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Canto 10

S'rī S'achī Sutāshthakam


 

   

Chapter 66: The False Vāsudeva Paundraka and His Son Consumed by Their Own Fire

(1) S'rī S'uka said: 'After Balarāma had left for Nanda's cowherd village, oh King, the ruler of Karūsha [called Paundraka] who foolishly thought 'I am Vāsudeva', sent a messenger to Krishna. (2) People childishly had suggested: 'You are Vāsudeva, the Supreme Lord who has descended as the Master of the Universe!' and so he thought of himself as the Infallible One. (3) Like a boy of little intelligence who by kids was appointed king he, being silly, sent a messenger to Krishna who resided in Dvārakā, to Him whose ways are inscrutable. (4) The envoy arriving in Dvārakā, relayed, in the royal assembly, to Krishna Almighty with the Lotus Petal Eyes the message of his king: (5) 'I am the one and only Vāsudeva and no one else. I have descended to this world with the purpose of showing mercy to the living beings. You however, have to give up Your false claim on that title! (6) Oh Sātvata, give up my symbols which You carry out of ignorance. You better come to me for shelter! If You do not, then give me battle instead.'

(7) S'rī S'uka said: 'Hearing that boasting of the stupid Paundraka, the members of the assembly headed by Ugrasena laughed out loud. (8) After the screaming was over, the Supreme Lord said to the messenger: [Tell him:] 'I will hurl the symbols you so boast about, oh fool, for certain at you! (9) You will be the shelter of dogs, you ignoramus, when you lie dead with that face of yours covered by flocking herons, vultures and vathas.'

(10) Thus being addressed, the messenger conveyed that insulting reply in full detail to his master. Krishna with His chariot rode to the vicinity of Kās'ī [Vārānasī]. (11) As soon as the mighty warrior Paundraka noticed His preparations for battle, he appeared from the city joined by two akshauhinīs. (12-14) He was followed by his friend the king of Kās'ī who covered his back with three akshauhinīs. Oh King, Krishna saw Paundraka complete with a conch, a disc, a sword and a club, a S'ārnga bow, a S'rīvatsa mark and other symbols, including a Kaustubha gem and the decoration of a garland of forest flowers. Wearing a pair of fine silken yellow garments and carrying Garuda in his banner, he wore a valuable crown and had ornamented himself with gleaming, shark-shaped earrings. (15) The sight of him dressed up as His spitting image, like he was an actor on a stage, made the Lord laugh heartily. (16) The enemies attacked the Lord with tridents, clubs and bludgeons, pikes, blades, barbed missiles, lances, swords, axes and arrows. (17) Krishna however, with His club, sword, disc and arrows, fiercely tormented the military force of elephants, chariots, horses and infantry of Paundraka and the king of Kās'ī, like He was the fire at the end of the age tormenting the different kinds of living beings. (18) The battlefield, strewn with the chariots, horses, elephants, bipeds, mules and camels cut to pieces by His disc, shone like the horrible playground of the Lord of the Ghosts [Bhūtapati, or S'iva], who pleases the wise therewith. (19) S'auri then said to Paundraka: 'Those weapons you mentioned by mouth of your messenger, I will now release at you. (20) I will force you to renounce My name and everything that you falsely assumed, oh fool! And today I will turn to you for shelter [as you wanted], when I do not wish to fight you.'

(21) Thus deriding him, He drove Paundraka out of his chariot with His sharp arrows and with His disc lopped off his head, just like Indra with his thunderbolt splits a mountain top. (22) So too He with His arrows severed the head of the king of Kās'ī from his body, sending it flying into Kās'ī-puri like the wind transporting the flower cup of a lotus. (23) Thus having killed both the envious Paundraka and his friend, the Lord entered Dvārakā where He was honored by the Siddhas [the perfected souls] who recited His nectarean stories. (24) By assuming the personal form of the Supreme Lord and [thus] constantly meditating on Him, oh King, he [Paundraka] had destroyed all his material ties and became fully immersed in Him [Krishna conscious, also see sārūpya]. (25) Seeing the head with the earrings that had landed near the palace gate, the people wondered: 'Whose head would this be?' (26) Recognizing it as the head of the king, the ruler of Kās'ī, his queens, his sons, his other relatives and the citizens loudly cried: 'Alas master, oh master, oh King, we are killed!' (27-28) His son named Sudakshina executed the funeral rites for his father, reflected and decided: 'In order to avenge my father I will kill my father's murderer'. And thus 'the excellence of charity', with great attention together with the priests prayed to Mahes'vara [Lord S'iva]. (29) At [the holy place of] Avimukta the great lord, being satisfied, offered him the choice of a benediction. He asked the mighty demigod for the benediction of a means to slay the One who had killed his father. (30-31) [S'iva said:] 'Be together with the brahmins and the leading priest of service to the dakshina [southern] fire following an abhicāra ['hurting'] ritual. It is a ritual used against an enemy of the brahmins. That ritual fire together with the Pramathas [S'iva's attendants, see also 10.63: 6] will fulfill your desire.' Thus being instructed he observed the vows in order to harm Krishna. (32-33) Thereupon from the fire of the altar pit an impressive, most horrendous figure rose with a tuft of hair, beard and mustache red like molten copper, hot radiating cinders of eyes, terrible teeth and a harsh face with arched and furrowed eyebrows. With his tongue licking the corners of his mouth, he was naked waving with a blazing trident [see also 4.5: 3 and 6.9: 12]. (34) With legs as big as palm trees shaking the earth he, accompanied by ghosts, ran to Dvārakā while setting fire to all the directions. (35) Seeing the [creature risen from the] abhicāra fire approaching, all the residents of Dvārakā were struck with fear, just like animals facing a forest fire. (36) Most afraid, they upset ran to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who at the royal court was playing a game of dice [and said to Him]: 'Save us, oh Lord of the Three Worlds, save us from the fire burning down the city!'

(37) Hearing the despondency of the people and seeing how upset His own men were, S'aranya, the Protector, laughed loudly and said: 'Do not be afraid of this, I will protect you!'

(38) The Almighty Lord, everyone's Witness within and without, understood that the creature came from Mahes'vara and then, in order to put an end to him, sent off the cakra He always carries with Him. (39) This weapon of Krishna, the Sudars'ana cakra, which like a million suns was blazing with an effulgence like the fire at the end of the universe, tormented with its heat both the sky, the heavens, the earth in its ten directions and the fire [of the demon; see also 9.4: 46]. (40) Frustrated by the power of the weapon of Him with the Disc in His Hand, the [creature of] fire that was created turned around, oh King. In its violence it from all sides closed in on Vārānasī and burned to death Sudakshina and all his priests. The man [finally] was consumed by the abhicāra [fire] he had created himself. (41) The cakra of Vishnu in pursuit directly thereafter entered Vārānasī with its gateways and watchtowers, its many raised porches, assembly halls, market places, warehouses and the buildings housing the elephants, horses, chariots and grains. (42) Having burned all of Vārānasī to ashes, Vishnu's Sudars'ana disc returned to the side of Krishna, He whose actions are effortless. (43) Any mortal being who in full attention recounts or hears this heroic pastime of the Supreme Lord Praised in the Verses, will be released from all sins.'

 

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Third revised edition, loaded July 26, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rī S'uka said: 'After Balarāma had left for Nanda's cowherd village, oh King, the ruler of Karūsha [called Paundraka] who foolishly thought 'I am Vāsudeva', sent a messenger to Krishna.
S'rī S'uka said: 'With Balarāma gone to Nanda's cowherd village sent the ruler of Karūsha [Paundraka], o King, foolishly thinking 'I am Vāsudeva', a messenger to Krishna. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

People childishly had suggested: 'You are Vāsudeva, the Supreme Lord who has descended as the Master of the Universe!' and so he thought of himself as the Infallible One.

Childishly people had alluded: 'You are Vāsudeva, the Supreme Lord who has descended as the Master of the Universe!', and so he imagined himself to be the Infallible One. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

Like a boy of little intelligence who by kids was appointed king he, being silly, sent a messenger to Krishna who resided in Dvārakā, to Him whose ways are inscrutable.

Like a boy of little intelligence who by kids was appointed king sent he, being silly, a messenger to Krishna, He whose ways are inscrutable, who resided in Dvārakā. (Vedabase)

  

Text 4

The envoy arriving in Dvārakā, relayed, in the royal assembly, to Krishna Almighty with the Lotus Petal Eyes the message of his king:

The envoy arriving in Dvārakā then in the royal assembly relayed to Krishna Almighty with the Lotuspetal Eyes the message of his king: (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

'I am the one and only Vāsudeva and no one else. I have descended to this world with the purpose of showing mercy to the living beings. You however, have to give up Your false claim on that title!

'I Vāsudeva, the one and only without a second, have descended to this world with the purpose of showing mercy to the living beings. You however, have to give up Your false title! (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

Oh Sātvata, give up my symbols which You carry out of ignorance. You better come to me for shelter! If You do not, then give me battle instead.'

O Sātvata, give up my symbols. You carry them out of delusion. You better come to me for shelter; if not so, give me battle instead.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

S'rī S'uka said: 'Hearing that boasting of the stupid Paundraka, the members of the assembly headed by Ugrasena laughed out loud.

S'rī S'uka said: 'Hearing that boasting of Paundraka so poor of intelligence, laughed the members of the assembly headed by Ugrasena loudly. (Vedabase)

    

Text 8

After the screaming was over, the Supreme Lord said to the messenger: [Tell him:] 'I will hurl the symbols you so boast about, oh fool, for certain at you!

The Supreme Lord, after the joking was done, said to the messenger: 'I'll hurl you, o fool, the symbols you so boast about. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

You will be the shelter of dogs, you ignoramus, when you lie dead with that face of yours covered by flocking herons, vultures and vathas.'

The shelter of dogs you'll be, o ignoramus, lying dead with that face of yours covered by herons, vultures and vathas all around.' (Vedabase)

  

Text 10

Thus being addressed, the messenger conveyed that insulting reply in full detail to his master. Krishna with His chariot rode to the vicinity of Kās'ī [Vārānasī].

Thus addressed carried the messenger that insulting reply in full detail over to his master and went Krishna, riding His chariot, to Kās'ī [Vārānasī]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

As soon as the mighty warrior Paundraka noticed His preparations for battle, he appeared from the city joined by two akshauhinīs.

As soon as the mighty warrior Paundraka saw that He was preparing for battle, appeared he from the city joined by two akshauhinīs. (Vedabase)

 

Text 12-14

He was followed by his friend the king of Kās'ī who covered his back with three akshauhinīs. Oh King, Krishna saw Paundraka complete with a conch, a disc, a sword and a club, a S'ārnga bow, a S'rīvatsa mark and other symbols, including a Kaustubha gem and the decoration of a garland of forest flowers. Wearing a pair of fine silken yellow garments and carrying Garuda in his banner, he wore a valuable crown and had ornamented himself with gleaming, shark-shaped earrings.

The Lord saw Paundraka within his wake his friend, the master of Kās'ī, with three akshauhinīs more, o King. He presented himself complete with a conch, a disc, a sword and a club, a S'ārnga and the mark of a S'rīvatsa and other symbols, including a Kaustubha-gem and the decoration of a forest flower garland. Wearing a pair of fine silken yellow garments and in his banner Garuda wore he a valuable crown and had he ornamented himself with gleaming shark-shaped earrings. (Vedabase)


Text 15

The sight of him dressed up as His spitting image, like he was an actor on a stage, made the Lord laugh heartily.

The sight of him dressed up as His spitting image, like he was an actor on a stage, made the Lord laugh heartily. (Vedabase)

    

Text 16

The enemies attacked the Lord with tridents, clubs and bludgeons, pikes, blades, barbed missiles, lances, swords, axes and arrows.

With tridents, clubs and bludgeons, pikes, blades, barbed missiles, lances, swords, axes and arrows was the Lord attacked by the enemies. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

Krishna however, with His club, sword, disc and arrows, fiercely tormented the military force of elephants, chariots, horses and infantry of Paundraka and the king of Kās'ī, like He was the fire at the end of the age tormenting the different kinds of living beings.

Krishna however with His club, sword, disc and arrows fiercely tormented that military force of elephants, chariots, horses and infantry of Paundraka and the king of Kās'ī, like He was the fire at the end of the world to the different kinds of living entities. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

The battlefield, strewn with the chariots, horses, elephants, bipeds, mules and camels cut to pieces by His disc, shone like the horrible playground of the Lord of the Ghosts [Bhūtapati, or S'iva], who pleases the wise therewith.

That battlefield, strewn with the by His disc cut to pieces chariots, horses, elephants, bipeds, mules and camels, shone like the horrible playground of the Lord of the Ghosts [Bhūtapati, or S'iva], bringing pleasure to the wise. (Vedabase)

  

Text 19

S'auri then said to Paundraka: 'Those weapons you mentioned by mouth of your messenger, I will now release at you.

S'auri then said to Paundraka: 'Those weapons you spoke of to Me through the words of your messenger, I now discharge at you. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

I will force you to renounce My name and everything that you falsely assumed, oh fool! And today I will turn to you for shelter [as you wanted], when I do not wish to fight you.'

I'll make you renounce My name and all, that you falsely assumed, o fool; let Me today turn to you for shelter [as you wanted], if not wishing the battle.' (Vedabase)

  

Text 21

Thus deriding him, He drove Paundraka out of his chariot with His sharp arrows and with His disc lopped off his head, just like Indra with his thunderbolt splits a mountain top.

Thus deriding him, drove He with His sharp arrows Paundraka out of his chariot and lopped He with His disc his head off, just like Indra with his thunderbolt would cut a mountain top. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

So too He with His arrows severed the head of the king of Kās'ī from his body, sending it flying into Kās'ī-puri like the wind transporting the flower cup of a lotus.

So too severed He with His arrows the head of the king of Kās'ī from his body, sending it flying into Kās'ī-puri like the wind transporting a calyx of a lotus. (Vedabase)

 

Text 23

Thus having killed both the envious Paundraka and his friend, the Lord entered Dvārakā where He was honored by the Siddhas [the perfected souls] who recited His nectarean stories.

Thus having killed as well the envious Paundraka as his friend, entered the Lord Dvārakā where He was honored by the perfected who recited His nectarean stories. (Vedabase)
  

 Text 24

By assuming the personal form of the Supreme Lord and [thus] constantly meditating on Him, oh King, he [Paundraka] had destroyed all his material ties and became fully immersed in Him [Krishna conscious, also see sārūpya].

And so did he [Paundraka] of whom by his constant meditation upon Him in assuming the personal form of the Lord all bondage was completely shattered, become fully absorbed in Him [viz. Krishna conscious], o King [see sārūpya]. (Vedabase)


Text 25

Seeing the head with the earrings that had landed near the palace gate, the people wondered: 'Whose head would this be?'

Seeing the head with the earrings that had landed near the palace gate, wondered the people: 'Whose head would this be?' (Vedabase)

  

Text 26

Recognizing it as the head of the king, the ruler of Kās'ī, his queens, his sons, his other relatives and the citizens loudly cried: 'Alas master, oh master, oh King, we are killed!'

Recognizing it as the head of the king, the ruler of Kās'ī, cried his queens, his sons and other relatives and the citizens their eyes out over it: 'Alas master, o master, o King, we're killed!' (Vedabase)

 

 Text 27-28

His son named Sudakshina executed the funeral rites for his father, reflected and decided: 'In order to avenge my father I will kill my father's murderer'. And thus 'the excellence of charity', with great attention together with the priests prayed to Mahes'vara [Lord S'iva].

His son named Sudakshina for the father executing the funeral rites, made up his mind and decided: 'In order to avenge my father I'll kill my father's murderer', and for that reason prayed he as su-dakshina, 'the excellence of the reward', together with priests with great attention to Mahes'vara [Lord S'iva]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 29

At [the holy place of] Avimukta the great lord, being satisfied, offered him the choice of a benediction. He asked the mighty demigod for the benediction of a means to slay the One who had killed his father.

At [the holy place of] Avimukta offered the great lord him satisfied a choice of benedictions, upon which he as his benediction from the mighty demigod chose for a means to slay Him who had killed his father. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30-31

[S'iva said:] 'Be together with the brahmins and the leading priest of service to the dakshina [southern] fire following an abhicāra ['hurting'] ritual. It is a ritual used against an enemy of the brahmins. That ritual fire together with the Pramathas [S'iva's attendants, see also 10.63: 6] will fulfill your desire.' Thus being instructed he observed the vows in order to harm Krishna.

[S'iva said: ] 'With brahmins and the original priest be of service to the dakshina [southern] fire with an abhicāra ['hurting'] ritual of use against an enemy of the brahmins, so that surrounded by the Pramathas [see also 10.63: 6] your desire is fulfilled', and thus instructed observed he the vows with the purpose of harming Krishna. (Vedabase)

 

Text 32-33

Thereupon from the fire of the altar pit an impressive, most horrendous figure rose with a tuft of hair, beard and mustache red like molten copper, hot radiating cinders of eyes, terrible teeth and a harsh face with arched and furrowed eyebrows. With his tongue licking the corners of his mouth, he was naked waving with a blazing trident [see also 4.5: 3 and 6.9: 12].

Thereupon rose up from the fire of the altar pit, an impressive figure most horrendous with a tuft of hair, beard and mustache like molten copper, hot radiating cinders of eyes, terrible teeth and a harsh face with arched and furrowed eyebrows, who, with his tongue licking the corners of his mouth, naked waved a blazing trident [see also 4.5: 3 and 6.9: 12]. (Vedabase)

  

Text 34

With legs as big as palm trees shaking the earth he, accompanied by ghosts, ran to Dvārakā while setting fire to all the directions.

With legs as big as palm trees shaking the earth ran he accompanied by ghosts to Dvārakā burning the directions. (Vedabase)

 

Text 35

Seeing the [creature risen from the] abhicāra fire approaching, all the residents of Dvārakā were struck with fear, just like animals facing a forest fire.

Seeing him, created from the abhicāra fire, approaching were all the residents of Dvārakā, just like animals are with a big forest fire, stricken with fear. (Vedabase)

 

Text 36

Most afraid, they upset ran to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who at the royal court was playing a game of dice [and said to Him]: 'Save us, oh Lord of the Three Worlds, save us from the fire burning down the city!'

Distraught went they in panic to the Supreme Personality of Godhead who in the royal court was playing a game of dice [and said to Him]: 'Save us, save us from the fire burning down the city, o Lord of the Three Worlds!' (Vedabase)

 

Text 37

Hearing the despondency of the people and seeing how upset His own men were, S'aranya, the Protector, laughed loudly and said: 'Do not be afraid of this, I will protect you!'

Hearing this clamor of the people and seeing how upset His own men were, laughed S'aranya, the Protector, loudly and said: 'Do not be afraid of this, I'll protect you!' (Vedabase)

 

Text 38

The Almighty Lord, everyone's Witness within and without, understood that the creature came from Mahes'vara and then, in order to put an end to him, sent off the cakra He always carries with Him.

The Almighty Lord, the Witness within and without of everyone, understood the creature to be of Mahes'vara and aimed to put an end to him the cakra He had always at His side. (Vedabase)

 

Text 39

This weapon of Krishna, the Sudars'ana cakra, which like a million suns was blazing with an effulgence like the fire at the end of the universe, tormented with its heat both the sky, the heavens, the earth in its ten directions and the fire [of the demon; see also 9.4: 46].

That weapon, the Sudars'ana cakra of Krishna, that like a million suns was blazing with an effulgence like the fire at the end of the universe, tormented with its heat the sky, the heavens and the earth in the ten directions, affecting as well the fire [of the demon; see also 9.4: 46]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 40

Frustrated by the power of the weapon of Him with the Disc in His Hand, the [creature of] fire that was created turned around, oh King. In its violence it from all sides closed in on Vārānasī and burned to death Sudakshina and all his priests. The man [finally] was consumed by the abhicāra [fire] he had created himself.

He, the fire that was created, frustrated by the power of the weapon of Him with the Disc in His Hand turned around, o King, and in his deference from all sides closed in on Vārānasī and burned to death Sudakshina and all his priests with the abhicāra he had called for himself. (Vedabase)

 

Text 41

The cakra of Vishnu in pursuit directly thereafter entered Vārānasī with its gateways and watchtowers, its many raised porches, assembly halls, market places, warehouses and the buildings housing the elephants, horses, chariots and grains.

So also did the cakra of Vishnu in pursuit enter Vārānasī with its gateways and watchtowers and its many raised porches, assembly halls, market places, warehouses and the buildings housing the elephants, horses, chariots and grains. (Vedabase)

 

Text 42

Having burned all of Vārānasī to ashes, Vishnu's Sudars'ana disc returned to the side of Krishna, He whose actions are effortless.

Having laid in ashes all of Vārānasī returned Vishnu's Sudars'ana disc to the side of Krishna whose actions are effortless. (Vedabase)

 

Text 43

Any mortal being who in full attention recounts or hears this heroic pastime of the Supreme Lord Praised in the Verses, will be released from all sins.'

Any mortal who in full attention recounts or hears this heroic pastime of the Supreme One who is praised in the verses will be released of all sins.' (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
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