is the only boon I seek from You." (29)
Śaṅkara said, "With the help of Brāhmaṇas worship the sacred fire called Dakṣiṇāgni, according to the Abhicāra method (employed for malevolent purposes). That fire, accompanied by Pramathas (the attendants of Śaṅkara) will accomplish your purpose (even) as a priest appointed to carry out one's wishes. It will, however, be powerless against one who is devoted to Brāhmaṇas." Thus commanded (by Lord Śaṅkara), Sudakṣiṇa did as he was bid, observing strict discipline and directing the Abhicāra force against Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (30-31)
As soon as the Abhicāra was over, the god of fire emerged in person from the sacrificial pit, assuming a very terrible form. His locks, moustaches and beard looked red like heated copper; his eyes emitted sparks of fire. (32)
His (large and protruding) teeth and threatening eyebrows gave him a stern appearance; he was licking the corners of his mouth with his tongue; his naked body threw out flames of fire. Flourishing a trident (in his hand), he strode the earth with legs as tall as a palm tree. Making the earth tremble under his feet and burning the cardinal points, he rushed towards Dwārakā, followed by spectress. (33-34)
At the sight of that Abhicāra fire rushing towards them, the people of Dwārakā were all frightened, even as the deer get frightened at the sight of a forest conflagration. (35)
They ran in consternation to the Lord, who was playing at dice in His court, and said, "O Ruler of the three worlds, protect us, O protect us, from the fire that is about to consume the city." (36)
Hearing of this distress of His people, and seeing (the cause of) their fear, Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the protector of His devotees) laughed loudly and heartily and said, "Do not be afraid, I shall protect you (from this danger)." (37) (25-37)
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सर्वस्यान्तर्बहिः साक्षी कृत्यां माहेश्वरीं विभुः ।
विज्ञाय तद्विघातार्थं पार्श्वस्थं चक्रमादिशत् ॥ ३८॥
तत्सूर्यकोटिप्रतिमं सुदर्शनं
जाज्वल्यमानं प्रलयानलप्रभम् ।
स्वतेजसा खं ककुभोऽथ रोदसी
चक्रं मुकुन्दास्त्रमथाग्निमार्दयत् ॥ ३९॥
कृत्यानलः प्रतिहतः स रथाङ्गपाणे-
रस्त्रौजसा स नृप भग्नमुखो निवृत्तः ।
वाराणसीं परिसमेत्य सुदक्षिणं तं
सर्त्विग्जनं समदहत्स्वकृतोऽभिचारः ॥ ४०॥
चक्रं च विष्णोस्तदनुप्रविष्टं
वाराणसीं साट्टसभालयापणाम् ।
सगोपुराट्टालककोष्ठसङ्कुलां
सकोशहस्त्यश्वरथान्नशालाम् ॥ ४१॥
दग्ध्वा वाराणसीं सर्वां विष्णोश्चक्रं सुदर्शनम् ।
भूयः पार्श्वमुपातिष्ठत्कृष्णस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः ॥ ४२॥
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Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is a witness of all that happens within and without all creatures. He at once came to know that it was the Kṛtyā (a malevolent force) of Lord Śiva (released from Kāśī). He commanded His discus (Sudarśana), that stood by His side, to nullify the Kṛtyā. (38)
Brilliant like millions of suns, and flaming forth like the fire of universal destruction, the discus Sudarśana, the (favourite) missile of the Lord, lighted up heaven and earth as well as the intervening region and the (four) quarters with its lustre and forthwith subdued the Abhicāra fire. (39)
Repulsed by the force of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's weapon, the magic fire known by the name of Kṛtyā had its force blunted and, turning back, returned to Kāśī and burnt up Sudakṣiṇa and his priests, by whom it had been released. (40)
Following the Kṛtyā, Sudarśana, the discus of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, entered Kāśī and, reducing the whole city to ashes alongwith its high towers, assembly halls, houses, market-places, big gates, attics, granaries, treasuries, the stalls for elephants, horses and chariots and dining halls, returned to Dwārakā and stood once more by the side of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who did everything as a matter of sport. (41-42) (38-42)
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य एतच्छ्रावयेन्मर्त्यः उत्तमश्लोकविक्रमम् ।
समाहितो वा शृणुयात्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥ ४३॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां
संहितायां दशमस्कन्धे उत्तरार्धे पौण्ड्रकादि-
वधो नाम षट्षष्टितमोऽध्यायः ॥ ६६॥
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The man who hears attentively, or relates, the story of this exploit of the glorious Lord (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) is completely rid of all sins. (43)
Thus ends the sixty-sixth discourse entitled "Paunḍraka and others killed (by Śrī Kṛṣṇa)", in the latter half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahārhsa-Sarhhitā. (43)
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