Paundraka, the False Vasudeva

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.66.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच नन्दव्रजं गते रामे करूषाधिपतिर्नृप । वासुदेवोऽहमित्यज्ञो दूतं कृष्णाय प्राहिणोत् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca nanda-vrajaṁ gate rāme karūṣādhipatir nṛpa vāsudevo ’ham ity ajño dūtaṁ kṛṣṇāya prāhiṇot

Śrī Śuka said: O King, while Balarama had gone to Nanda's Vraja, the foolish king of Karusha, thinking "I am Vasudeva," sent a messenger to Krishna.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.66.2)

त्वं वासुदेवो भगवानवतीर्णो जगत्पतिः । इति प्रस्तोभितो बालैर्मेन आत्मानमच्युतम् ॥ २ ॥

tvaṁ vāsudevo bhagavān avatīṛno jagat-patiḥ iti prastobhito bālair mena ātmānam acyutam

Flattered by foolish men saying, "You are the descended Lord Vasudeva, master of the universe," he came to believe himself to be the infallible Supreme Lord.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.66.3)

दूतं च प्राहिणोन्मन्दः कृष्णायाव्यक्तवर्त्मने । द्वारकायां यथा बालो नृपो बालकृतोऽबुधः ॥ ३ ॥

dūtaṁ ca prāhiṇon mandaḥ kṛṣṇāyāvyakta-vartmane dvārakāyāṁ yathā bālo nṛpo bāla-kṛto ’budhaḥ

That dull-witted man sent a messenger even to inscrutable Krishna in Dvaraka, behaving just like an unwitting child whom other children have made their play-king.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.66.4)

दूतस्तु द्वारकामेत्य सभायामास्थितं प्रभुम् । कृष्णं कमलपत्राक्षं राजसन्देशमब्रवीत् ॥ ४ ॥

dūtas tu dvārakām etya sabhāyām āsthitaṁ prabhum kṛṣṇaṁ kamala-patrākṣaṁ rāja-sandeśam abravīt

Arriving in Dvaraka, the messenger delivered the king's message to lotus-eyed Lord Krishna, who sat in the royal assembly.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.66.5)

वासुदेवोऽवतीर्णोऽहमेक एव न चापरः । भूतानामनुकम्पार्थं त्वं तु मिथ्याभिधां त्यज ॥ ५ ॥

vāsudevo ’vatīrno ’ham eka eva na cāparaḥ bhūtānām anukampārthaṁ tvaṁ tu mithyābhidhāṁ tyaja

"I alone am the descended Vasudeva, none other; I alone have come down out of compassion for beings — give up this false name of yours."

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.66.6)

यानि त्वमस्मच्चिह्नानि मौढ्याद् बिभर्षि सात्वत । त्यक्त्वैहि मां त्वं शरणं नो चेद् देहि ममाहवम् ॥ ६ ॥

yāni tvam asmac-cihnāni mauḍhyād bibharṣi sātvata tyaktvaihi māṁ tvaṁ śaraṇaṁ no ced dehi mamāhavam

"O Satvata, abandon out of your folly the emblems of mine that you bear, and come take refuge in me — or else give me battle."

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.66.7)

श्रीशुक उवाच कत्थनं तदुपाकर्ण्य पौण्ड्रकस्याल्पमेधसः । उग्रसेनादयः सभ्या उच्चकैर्जहसुस्तदा ॥ ७ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca katthanaṁ tad upākarṇya pauṇḍrakasyālpa-medhasaḥ ugrasenādayaḥ sabhyā uccakair jahasus tadā

Śrī Śuka said: Hearing this boast of dim-witted Paundraka, Ugrasena and the other members of the assembly burst into loud laughter.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.66.8)

उवाच दूतं भगवान् परिहासकथामनु । उत्स्रक्ष्ये मूढ चिह्नानि यैस्त्वमेवं विकत्थसे ॥ ८ ॥

uvāca dūtaṁ bhagavān parihāsa-kathām anu utsrakṣye mūḍha cihnāni yais tvam evaṁ vikatthase

After the laughter, the Lord spoke to the messenger: "O fool, those very emblems on account of which your master boasts so — I shall indeed let them loose upon him."

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.66.9)

मुखं तदपिधायाज्ञ कङ्कगृध्रवटैर्वृतः । शयिष्यसे हतस्तत्र भविता शरणं शुनाम् ॥ ९ ॥

mukhaṁ tad apidhāyājña kaṅka-gṛdhra-vaṭair vṛtaḥ śayiṣyase hatas tatra bhavitā śaraṇaṁ śunām

"O ignorant one, when your master lies slain there, his face covered by herons, vultures and crows, he will become the resting place of dogs."

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.66.10)

इति दूतस्तमाक्षेपं स्वामिने सर्वमाहरत् । कृष्णोऽपि रथमास्थाय काशीमुपजगाम ह ॥ १० ॥

iti dūtas tam ākṣepaṁ svāmine sarvam āharat kṛṣṇo ’pi ratham āsthāya kāśīm upajagāma ha

The messenger conveyed this whole scornful reply to his master, and Krishna, mounting His chariot, set out for Kashi.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.66.11)

पौण्ड्रकोऽपि तदुद्योगमुपलभ्य महारथः । अक्षौहिणीभ्यां संयुक्तो निश्चक्राम पुराद् द्रुतम् ॥ ११ ॥

pauṇḍrako ’pi tad-udyogam upalabhya mahā-rathaḥ akṣauhiṇībhyāṁ saṁyukto niścakrāma purād drutam

Learning of Krishna's preparations, the great warrior Paundraka too marched swiftly out of the city with two full divisions of troops.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.66.12)

तस्य काशीपतिर्मित्रं पार्ष्णिग्राहोऽन्वयान्नृप । अक्षौहिणीभिस्तिसृभिरपश्यत् पौण्ड्रकं हरिः ॥ १२ ॥

tasya kāśī-patir mitraṁ pārṣṇi-grāho ’nvayān nṛpa akṣauhiṇībhis tisṛbhir apaśyat pauṇḍrakaṁ hariḥ

O King, his friend the king of Kashi followed behind with three divisions as rearguard. Krishna beheld Paundraka thus arrayed.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.66.13)

शङ्खार्यसिगदाशार्ङ्गश्रीवत्साद्युपलक्षितम् । बिभ्राणं कौस्तुभमणिं वनमालाविभूषितम् ॥ १३ ॥

śaṅkhāry-asi-gadā-śārṅga- śrīvatsādy-upalakṣitam bibhrāṇaṁ kaustubha-maṇiṁ vana-mālā-vibhūṣitam

He bore the marks of conch, disc, sword, mace and Sharnga bow along with a Shrivatsa emblem, wore a mock Kaustubha gem, and was adorned with a forest garland.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.66.14)

कौशेयवाससी पीते वसानं गरुडध्वजम् । अमूल्यमौल्याभरणं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ १४ ॥

kauśeya-vāsasī pīte vasānaṁ garuḍa-dhvajam amūlya-mauly-ābharaṇaṁ sphuran-makara-kuṇḍalam

He wore garments of yellow silk, his banner bore the mark of Garuda, he was crowned with priceless ornaments, and shone with gleaming shark-shaped earrings.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.66.15)

दृष्ट्वा तमात्मनस्तुल्यं वेषं कृत्रिममास्थितम् । यथा नटं रङ्गगतं विजहास भृशं हरिः ॥ १५ ॥

dṛṣṭvā tam ātmanas tulyaṁ veṣaṁ kṛtrimam āsthitam yathā naṭaṁ raṅga-gataṁ vijahāsa bhṛśaṁ harīḥ

Seeing him got up in this counterfeit likeness of Himself, as though watching an actor on a stage, Hari laughed heartily.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.66.16)

शूलैर्गदाभिः परिघैः शक्त्यृष्टिप्रासतोमरैः । असिभिः पट्टिशैर्बाणैः प्राहरन्नरयो हरिम् ॥ १६ ॥

śulair gadābhiḥ parighaiḥ śakty-ṛṣṭi-prāsa-tomaraiḥ asibhiḥ paṭṭiśair bāṇaiḥ prāharann arayo harim

The enemy troops fell upon Hari with tridents, maces, iron clubs, javelins, spears, lances, pikes, swords, battle-axes and arrows.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.66.17)

कृष्णस्तु तत्पौण्ड्रककाशिराजयो- र्बलं गजस्यन्दनवाजिपत्तिमत् । गदासिचक्रेषुभिरार्दयद् भृशं यथा युगान्ते हढतभुक् पृथक् प्रजाः ॥ १७ ॥

kṛṣṇas tu tat pauṇḍraka-kāśirājayor balaṁ gaja-syandana-vāji-patti-mat gadāsi-cakreṣubhir ārdayad bhṛśaṁ yathā yugānte huta-bhuk pṛthak prajāḥ

But Krishna, with mace, sword, disc and arrows, savagely mauled that army of Paundraka and the King of Kashi — its elephants, chariots, cavalry and foot-soldiers — just as fire, at the end of an age, consumes every kind of creature.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.66.18)

आयोधनं तद्रथवाजिकुञ्जर- द्विपत्खरोष्ट्रैररिणावखण्डितैः । बभौ चितं मोदवहं मनस्विना- माक्रीडनं भूतपतेरिवोल्बणम् ॥ १८ ॥

āyodhanaṁ tad ratha-vāji-kuñjara- dvipat-kharoṣṭrair ariṇāvakhaṇḍitaiḥ babhau citaṁ moda-vahaṁ manasvinām ākrīḍanaṁ bhūta-pater ivolbaṇam

That battlefield, strewn with the enemy's chariots, horses, elephants, foot-soldiers, mules and camels all cut to pieces, shone forth — a sight that pleased the wise — like the terrible playground of the lord of ghosts himself.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.66.19)

अथाह पौण्ड्रकं शौरिर्भो भो पौण्ड्रक यद् भवान् । दूतवाक्येन मामाह तान्यस्त्रण्युत्सृजामि ते ॥ १९ ॥

athāha pauṇḍrakaṁ śaurir bho bho pauṇḍraka yad bhavān dūta-vākyena mām āha tāny astraṇy utsṛjāmi te

Then Shauri (Krishna) said to Paundraka: "O Paundraka, those very weapons you spoke of to me through your messenger — I now let them loose upon you."

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.66.20)

त्याजयिष्येऽभिधानं मे यत्त्वयाज्ञ मृषा धृतम् । व्रजामि शरनं तेऽद्य यदि नेच्छामि संयुगम् ॥ २० ॥

tyājayiṣye ’bhidhānaṁ me yat tvayājña mṛṣā dhṛtam vrajāmi śaranaṁ te ’dya yadi necchāmi saṁyugam

"O fool, I shall make you give up My name, which you have falsely assumed. If I truly did not wish for battle, I would today go and take refuge in you myself."

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.66.21)

इति क्षिप्त्वा शितैर्बाणैर्विरथीकृत्य पौण्ड्रकम् । शिरोऽवृश्चद् रथाङ्गेन वज्रेणेन्द्रो यथा गिरेः ॥ २१ ॥

iti kṣiptvā śitair bāṇair virathī-kṛtya pauṇḍrakam śiro ’vṛścad rathāṅgena vajreṇendro yathā gireḥ

Taunting him thus, Krishna felled Paundraka's chariot with sharp arrows, then severed his head with His discus, just as Indra lops off a mountain peak with his thunderbolt.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.66.22)

तथा काशिपतेः कायाच्छिर उत्कृत्य पत्रिभिः । न्यपातयत् काशिपुर्यां पद्मकोशमिवानिलः ॥ २२ ॥

tathā kāśī-pateḥ kāyāc chira utkṛtya patribhiḥ nyapātayat kāśī-puryāṁ padma-kośam ivānilaḥ

Likewise, with His arrows He severed the head of the King of Kashi from his body and cast it down into the city of Kashi, just as the wind flings down a lotus bud.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.66.23)

एवं मत्सरिणं हत्वा पौण्ड्रकं ससखं हरिः । द्वारकामाविशत् सिद्धैर्गीयमानकथामृतः ॥ २३ ॥

evaṁ matsariṇam hatvā pauṇḍrakaṁ sa-sakhaṁ hariḥ dvārakām āviśat siddhair gīyamāna-kathāmṛtaḥ

Having thus slain envious Paundraka along with his friend, Hari entered Dvaraka, while the Siddhas sang His nectarean glories.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.66.24)

स नित्यं भगवद्ध्यानप्रध्वस्ताखिलबन्धनः । बिभ्राणश्च हरे राजन् स्वरूपं तन्मयोऽभवत् ॥ २४ ॥

sa nityaṁ bhagavad-dhyāna- pradhvastākhila-bandhanaḥ bibhrāṇaś ca hare rājan svarūpaṁ tan-mayo ’bhavat

O King, through his constant meditation on the Lord all his bonds were destroyed, and by ever bearing the form of Hari, he became absorbed in Him.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.66.25)

शिरः पतितमालोक्य राजद्वारे सकुण्डलम् । किमिदं कस्य वा वक्त्रमिति संशिशिरे जनाः ॥ २५ ॥

śiraḥ patitam ālokya rāja-dvāre sa-kuṇḍalam kim idaṁ kasya vā vaktram iti saṁśiśire janāḥ

Seeing that earring-adorned head lying fallen at the palace gate, the people wondered in bewilderment, "What is this, and whose face is it?"

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.66.26)

राज्ञः काशीपतेर्ज्ञात्वा महिष्यः पुत्रबान्धवाः । पौराश्च हा हता राजन् नाथ नाथेति प्रारुदन् ॥ २६ ॥

rājñaḥ kāśī-pater jñātvā mahiṣyaḥ putra-bāndhavāḥ paurāś ca hā hatā rājan nātha nātheti prārudan

O King, on recognizing it as the head of the King of Kashi himself, his queens, sons, kinsmen and the citizens all wailed, "Alas, we are undone! O lord, O lord!"

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.66.27)

सुदक्षिणस्तस्य सुतः कृत्वा संस्थाविधिं पतेः । निहत्य पितृहन्तारं यास्याम्यपचितिं पितुः ॥ २७ ॥

sudakṣiṇas tasya sutaḥ kṛtvā saṁsthā-vidhiṁ pateḥ nihatya pitṛ-hantāraṁ yāsyāmy apacitiṁ pituḥ

His son Sudakshina, having performed his father's funeral rites, resolved: "Only by slaying my father's killer shall I discharge my debt to him."

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.66.28)

इत्यात्मनाभिसन्धाय सोपाध्यायो महेश्वरम् । सुदक्षिणोऽर्चयामास परमेण समाधिना ॥ २८ ॥

ity ātmanābhisandhāya sopādhyāyo maheśvaram su-dakṣiṇo ’rcayām āsa parameṇa samādhinā

With this resolve fixed in his mind, Sudakshina, together with his priest, worshiped Lord Maheshvara with the deepest concentration.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.66.29)

प्रीतोऽविमुक्ते भगवांस्तस्मै वरमदाद् विभुः । पितृहन्तृवधोपायं स वव्रे वरमीप्सितम् ॥ २९ ॥

prīto ’vimukte bhagavāṁs tasmai varam adād vibhuḥ pitṛ-hantṛ-vadhopāyaṁ sa vavre varam īpsitam

Pleased, the mighty Lord, present at Avimukta, offered him a boon. He chose as his desired boon the means to slay his father's killer.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.66.30)

दक्षिणाग्निं परिचर ब्राह्मणैः सममृत्विजम् । अभिचारविधानेन स चाग्निः प्रमथैर्वृतः ॥ ३० ॥

dakṣiṇāgniṁ paricara brāhmaṇaiḥ samam ṛtvijam abhicāra-vidhānena sa cāgniḥ pramathair vṛtaḥ

Shiva said: "Together with brahmanas, tend the Dakshinagni fire, its own officiating priest, by the rite of abhichara; that fire, surrounded by the Pramathas, will accomplish your purpose."

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.66.31)

साधयिष्यति सङ्कल्पमब्रह्मण्ये प्रयोजितः । इत्यादिष्टस्तथा चक्रे कृष्णायाभिचरन् व्रती ॥ ३१ ॥

sādhayiṣyati saṅkalpam abrahmaṇye prayojitaḥ ity ādiṣṭas tathā cakre kṛṣṇāyābhicaran vratī

"Directed against one hostile to brahmanas, it will fulfill your resolve." So instructed, the vow-bound Sudakshina performed that same abhichara rite against Krishna.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.66.32)

ततोऽग्निरुत्थितः कुण्डान्मूर्तिमानतिभीषणः । तप्तताम्रशिखाश्मश्रुरङ्गारोद्गारिलोचनः ॥ ३२ ॥

tato ’gnir utthitaḥ kuṇḍān mūrtimān ati-bhīṣaṇaḥ tapta-tāmra-śikhā-śmaśrur aṅgārodgāri-locanaḥ

Then from the sacrificial pit rose a fire given fearsome bodily form, its crest and beard like molten copper, its eyes spewing burning embers.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.66.33)

दंष्ट्रोग्रभ्रुकुटीदण्डकठोरास्यः स्वजिह्वया । आलिहन् सृक्वणी नग्नो विधुन्वंस्त्रिशिखं ज्वलत् ॥ ३३ ॥

daṁṣṭrogra-bhru-kuṭī-daṇḍa- kaṭhorāsyaḥ sva-jihvayā ālihan sṛkvaṇī nagno vidhunvaṁs tri-śikhaṁ jvalat

With a face made terrible by fierce fangs and a rod-like furrowed brow, that naked being licked the corners of his mouth with his tongue while brandishing his blazing trident.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.66.34)

पद्भ्यां तालप्रमाणाभ्यां कम्पयन्नवनीतलम् । सोऽभ्यधावद् वृतो भूतैर्द्वारकां प्रदहन् दिशः ॥ ३४ ॥

padbhyāṁ tāla-pramāṇābhyāṁ kampayann avanī-talam so ’bhyadhāvad vṛto bhūtair dvārakāṁ pradahan diśaḥ

Shaking the very ground with feet as tall as palm trees, surrounded by ghostly hordes, he charged toward Dvaraka, setting every direction ablaze.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.66.35)

तमाभिचारदहनमायान्तं द्वारकौकसः । विलोक्य तत्रसुः सर्वे वनदाहे मृगा यथा ॥ ३५ ॥

tam ābhicāra-dahanam āyāntaṁ dvārakaukasaḥ vilokya tatrasuḥ sarve vana-dāhe mṛgā yathā

Seeing that blazing creature of black magic bearing down upon them, all the people of Dvaraka were struck with terror, like deer caught in a forest fire.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.66.36)

अक्षैः सभायां क्रीडन्तं भगवन्तं भयातुराः । त्राहि त्राहि त्रिलोकेश वह्नेः प्रदहतः पुरम् ॥ ३६ ॥

akṣaiḥ sabhāyāṁ krīḍantaṁ bhagavantaṁ bhayāturāḥ trāhi trāhi tri-lokeśa vahneḥ pradahataḥ puram

Terrified, they ran to the Lord, who was then playing dice in the assembly, crying, "Save us, save us, O lord of the three worlds — this fire is burning up the city!"

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.66.37)

श्रुत्वा तज्जनवैक्लव्यं दृष्ट्वा स्वानां च साध्वसम् । शरण्यः सम्प्रहस्याह मा भैष्टेत्यवितास्म्यहम् ॥ ३७ ॥

śrutvā taj jana-vaiklavyaṁ dṛṣṭvā svānāṁ ca sādhvasam śaraṇyaḥ samprahasyāha mā bhaiṣṭety avitāsmy aham

Hearing the people's alarm and seeing His own kinsfolk in distress, the Lord, the giver of refuge, laughed and said, "Do not fear — I shall protect you."

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.66.38)

सर्वस्यान्तर्बहिः साक्षी कृत्यां माहेश्वरीं विभुः । विज्ञाय तद्विघातार्थं पार्श्वस्थं चक्रमादिशत् ॥ ३८ ॥

sarvasyāntar-bahiḥ-sākṣī kṛtyāṁ māheśvarīṁ vibhuḥ vijñāya tad-vighātārthaṁ pārśva-sthaṁ cakram ādiśat

The all-powerful Lord, witness of everything within and without, recognizing this as a creature born of Shiva's power, commanded His discus, waiting at His side, to destroy it.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.66.39)

तत् सूर्यकोटिप्रतिमं सुदर्शनं जाज्वल्यमानं प्रलयानलप्रभम् । स्वतेजसा खं ककुभोऽथ रोदसी चक्रं मुकुन्दास्त्रमथाग्निमार्दयत् ॥ ३९ ॥

tat sūrya-koṭi-pratimaṁ sudarśanaṁ jājvalyamānaṁ pralayānala-prabham sva-tejasā khaṁ kakubho ’tha rodasī cakraṁ mukundāstraṁ athāgnim ārdayat

That Sudarshana, Mukunda's weapon, blazing like millions of suns and radiant as the fire of universal dissolution, scorched the sky, the directions and both heaven and earth with its own splendor, and tormented the fiery demon.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.66.40)

कृत्यानलः प्रतिहतः स रथाङ्गपाणे- रस्त्रौजसा स नृप भग्नमुखो निवृत्तः । वाराणसीं परिसमेत्य सुदक्षिणं तं सर्त्विग्जनं समदहत् स्वकृतोऽभिचारः ॥ ४० ॥

kṛtyānalaḥ pratihataḥ sa rathānga-pāṇer astraujasā sa nṛpa bhagna-mukho nivṛttaḥ vārāṇasīṁ parisametya sudakṣiṇaṁ taṁ sartvig-janaṁ samadahat sva-kṛto ’bhicāraḥ

O King, repulsed by the might of the wielder of the discus, the demon of black magic turned back defeated; reaching Varanasi, that self-made abhichara-fire then burned to death Sudakshina himself, along with his priests.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.66.41)

चक्रं च विष्णोस्तदनुप्रविष्टं वाराणसीं साट्टसभालयापणाम् । सगोपुराट्टालककोष्ठसङ्कुलां सकोशहस्त्यश्वरथान्नशालिनीम् ॥ ४१ ॥

cakraṁ ca viṣṇos tad-anupraviṣṭaṁ vārānasīṁ sāṭṭa-sabhālayāpaṇām sa-gopurāṭṭālaka-koṣṭha-saṅkulāṁ sa-kośa-hasty-aśva-rathānna-śālinīm

Vishnu's discus too entered Varanasi close behind — that city crowded with its terraced halls, assembly houses and marketplaces, its gateways, watchtowers and storehouses, and its treasuries, elephants, horses, chariots and granaries.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.66.42)

दग्ध्वा वाराणसीं सर्वां विष्णोश्चक्रं सुदर्शनम् । भूयः पार्श्वमुपातिष्ठत् कृष्णस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः ॥ ४२ ॥

dagdhvā vārāṇasīṁ sarvāṁ viṣṇoś cakraṁ sudarśanam bhūyaḥ pārśvam upātiṣṭhat kṛṣṇasyākliṣṭa-karmaṇaḥ

Having burned the whole of Varanasi to ashes, Vishnu's Sudarshana discus returned once more to the side of Krishna, whose every act is effortless.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.66.43)

य एनं श्रावयेन्मर्त्य उत्तमः श्लोकविक्रमम् । समाहितो वा शृणुयात् सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥ ४३ ॥

ya enaṁ śrāvayen martya uttamaḥ-śloka-vikramam samāhito vā śṛṇuyāt sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate

Whatever mortal recounts to others this heroic deed of the Lord of transcendent renown, or attentively hears it himself, is freed from all sins.