Paundraka, the False Vasudeva, and the Burning of Varanasi

Verse 1 (vishnu.5.34.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच । चक्रे कर्म महच्छौरिर्बिभ्राणो मानुषीं तनुम् । जिगाय शक्रं शर्वं च सर्वान् देवांश्च लीलया

maitreya uvāca cakre karma mahacchaurirbibhrāṇo mānuṣīṁ tanum jigāya śakraṁ śarvaṁ ca sarvān devāṁśca līlayā

Maitreya said: Shauri, bearing a human form, performed great deeds; he conquered Shakra, Shiva, and all the gods, as though it were mere sport.

Verse 2 (vishnu.5.34.2)

यच्चान्यद् अकरोत् कर्म दिव्यचेष्टाविधानकृत् । तत् कथ्यतां महाभाग परं कौतूहलं हि मे

yaccānyad akarot karma divyaceṣṭāvidhānakṛt tat kathyatāṁ mahābhāga paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

'Whatever other deeds he performed in ordaining his divine acts — tell me of these too, O most fortunate one, for I am filled with curiosity.'

Verse 3 (vishnu.5.34.3)

पराशर उवाच । गदतो मम विप्रर्षे श्रूयताम् इदम् आदरात् । नरावतारे कृष्णेन दग्धा वाराणसी यथा

parāśara uvāca gadato mama viprarṣe śrūyatām idam ādarāt narāvatāre kṛṣṇena dagdhā vārāṇasī yathā

Parashara said: O sage among brahmins, listen attentively as I tell how, in his incarnation as a man, Krishna burned down Varanasi.

Verse 4 (vishnu.5.34.4)

पौण्ड्रको वासुदेवस्तु वासुदेवोऽभवद् भुवि । अवतीर्णस्त्वम् इत्य् उक्तो जनैरज्ञानमोहितैः

pauṇḍrako vāsudevastu vāsudevo'bhavad bhuvi avatīrṇastvam ity ukto janairajñānamohitaiḥ

There lived on earth a king named Paundraka, who called himself Vasudeva; deluded people told him, 'You are the true incarnation.'

Verse 5 (vishnu.5.34.5)

स मेने वासुदेवोऽहम् अवतीर्णो महीतले । नष्टस्मृतिस्ततः सर्वं विष्णुचिह्नम् अचीकरत्

sa mene vāsudevo'ham avatīrṇo mahītale naṣṭasmṛtistataḥ sarvaṁ viṣṇucihnam acīkarat

He came to believe, 'I am Vasudeva, descended upon the earth'; and, his good sense lost, he fashioned for himself every emblem of Vishnu.

Verse 6 (vishnu.5.34.6)

दूतं च प्रेषयाम् आस कृष्णाय सुमहात्मने । त्यक्त्वा चक्रादिकं चिह्नं मदीयं नाम चात्मनः

dūtaṁ ca preṣayām āsa kṛṣṇāya sumahātmane tyaktvā cakrādikaṁ cihnaṁ madīyaṁ nāma cātmanaḥ

And he sent a messenger to the great-souled Krishna, demanding that he give up the discus and the other emblems, and his own name, as rightly belonging to him.

Verse 7 (vishnu.5.34.7)

वासुदेवात्मकं मूढ मुक्त्वा गर्वं विशेषतः । आत्मनो जीवितार्थाय ततो मे प्रणतिं व्रज

vāsudevātmakaṁ mūḍha muktvā garvaṁ viśeṣataḥ ātmano jīvitārthāya tato me praṇatiṁ vraja

'O fool, abandon this pride of thinking yourself Vasudeva, and for the sake of your own life, come and bow down before me.'

Verse 8 (vishnu.5.34.8)

इत्य् उक्तः संप्रहस्यैनं दूतं प्राह जनार्दनः । निजचिह्नम् अहं चक्रं समुत्स्रक्ष्ये त्वयीति वै

ity uktaḥ saṁprahasyainaṁ dūtaṁ prāha janārdanaḥ nijacihnam ahaṁ cakraṁ samutsrakṣye tvayīti vai

Thus addressed, Janardana burst out laughing and said to the messenger: 'I shall indeed release my own emblem, this discus, upon him.'

Verse 9 (vishnu.5.34.9)

वाच्यश्च पौण्ड्रको गत्वा त्वया दूत वचो मम । ज्ञातस्त्वद्वाक्यसद्भावो यत् कार्यं तद् विधीयताम्

vācyaśca pauṇḍrako gatvā tvayā dūta vaco mama jñātastvadvākyasadbhāvo yat kāryaṁ tad vidhīyatām

'And, O messenger, go and tell Paundraka these words of mine: I have understood the true intent of your message; now let whatever must be done, be done.'

Verse 10 (vishnu.5.34.10)

गृहीतचिह्न एवाहम् आगमिष्यामि ते पुरम् । समुत्स्रक्ष्यामि ते चक्रं निजचिह्नम् असंशयम्

gṛhītacihna evāham āgamiṣyāmi te puram samutsrakṣyāmi te cakraṁ nijacihnam asaṁśayam

'I myself, bearing my emblems, shall come to your city; and I shall without fail release my own emblem, the discus, upon you.'

Verse 11 (vishnu.5.34.11)

आज्ञापूर्वं च यद् इदम् आगच्छेति त्वयोदितम् । संपादयिष्ये श्वस्तुभ्यं तद् अप्य् एषोऽविलम्बितम्

ājñāpūrvaṁ ca yad idam āgaccheti tvayoditam saṁpādayiṣye śvastubhyaṁ tad apy eṣo'vilambitam

'And this command of yours — "come here" — I shall fulfill for you tomorrow as well, without any delay.'

Verse 12 (vishnu.5.34.12)

शरणं ते समभ्येत्य कर्तास्मि नृपते तथा । यथा त्वत्तो भयं भूयो न मे किंचिद् भविष्यति

śaraṇaṁ te samabhyetya kartāsmi nṛpate tathā yathā tvatto bhayaṁ bhūyo na me kiṁcid bhaviṣyati

'O king, I shall come to you seeking refuge in such a way that I shall never again have any reason to fear you.'

Verse 13 (vishnu.5.34.13)

पराशर उवाच । इत्य् उक्तेऽपगते दूते संस्मृत्याभ्यागतं हरिः । गरुत्मन्तम् अथारुह्य त्वरितं तत्पुरं ययौ

parāśara uvāca ity ukte'pagate dūte saṁsmṛtyābhyāgataṁ hariḥ garutmantam athāruhya tvaritaṁ tatpuraṁ yayau

Parashara said: When this was said and the messenger had departed, Hari, mounting Garuda who came the instant he was called to mind, swiftly set off for that city.

Verse 14 (vishnu.5.34.14)

तस्यापि केशवोद्योगं श्रुत्वा काशिपतिस्तदा । सर्वसैन्यपरीवारः पार्ष्णिग्राह उपाययौ

tasyāpi keśavodyogaṁ śrutvā kāśipatistadā sarvasainyaparīvāraḥ pārṣṇigrāha upāyayau

Hearing of Keshava's advance, the lord of Kashi came forth as well, surrounded by his entire army, to support him from the rear.

Verse 15 (vishnu.5.34.15)

ततो बलेन महता काशिराजबलेन च । पौण्ड्रको वासुदेवोऽसौ केशवाभिमुखं ययौ

tato balena mahatā kāśirājabalena ca pauṇḍrako vāsudevo'sau keśavābhimukhaṁ yayau

Then, with a mighty army, and with the army of the king of Kashi besides, that Paundraka Vasudeva advanced to confront Keshava.

Verse 16 (vishnu.5.34.16)

तं ददर्श हरिर्दूराद् उदारस्यन्दने स्थितम् । चक्रहस्तं गदाखड्गबाहुं पाणिगताम्बुजम्

taṁ dadarśa harirdūrād udārasyandane sthitam cakrahastaṁ gadākhaḍgabāhuṁ pāṇigatāmbujam

Hari saw him from a distance, stationed on a splendid chariot, discus in one hand, mace and sword in his arms, a lotus in another hand,

Verse 17 (vishnu.5.34.17)

स्रग्धरं धृतशार्ङ्गं च सुपर्णरचितध्वजम् । वक्षःस्थले कृतं चास्य श्रीवत्सं ददृशे हरिः

sragdharaṁ dhṛtaśārṅgaṁ ca suparṇaracitadhvajam vakṣaḥsthale kṛtaṁ cāsya śrīvatsaṁ dadṛśe hariḥ

wearing a garland, carrying a bow made to resemble the Sharnga, his banner fashioned with a Garuda emblem; and Hari saw too the mock Shrivatsa mark made upon his chest.

Verse 18 (vishnu.5.34.18)

किरीटकुण्डलधरं पीतवासःसमन्वितम् । दृष्ट्वा तं भावगम्भीरं जहास गरुडध्वजः

kirīṭakuṇḍaladharaṁ pītavāsaḥsamanvitam dṛṣṭvā taṁ bhāvagambhīraṁ jahāsa garuḍadhvajaḥ

— crowned, wearing earrings, clad in yellow garments. Seeing him take this all so gravely in earnest, the bearer of the Garuda banner burst out laughing.

Verse 19 (vishnu.5.34.19)

युयुधे च बलेनास्य हस्त्यश्वबलिना द्विज । निस्त्रिंशर्ष्टिगदाशूलशक्तिकार्मुकशालिना

yuyudhe ca balenāsya hastyaśvabalinā dvija nistriṁśarṣṭigadāśūlaśaktikārmukaśālinā

And he fought, O twice-born, against that army, mighty with elephants and horses, splendidly equipped with swords, spears, maces, lances, javelins, and bows.

Verse 20 (vishnu.5.34.20)

क्षणेन शार्ङ्गनिर्मुक्तैः शरैररिविदारणैः । गदाचक्रनिपातैश्च सूदयाम् आस तद्बलम्

kṣaṇena śārṅganirmuktaiḥ śarairarividāraṇaiḥ gadācakranipātaiśca sūdayām āsa tadbalam

In a single instant, with arrows loosed from the Sharnga bow tearing through the enemy, and with blows of mace and discus, he annihilated that entire army.

Verse 21 (vishnu.5.34.21)

काशिराजबलं चैव क्षयं नीत्वा जनार्दनः । उवाच पौण्ड्रकं मूढम् आत्मचिह्नोपलक्षणम्

kāśirājabalaṁ caiva kṣayaṁ nītvā janārdanaḥ uvāca pauṇḍrakaṁ mūḍham ātmacihnopalakṣaṇam

And Janardana, having destroyed the army of the king of Kashi as well, spoke to the foolish Paundraka, wearing as he was Krishna's own emblems:

Verse 22 (vishnu.5.34.22)

भगवान् उवाच । पौण्ड्रकोक्तं त्वया यत् तु दूतवक्त्रेण मां प्रति । समुत्सृजेति चिह्नानि तत् ते संपादयाम्य् अहम्

bhagavān uvāca pauṇḍrakoktaṁ tvayā yat tu dūtavaktreṇa māṁ prati samutsṛjeti cihnāni tat te saṁpādayāmy aham

The Blessed Lord said: 'Paundraka, what you sent word to me through your messenger — that I should give up these emblems — that I now grant you in full.'

Verse 23 (vishnu.5.34.23)

चक्रम् एतत् समुत्सृष्टं गदेयं ते विसर्जिता । गरुत्मान् एष निर्दिष्टः समारोहतु ते ध्वजम्

cakram etat samutsṛṣṭaṁ gadeyaṁ te visarjitā garutmān eṣa nirdiṣṭaḥ samārohatu te dhvajam

'This discus is released upon you; this mace of mine is granted to you as well; and here is Garutman himself, sent forth — let him settle upon your banner.'

Verse 24 (vishnu.5.34.24)

पराशर उवाच । इत्य् उच्चार्य विमुक्तेन चक्रेणासौ विदारितः । पोथितो गदया भग्नो गरुत्मांश्च गरुत्मता

parāśara uvāca ity uccārya vimuktena cakreṇāsau vidāritaḥ pothito gadayā bhagno garutmāṁśca garutmatā

Parashara said: Having said this, he was torn apart by the discus he had released, crushed by the mace, and his own Garuda-emblem shattered by the true Garutman.

Verse 25 (vishnu.5.34.25)

ततो हाहाकृते लोके काशीनाम् अधिपो बली । युयुधे वासुदेवेन मित्रस्यापचितौ स्थितः

tato hāhākṛte loke kāśīnām adhipo balī yuyudhe vāsudevena mitrasyāpacitau sthitaḥ

Then, amid the world's cries of dismay, the mighty lord of Kashi, standing firm to avenge his friend, fought against Vasudeva.

Verse 26 (vishnu.5.34.26)

ततः शार्ङ्गधनुर्मुक्तैश्छित्त्वा तस्य शरैः शिरः । काशिपुर्यां स चिक्षेप कुर्वंल् लोकस्य विस्मयम्

tataḥ śārṅgadhanurmuktaiśchittvā tasya śaraiḥ śiraḥ kāśipuryāṁ sa cikṣepa kurvaṁl lokasya vismayam

Then, severing his head with arrows loosed from the Sharnga bow, he flung it into the city of Kashi, filling the people there with astonishment.

Verse 27 (vishnu.5.34.27)

हत्वा च पौण्ड्रकं शौरिः काशिराजं च सानुगम् । पुनर्द्वारवतीं प्राप्तो रेमे स्वर्गगतो यथा

hatvā ca pauṇḍrakaṁ śauriḥ kāśirājaṁ ca sānugam punardvāravatīṁ prāpto reme svargagato yathā

And having slain Paundraka, and the king of Kashi together with his followers, Shauri returned once more to Dvaravati and rejoiced there, as though he had come to heaven itself.

Verse 28 (vishnu.5.34.28)

तच्छिरः पतितं दृष्ट्वा तत्र काशिपतेः पुरे । जनः किम् एतद् इत्य् आह केनेत्य् अत्यन्तविस्मितः

tacchiraḥ patitaṁ dṛṣṭvā tatra kāśipateḥ pure janaḥ kim etad ity āha kenety atyantavismitaḥ

Seeing that head lying there in the city of the lord of Kashi, the people, utterly astonished, cried out, 'What is this? Whose doing is it?'

Verse 29 (vishnu.5.34.29)

ज्ञात्वा तं वासुदेवेन हतं तस्य सुतस्ततः । पुरोहितेन सहितस्तोषयाम् आस शंकरम्

jñātvā taṁ vāsudevena hataṁ tasya sutastataḥ purohitena sahitastoṣayām āsa śaṁkaram

Learning that he had been slain by Vasudeva, his son, together with the family priest, set about propitiating Shankara.

Verse 30 (vishnu.5.34.30)

अविमुक्ते महाक्षेत्रे तोषितस्तेन शंकरः । वरं वृणीष्वेति तदा तं प्रोवाच नृपात्मजम्

avimukte mahākṣetre toṣitastena śaṁkaraḥ varaṁ vṛṇīṣveti tadā taṁ provāca nṛpātmajam

In the great holy field of Avimukta, Shankara, thus propitiated, then said to the prince: 'Choose a boon.'

Verse 31 (vishnu.5.34.31)

स वव्रे भगवन् कृत्या पितृहन्तुर्वधाय मे । समुत्तिष्ठतु कृष्णस्य त्वत्प्रसादान् महेश्वर

sa vavre bhagavan kṛtyā pitṛhanturvadhāya me samuttiṣṭhatu kṛṣṇasya tvatprasādān maheśvara

He chose this: 'O Lord, O Great God, by your grace, let a sorcery-spirit, a Kritya, arise to slay Krishna, the killer of my father.'

Verse 32 (vishnu.5.34.32)

पराशर उवाच । एवं भविष्यतीत्य् उक्ते दक्षिणाग्नेरनन्तरम् । महाकृत्या समुत्तस्थौ तस्यैवाग्निनिवेशनात्

parāśara uvāca evaṁ bhaviṣyatīty ukte dakṣiṇāgneranantaram mahākṛtyā samuttasthau tasyaivāgniniveśanāt

Parashara said: When it was said, 'So it shall be,' at once, from the southern sacrificial fire, a great Kritya rose up out of that very fire's abode.

Verse 33 (vishnu.5.34.33)

ततो ज्वालाकरालास्या ज्वलत्केशकलापिका । कृष्ण कृष्णेति कुपिता कृत्या द्वारवतीं ययौ

tato jvālākarālāsyā jvalatkeśakalāpikā kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇeti kupitā kṛtyā dvāravatīṁ yayau

Then that Kritya, her face terrible with flame, her mane of hair ablaze, enraged, crying 'Krishna! Krishna!', set off for Dvaravati.

Verse 34 (vishnu.5.34.34)

ताम् अवेक्ष्य जनस्त्रासविचलल्लोचनो मुने । ययौ शरण्यं जगतां शरणं मधुसूदनम्

tām avekṣya janastrāsavicalallocano mune yayau śaraṇyaṁ jagatāṁ śaraṇaṁ madhusūdanam

Seeing her, O sage, the people, their eyes wide with terror, fled for refuge to Madhusudana, the refuge of all the worlds.

Verse 35 (vishnu.5.34.35)

काशिराजसुतेनेयम् आराध्य वृषभध्वजम् । उत्पादिता महाकृत्येत्य् अवगम्याथ चक्रिणा

kāśirājasuteneyam ārādhya vṛṣabhadhvajam utpāditā mahākṛtyety avagamyātha cakriṇā

Understanding that this great Kritya had been raised up by the son of the king of Kashi through propitiating the bull-bannered Shiva, the discus-bearer spoke:

Verse 36 (vishnu.5.34.36)

जहि कृत्याम् इमाम् उग्रां वह्निज्वालाजटाकुलाम् । चक्रम् उत्सृष्टम् अक्षेषु क्रीडासक्तेन लीलया

jahi kṛtyām imām ugrāṁ vahnijvālājaṭākulām cakram utsṛṣṭam akṣeṣu krīḍāsaktena līlayā

'Slay this terrible Kritya, wreathed in flames of fire!' — so saying, he released the discus, as effortlessly as a man tossing dice in play.

Verse 37 (vishnu.5.34.37)

तदग्निमालाजटिलज्वालोद्गारातिभीषणाम् । कृत्याम् अनुजगामाशु विष्णुचक्रं सुदर्शनम्

tadagnimālājaṭilajvālodgārātibhīṣaṇām kṛtyām anujagāmāśu viṣṇucakraṁ sudarśanam

Vishnu's discus Sudarshana swiftly gave chase to that Kritya, terrible with garlands of fire and gushing flame.

Verse 38 (vishnu.5.34.38)

चक्रप्रतापविध्वस्ता कृत्या माहेश्वरी तदा । ननाश वेगिनी वेगात् तद् अप्य् अनुजगाम ताम्

cakrapratāpavidhvastā kṛtyā māheśvarī tadā nanāśa veginī vegāt tad apy anujagāma tām

Then that Kritya, belonging to Maheshvara, ravaged by the discus's fierce power, fled at great speed despite her own swiftness — but the discus pursued her still.

Verse 39 (vishnu.5.34.39)

कृत्या वाराणसीम् एव प्रविवेश त्वरान्विता । विष्णुचक्रप्रतिहतप्रभावा मुनिसत्तम

kṛtyā vārāṇasīm eva praviveśa tvarānvitā viṣṇucakrapratihataprabhāvā munisattama

That Kritya, O best of sages, her power now broken by Vishnu's discus, fled in haste straight into the city of Varanasi itself.

Verse 40 (vishnu.5.34.40)

ततः काशिबलं भूरि प्रमथानां तथा बलम् । समस्तशस्त्रास्त्रयुतं चक्रस्याभिमुखं ययौ

tataḥ kāśibalaṁ bhūri pramathānāṁ tathā balam samastaśastrāstrayutaṁ cakrasyābhimukhaṁ yayau

Then the vast army of Kashi, and the army of the Pramathas as well, fully armed with every weapon, advanced to face the discus.

Verse 41 (vishnu.5.34.41)

शस्त्रास्त्रमोक्षचतुरं दग्ध्वा तद् बलम् ओजसा । कृत्यागर्भाम् अशेषां तां तदा वाराणसीं पुरीम्

śastrāstramokṣacaturaṁ dagdhvā tad balam ojasā kṛtyāgarbhām aśeṣāṁ tāṁ tadā vārāṇasīṁ purīm

Having burned that army, skilled in the discharge of weapons, by its own fiery power, the discus then turned upon the entire city of Varanasi, which still harbored the Kritya within it —

Verse 42 (vishnu.5.34.42)

सभूभृद्भृत्यपौरां तु साश्वमातङ्गमानवाम् । अशेषकोशकोष्ठां तां दुर्निरीक्ष्यां सुरैरपि

sabhūbhṛdbhṛtyapaurāṁ tu sāśvamātaṅgamānavām aśeṣakośakoṣṭhāṁ tāṁ durnirīkṣyāṁ surairapi

— together with its king, its servants and citizens, its horses, elephants, and people, all its treasuries and storehouses, that city which even the gods could scarcely gaze upon —

Verse 43 (vishnu.5.34.43)

ज्वालापरिष्कृताशेषगृहप्राकारचत्वराम् । ददाह तद् धरेश्चक्रं सकलाम् एव तां पुरीम्

jvālāpariṣkṛtāśeṣagṛhaprākāracatvarām dadāha tad dhareścakraṁ sakalām eva tāṁ purīm

— its every house, rampart, and courtyard now wreathed in flame — Hari's discus burned that entire city down to ashes, all of it.

Verse 44 (vishnu.5.34.44)

अक्षीणामर्षम् अत्यल्पसाध्यसाधनसस्पृहम् । तच्चक्रं प्रस्फुरद्दीप्ति विष्णोरभ्याययौ करम्

akṣīṇāmarṣam atyalpasādhyasādhanasaspṛham taccakraṁ prasphuraddīpti viṣṇorabhyāyayau karam

That discus, its fury still undiminished though the task before it had been a small one, blazing with radiance, then returned once more to Vishnu's hand.