Chapter 66: Pauṇḍraka, the False Vasudeva

 

10.66.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

nanda-vrajaḿ gate rāme

karūṣādhipatir nṛpa

vāsudevo 'ham ity ajño

dūtaḿ kṛṣṇāya prāhiṇot

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; nanda — of Nanda Mahārāja; vrajam — to the cowherd village; gate — having gone; rāme — Lord Balarāma; karūṣa-adhipatiḥ — the ruler of Karūṣa (Pauṇḍraka); nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit); vāsudevaḥ — the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva; aham — I; iti — thus thinking; ajñaḥ — foolish; dūtam — a messenger; kṛṣṇāya — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; prāhiṇot — sent.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, while Lord Balarāma was away visiting Nanda's village of Vraja, the ruler of Karūṣa, foolishly thinking "I am the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva," sent a messenger to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

10.66.2

tvaḿ vāsudevo bhagavān

avatīṛno jagat-patiḥ

iti prastobhito bālair

mena ātmānam acyutam

 

tvam — you; vāsudevaḥ — Vāsudeva; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; avatīrṇaḥ — descended; jagat — of the universe; patiḥ — the master; iti — thus; prastobhitaḥ — emboldened with flattery; bālaiḥ — by childish men; mene — he imagined; ātmānam — himself; acyutam — the infallible Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Pauṇḍraka was emboldened by the flattery of childish men, who told him, "You are Vāsudeva, the Supreme Lord and master of the universe, who have now descended to the earth." Thus he imagined himself to be the infallible Personality of Godhead.

 

10.66.3

dūtaḿ ca prāhiṇon mandaḥ

kṛṣṇāyāvyakta-vartmane

dvārakāyāḿ yathā bālo

nṛpo bāla-kṛto 'budhaḥ

 

dūtam — a messenger; ca — and; prāhiṇot — he sent; mandaḥ — slow-witted; kṛṣṇāya — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; avyakta — inscrutable; vartmane — whose path; dvārakāyām — at Dvārakā; yathā — as; bālaḥ — a boy; nṛpaḥ — king; bāla — by children; kṛtaḥ — made; abudhaḥ — unintelligent.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus slow-witted King Pauṇḍraka sent a messenger to the inscrutable Lord Kṛṣṇa at Dvārakā. Pauṇḍraka was acting just like an unintelligent child whom other children are pretending is a king.

 

10.66.4

dūtas tu dvārakām etya

sabhāyām āsthitaḿ prabhum

kṛṣṇaḿ kamala-patrākṣaḿ

rāja-sandeśam abravīt

 

dūtaḥ — the messenger; tu — then; dvārakām — at Dvārakā; etya — arriving; sabhāyām — in the royal assembly; āsthitam — present; prabhum — to the almighty Lord; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa; kamala — of a lotus; patra — (like) the petals; akṣam — whose eyes; rāja — of his King; sandeśam — the message; abravīt — spoke.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Arriving in Dvārakā, the messenger found lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa in His royal assembly and relayed the King's message to that almighty Lord.

 

10.66.5

vāsudevo 'vatīrno 'ham

eka eva na cāparaḥ

bhūtānām anukampārthaḿ

tvaḿ tu mithyābhidhāḿ tyaja

 

vāsudevaḥ — Lord Vāsudeva; avatīrṇaḥ — descended to this world; aham — I; ekaḥ eva — the only one; na — not; ca — and; aparaḥ — anyone else; bhūtānām — to the living beings; anukampā — of showing mercy; artham — for the purpose; tvam — You; tu — however; mithyā — false; abhidhām — designation; tyaja — give up.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[On Pauṇḍraka's behalf, the messenger said:] I am the one and only Lord Vāsudeva, and there is no other. It is I who have descended to this world to show mercy to the living beings. Therefore give up Your false name.

 

10.66.6

yāni tvam asmac-cihnāni

mauḍhyād bibharṣi sātvata

tyaktvaihi māḿ tvaḿ śaraṇaḿ

no ced dehi mamāhavam

 

yāni — which; tvam — You; asmat — our; cihnāni — symbols; mauḍhyāt — out of delusion; bibharṣi — carry; sātvata — O chief of the Sātvatas; tyaktvā — giving up; ehi — come; mām — to me; tvam — You; śaraṇam — for shelter; na — not; u — otherwise; cet — if; dehi — give; mama — me; āhavam — battle.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Sātvata, give up my personal symbols, which out of foolishness You now carry, and come to me for shelter. If You do not, then You must give me battle.

 

10.66.7

śrī-śuka uvāca

katthanaḿ tad upākarṇya

pauṇḍrakasyālpa-medhasaḥ

ugrasenādayaḥ sabhyā

uccakair jahasus tadā

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; katthanam — boasting; tat — that; upākarṇya — hearing; pauṇḍrakasya — of Pauṇḍraka; alpa — small; medhasaḥ — whose intelligence; ugrasena-ādayaḥ — headed by King Ugrasena; sabhyāḥ — the members of the assembly; uccakaiḥ — loudly; jahasuḥ — laughed; tadā — then.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: King Ugrasena and the other members of the assembly laughed loudly when they heard this vain boasting of unintelligent Pauṇḍraka.

 

10.66.8

uvāca dūtaḿ bhagavān

parihāsa-kathām anu

utsrakṣye mūḍha cihnāni

yais tvam evaḿ vikatthase

 

uvāca — said; dūtam — to the messenger; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; parihāsa — joking; kathām — discussion; anu — after; utsrakṣye — I will throw; mūḍha — O fool; cihnāni — the symbols; yaiḥ — about which; tvam — you; evam — in this way; vikatthase — are boasting.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Personality of Godhead, aher enjoying the jokes of the assembly, told the messenger [to relay a message to his master:] "You fool, I will indeed let loose the weapons you boast of in this way.

 

10.66.9

mukhaḿ tad apidhāyājña

kańka-gṛdhra-vaṭair vṛtaḥ

śayiṣyase hatas tatra

bhavitā śaraṇaḿ śunām

 

mukham — face; tat — that; apidhāya — being covered; ajña — O ignorant man; kańka — by herons; gṛdhra — vultures; vaṭaiḥ — and vaṭa birds; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; śayiṣyase — you will lie; hataḥ — killed; tatra — thereupon; bhavitā — you will become; śaraṇam — shelter; śunām — for dogs.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"When you lie dead, O fool, your face covered by vultures, herons and vaṭa birds, you will become the shelter of dogs."

 

10.66.10

iti dūtas tam ākṣepaḿ

svāmine sarvam āharat

kṛṣṇo 'pi ratham āsthāya

kāśīm upajagāma ha

 

iti — thus addressed; dūtaḥ — the messenger; tam — those; ākṣepam — insults; svāmine — to his master; sarvam — entire; āharat — carried; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; api — and; ratham — His chariot; āsthāya — riding; kāśīm — to Vārāṇasī; upajagāma ha — went near.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the Lord had thus spoken, the messenger conveyed His insulting reply to his master in its entirety. Lord Kṛṣṇa then mounted His chariot and went to the vicinity of Kāśī.

 

10.66.11

pauṇḍrako 'pi tad-udyogam

upalabhya mahā-rathaḥ

akṣauhiṇībhyāḿ saḿyukto

niścakrāma purād drutam

 

pauṇḍrakaḥ — Pauṇḍraka; api — and; tat — His; udyogam — preparations; upalabhya — noticing; mahā-rathaḥ — the mighty warrior; akṣauhiṇībhyām — by two full military divisions; saḿyuktaḥ — joined; niścakrāma — went out; purāt — from the city; drutam — quickly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Upon observing Lord Kṛṣṇa's preparations for battle, the mighty warrior Pauṇḍraka quickly went out of the city with two full military divisions.

 

10.66.12-14

tasya kāśī-patir mitraḿ

pārṣṇi-grāho 'nvayān nṛpa

akṣauhiṇībhis tisṛbhir

apaśyat pauṇḍrakaḿ hariḥ

 

śańkhāry-asi-gadā-śārńga-

śrīvatsādy-upalakṣitam

bibhrāṇaḿ kaustubha-maṇiḿ

vana-mālā-vibhūṣitam

 

kauśeya-vāsasī pīte

vasānaḿ garuḍa-dhvajam

amūlya-mauly-ābharaṇaḿ

sphuran-makara-kuṇḍalam

 

tasya — his (Pauṇḍraka's); kāśī-patiḥ — the master of Kāśi; mitram — friend; pārṣṇi-grāhaḥ — as the rear guard; anvayāt — followed; nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit); akṣauhiṇībhiḥ — with divisions; tisṛbhiḥ — three; apaśyat — saw; pauṇḍrakam — Pauṇḍraka; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa;

 

śańkha — with conchshell; ari — disc; asi — sword; gadā — club; śārńga — Śārńga bow; śrīvatsa — with the Śrīvatsa sign of hair on His chest; ādi — and other symbols; upalakṣitam — marked; bibhrāṇam — bearing; kaustubha-maṇim — the Kaustubha gem; vana-mālā — with a garland of forest flowers; vibhūṣitam — decorated;

 

kauśeya — of fine silk; vāsasī — a pair of garments; pīte — yellow; vasānam — wearing; garuḍa-dhvajam — his banner marked with the image of Garuḍa; amūlya — valuable; mauli — a crown; ābharaṇam — whose ornament; sphurat — gleaming; makara — shark-shaped; kuṇḍalam — with earrings.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Pauṇḍraka's friend, the King of Kāśī, followed behind, O King, leading the rear guard with three akṣauhiṇī divisions. Lord Kṛṣṇa saw that Pauṇḍraka was carrying the Lord's own insignia, such as the conchshell, disc, sword and club, and also an imitation Śārńga bow and Śrīvatsa mark. He wore a mock Kaustubha gem, was decorated with a garland of forest flowers and was dressed in upper and lower garments of fine yellow silk. His banner bore the image of Garuḍa, and he wore a valuable crown and gleaming, shark-shaped earrings.

 

10.66.15

dṛṣṭvā tam ātmanas tulyaḿ

veṣaḿ kṛtrimam āsthitam

yathā naṭaḿ rańga-gataḿ

vijahāsa bhṛśaḿ harīḥ

 

dṛṣṭvā — seeing; tam — him; ātmanaḥ — to His own; tulyam — equal; veṣam — in dress; kṛtrimam — imitation; āsthitam — arrayed; yathā — like; naṭam — an actor; rańga — a stage; gatam — entered upon; vijahāsa — laughed; bhṛśam — strongly; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Hari laughed heartily when He saw how the King had dressed up in exact imitation of His own appearance, just like an actor on a stage.

 

10.66.16

śulair gadābhiḥ parighaiḥ

śakty-ṛṣṭi-prāsa-tomaraiḥ

asibhiḥ paṭṭiśair bāṇaiḥ

prāharann arayo harim

 

śūlaiḥ — with tridents; gadābhiḥ — clubs; parighaiḥ — and bludgeons; śakti — pikes; ṛṣṭi — a kind of sword; prāsa — long, barbed darts; tomaraiḥ — and lances; asibhiḥ — with swords; paṭṭiśaiḥ — with axes; bāṇaiḥ — and with arrows; prāharan — attacked; arayaḥ — the enemies; harim — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The enemies of Lord Hari attacked Him with tridents, clubs, bludgeons, pikes, ṛṣtis, barbed darts, lances, swords, axes and arrows.

 

10.66.17

kṛṣṇas tu tat pauṇḍraka-kāśirājayor

balaḿ gaja-syandana-vāji-patti-mat

gadāsi-cakreṣubhir ārdayad bhṛśaḿ

yathā yugānte huta-bhuk pṛthak prajāḥ

 

kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; tu — however; tat — that; pauṇḍraka-kāśirājayoḥ — of Pauṇḍraka and the King of Kāśī; balam — military force; gaja — elephants; syandana — chariots; vāji — horses; patti — and infantry; mat — consisting of; gadā — with His club; asi — sword; cakra — disc; isubhiḥ — and arrows; ārdayat — tormented; bhṛśam — fiercely; yathā — as; yuga — of an age of universal history; ante — at the end; huta-bhuk — the fire (of universal annihilation); pṛthak — of different kinds; prajāḥ — living entities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

But Lord Kṛṣṇa fiercely struck back at the army of Pauṇḍraka and Kāśirāja, which consisted of elephants, chariots, cavalry and infantry. The Lord tormented His enemies with His club, sword, Sudarśana disc and arrows, just as the fire of annihilation torments the various kinds of creatures at the end of a cosmic age.

 

10.66.18

āyodhanaḿ tad ratha-vāji-kuñjara-

dvipat-kharoṣṭrair ariṇāvakhaṇḍitaiḥ

babhau citaḿ moda-vahaḿ manasvinām

ākrīḍanaḿ bhūta-pater ivolbaṇam

 

āyodhanam — battlefield; tat — that; ratha — with the chariots; vāji — horses; kuñjara — elephants; dvipat — two-legged (humans); khara — mules; uṣṭraiḥ — and camels; ariṇā — by His disc; avakhaṇḍitaiḥ — cut to pieces; babhau — shone; citam — spread; moda — pleasure; vaham — bringing; manasvinām — to the wise; ākrīḍanam — the playground; bhūta-pateḥ — of the lord of ghostly spirits, Lord Śiva; iva — as if; ulbaṇam — horrible.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The battlefield, strewn with the dismembered chariots, horses, elephants, humans, mules and camels that had been cut to pieces by the Lord's disc weapon, shone like the gruesome playground of Lord Bhūtapati, giving pleasure to the wise.

 

10.66.19

athāha pauṇḍrakaḿ śaurir

bho bho pauṇḍraka yad bhavān

dūta-vākyena mām āha

tāny astraṇy utsṛjāmi te

 

atha — then; āha — said; pauṇḍrakam — to Pauṇḍraka; śauriḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhoḥ bhoḥ pauṇḍraka — My dear Pauṇḍraka; yat — those which; bhavān — your good self; dūta — of the messenger; vākyena — through the words; mām — to Me; āha — spoke about; tāni — those; astrāṇi — weapons; utsṛjāmi — I am releasing; te — unto you.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Kṛṣṇa then addressed Pauṇḍraka: My dear Pauṇḍraka, the very weapons you spoke of through your messenger, I now release unto you.

 

10.66.20

tyājayiṣye 'bhidhānaḿ me

yat tvayājña mṛṣā dhṛtam

vrajāmi śaranaḿ te 'dya

yadi necchāmi saḿyugam

 

tyājayiṣye — I will make (you) renounce; abhidhānam — designation; me — My; yat — which; tvayā — by you; ajña — O fool; mṛṣā — falsely; dhṛtam — assumed; vrajāmi — I will go; śaraṇam — to the shelter; te — your; adya — today; yadi — if; na icchāmi — I do not desire; saḿyugam — battle.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O fool, now I shall make you renounce My name, which you have falsely assumed. And I will certainly take shelter of you if I do not wish to fight you.

 

10.66.21

iti kṣiptvā śitair bāṇair

virathī-kṛtya pauṇḍrakam

śiro 'vṛścad rathāńgena

vajreṇendro yathā gireḥ

 

iti — with these words; kṣiptvā — deriding; śitaiḥ — sharp; bāṇaiḥ — with His arrows; virathī — chariotless; kṛtya — making; pauṇḍrakam — Pauṇḍraka; śiraḥ — his head; avṛścat — He cut off; ratha-ańgena — with His Sudarśana disc; vajreṇa — with his thunderbolt weapon; indraḥ — Lord Indra; yathā — as; gireḥ — of a mountain.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Having thus derided Pauṇḍraka, Lord Kṛṣṇa destroyed his chariot with His sharp arrows. The Lord then cut off his head with the Sudarśana disc, just as Lord Indra lops off a mountain peak with his thunderbolt weapon.

 

10.66.22

tathā kāśī-pateḥ kāyāc

chira utkṛtya patribhiḥ

nyapātayat kāśī-puryāḿ

padma-kośam ivānilaḥ

 

tathā — similarly; kāśī-pateḥ — of the King of Kāśī; kāyāt — from his body; śiraḥ — the head; utkṛtya — severing; patribhiḥ — with His arrows; nyapātayat — He sent it flying; kāśi-puryām — into the city of Kāśī; padma — of a lotus; kośam — the flower cup; iva — as; anilaḥ — the wind.

 

TRANSLATION

 

With His arrows, Lord Kṛṣṇa similarly severed Kāśirāja's head from his body, sending it flying into Kāśī city like a lotus flower thrown by the wind.

 

10.66.23

evaḿ matsariṇam hatvā

pauṇḍrakaḿ sa-sakhaḿ hariḥ

dvārakām āviśat siddhair

gīyamāna-kathāmṛtaḥ

 

evam — thus; matsariṇam — envious; hatvā — killing; pauṇḍrakam — Pauṇḍraka; sa — together with; sakham — his friend; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dvārakām — Dvārakā; āviśat — He entered; siddhaiḥ — by the mystics of heaven; gīyamāna — being sung; kathā — narrations about Him; amṛtaḥ — nectarean.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Having thus killed envious Pauṇḍraka and his ally, Lord Kṛṣṇa returned to Dvārakā. As He entered the city, the Siddhas of heaven chanted His immortal, nectarean glories.

 

10.66.24

sa nityaḿ bhagavad-dhyāna-

pradhvastākhila-bandhanaḥ

bibhrāṇaś ca hare rājan

svarūpaḿ tan-mayo 'bhavat

 

saḥ — he (Pauṇḍraka); nityam — constant; bhagavat — upon the Supreme Lord; dhyāna — by his meditation; pradhvasta — completely shattered; akhila — all; bandhanaḥ — whose bondage; bibhrāṇaḥ — assuming; ca — and; hareḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); svarūpam — the personal form; tat-mayaḥ — absorbed in consciousness of Him; abhavat — he became.

 

TRANSLATION

 

By constantly meditating upon the Supreme Lord, Pauṇḍraka shattered all his material bonds. Indeed, by imitating Lord Kṛṣṇa's appearance, O King, he ultimately became Kṛṣṇa conscious.

 

10.66.25

śiraḥ patitam ālokya

rāja-dvāre sa-kuṇḍalam

kim idaḿ kasya vā vaktram

iti saḿśiśire janāḥ

 

śiraḥ — the head; patitam — fallen; ālokya — seeing; rāja-dvāre — at the gate of the royal palace; sa-kuṇḍalam — with earrings; kim — what; idam — is this; kasya — whose; vā — or; vaktram — head; iti — thus; saḿśiśire — expressed doubt; janāḥ — the people.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing a head decorated with earrings lying at the gate of the royal palace, the people present were puzzled. Some of them asked, "What is this?" and others said, "It is a head, but whose is it?"

 

10.66.26

rājñaḥ kāśī-pater jñātvā

mahiṣyaḥ putra-bāndhavāḥ

paurāś ca hā hatā rājan

nātha nātheti prārudan

 

rājñaḥ — of the King; kāśī-pateḥ — the lord of Kāśī; jñātvā — recognizing; mahiṣyaḥ — his queens; putra — his sons; bāndhavāḥ — and other relatives; paurāḥ — the citizens of the city; ca — and; hā — alas; hatāḥ — (we are) killed; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); nātha nātha — O master, master; iti — thus; prārudan — they cried out loud.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear King, when they recognized it as the head of their King — the lord of Kāśi — his queens, sons and other relatives, along with all the citizens of the city, began to cry pitifully: "Alas, we are killed! O my lord, my lord!"

 

10.66.27-28

sudakṣiṇas tasya sutaḥ

kṛtvā saḿsthā-vidhiḿ pateḥ

nihatya pitṛ-hantāraḿ

yāsyāmy apacitiḿ pituḥ

 

ity ātmanābhisandhāya

sopādhyāyo maheśvaram

su-dakṣiṇo 'rcayām āsa

parameṇa samādhinā

 

sudakṣiṇaḥ — named Sudakṣiṇa; tasya — his (Kāśirāja's); sutaḥ — son; kṛtvā — executing; saḿsthā-vidhim — the funeral rituals; pateḥ — of his father; nihatya — by killing; pitṛ — of my father; hantāram — the killer; yāsyāmi — I will achieve; apacitim — revenge; pituḥ — for my father; iti — thus; ātmanā — with his intelligence; abhisandhāya — deciding; sa — with; upādhyāyaḥ — priests; mahā-īśvaram — the great Lord Śiva; su-dakṣiṇaḥ — being very charitable; arcayām āsa — he worshiped; parameṇa — with great; samādhinā — attention.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After the King's son Sudakṣiṇa had performed the obligatory funeral rituals for his father, he resolved within his mind: "Only by killing my father's murderer can I avenge his death." Thus the charitable Sudakṣiṇa, together with his priests, began worshiping Lord Maheśvara with great attention.

 

10.66.29

prīto 'vimukte bhagavāḿs

tasmai varam adād vibhuḥ

pitṛ-hantṛ-vadhopāyaḿ

sa vavre varam īpsitam

 

prītaḥ — satisfied; avimukte — at Avimukta, an especially holy area within the district of Kāśī; bhagavān — Lord Śiva; tasmai — to him; varam — a choice of benedictions; adāt — gave; vibhuḥ — the powerful demigod; pitṛ — of his father; hantṛ — the killer; vadha — to slay; upāyam — the means; saḥ — he; vavre — chose; varam — as his benediction; īpsitam — desired.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Satisfied by the worship, the powerful Lord Śiva appeared in the sacred precinct of Avimukta and offered Sudakṣiṇa his choice of benedictions. The prince chose as his benediction a means to slay his father's killer.

 

10.66.30-31

dakṣiṇāgniḿ paricara

brāhmaṇaiḥ samam ṛtvijam

abhicāra-vidhānena

sa cāgniḥ pramathair vṛtaḥ

 

sādhayiṣyati sańkalpam

abrahmaṇye prayojitaḥ

ity ādiṣṭas tathā cakre

kṛṣṇāyābhicaran vratī

 

dakṣiṇa-agnim — to the Dakṣiṇa fire; paricara — you should render service; brāhmaṇaiḥ — brāhmaṇas; samam — together with; ṛtvijam — the original priest; abhicāra-vidhānena — with the ritual known as abhicāra (meant for killing or otherwise harming an enemy); saḥ — that; ca — and; agniḥ — fire; pramathaiḥ — by the Pramathas (powerful mystics who are in Lord Śiva's retinue and who assume many different forms); vṛtaḥ — surrounded;

 

sādhayiṣyati — it will accomplish; sańkalpam — your intention; abrahmaṇye — against one who is inimical to brāhmaṇas; prayojitaḥ — utilized; iti — so; ādiṣṭaḥ — instructed; tathā — in that way; cakre — he did; kṛṣṇāya — against Lord Kṛṣṇa; abhicaran — intending to do harm; vratī — observing the required vows.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Śiva told him, "Accompanied by brāhmaṇas, serve the Dakṣiṇāgni fire — the original priest — following the injunctions of the abhicāra ritual. Then the Dakṣiṇāgni fire, together with many Pramathas, will fulfill your desire if you direct it against someone inimical to the brāhmaṇas." So instructed, Sudakṣiṇa strictly observed the ritualistic vows and invoked the abhicāra against Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

10.66.32-33

tato 'gnir utthitaḥ kuṇḍān

mūrtimān ati-bhīṣaṇaḥ

tapta-tāmra-śikhā-śmaśrur

ańgārodgāri-locanaḥ

 

daḿṣṭrogra-bhru-kuṭī-daṇḍa-

kaṭhorāsyaḥ sva-jihvayā

ālihan sṛkvaṇī nagno

vidhunvaḿs tri-śikhaḿ jvalat

 

tataḥ — then; agniḥ — the fire; utthitaḥ — rose up; kuṇḍāt — from the sacrificial altar pit; mūrti-mān — assuming a personal form; ati — extremely; bhīṣaṇaḥ — fearsome; tapta — molten; tāmra — (like) copper; śikhā — the tuft of hair on whose head; śmaśruḥ — and whose beard; ańgāra — hot cinders; udgāri — emitting; locanaḥ — whose eyes;

 

daḿṣṭra — with his teeth; ugra — terrible; bhru — of the eyebrows; kuṭī — of the furrowing; daṇḍa — and with the arch; kaṭhora — harsh; āsyaḥ — whose face; sva — his; jihvayā — with the tongue; ālihan — licking; sṛkvaṇī — both corners of his mouth; nagnaḥ — naked; vidhunvan — shaking; tri-śikham — his trident; jvalat — ablaze.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereupon the fire rose up out of the altar pit, assuming the form of an extremely fearsome, naked person. The fiery creature's beard and tuft of hair were like molten copper, and his eyes emitted blazing hot cinders. His face looked most frightful with its fangs and terrible arched and furrowed brows. As he licked the corners of his mouth with his tongue, the demon shook his flaming trident.

 

10.66.34

padbhyāḿ tāla-pramāṇābhyāḿ

kampayann avanī-talam

so 'bhyadhāvad vṛto bhūtair

dvārakāḿ pradahan diśaḥ

 

padbhyām — with his legs; tāla — of palm trees; pramāṇābhyām — whose measure; kampayan — shaking; avanī — of the earth; talam — the surface; saḥ — he; abhyadhāvat — ran; vṛtaḥ — accompanied; bhūtaiḥ — by ghostly spirits; dvārakām — toward Dvārakā; pradahan — burning up; diśaḥ — the directions.

 

TRANSLATION

 

On legs as tall as palm trees, the monster raced toward Dvārakā in the company of ghostly spirits, shaking the ground and burning the world in all directions.

 

10.66.35

tam ābhicāra-dahanam

āyāntaḿ dvārakaukasaḥ

vilokya tatrasuḥ sarve

vana-dāhe mṛgā yathā

 

tam — him; ābhicāra — created by the abhicāra ritual; dahanam — the fire; āyāntam — approaching; dvārakā-okasaḥ — the residents of Dvārakā; vilokya — seeing; tatrasuḥ — became frightened; sarve — all; vana-dāhe — when there is a forest fire; mṛgāḥ — animals; yathā — as.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing the approacḥ of the fiery demon created by the abhicāra ritual, the residents of Dvārakā were all struck with fear, like animals terrified by a forest fire.

 

10.66.36

akṣaiḥ sabhāyāḿ krīḍantaḿ

bhagavantaḿ bhayāturāḥ

trāhi trāhi tri-lokeśa

vahneḥ pradahataḥ puram

 

akṣaiḥ — with dice; sabhāyām — in the royal court; krīḍantam — playing; bhagavantam — to the Personality of Godhead; bhaya — with fear; āturāḥ — agitated; trāhi trāhi — (they said) "Save us! Save us!"; tri — three; loka — of the worlds; īśa — O Lord; vahneḥ — from the fire; pradahataḥ — which is burning up; puram — the city.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Distraught with fear, the people cried out to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who was then playing at dice in the royal court: "Save us! Save us, O Lord of the three worlds, from this fire burning up the city!"

 

10.66.37

śrutvā taj jana-vaiklavyaḿ

dṛṣṭvā svānāḿ ca sādhvasam

śaraṇyaḥ samprahasyāha

mā bhaiṣṭety avitāsmy aham

 

śrutvā — hearing; tat — this; jana — of the populace; vaiklavyam — agitation; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; svānām — of His own men; ca — and; sādhvasam — the disturbed condition; śaraṇyaḥ — the best source of shelter; samprahasya — loudly laughing; āha — said; mā bhaiṣṭa — do not fear; iti — thus; avitā asmi — will give protection; aham — I.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Lord Kṛṣṇa heard the people's agitation and saw that even His own men were disturbed, that most worthy giver of shelter simply laughed and told them, "Do not fear; I shall protect you."

 

10.66.38

sarvasyāntar-bahiḥ-sākṣī

kṛtyāḿ māheśvarīḿ vibhuḥ

vijñāya tad-vighātārthaḿ

pārśva-sthaḿ cakram ādiśat

 

sarvasya — everyone; antaḥ — within; bahiḥ — and without; sākṣī — the witness; kṛtyām — the manufactured creature; māhā-īśvarīm — of Lord Śiva; vibhuḥ — the almighty Supreme Lord; vijñāya — fully understanding; tat — him; vighāta — of defeating; artham — for the purpose; pārśva — at His side; stham — standing; cakram — His disc; ādiśat — He ordered.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The almighty Lord, the internal and external witness of all, understood that the monster had been produced by Lord Śiva from the sacrificial fire. To defeat the demon, Kṛṣṇa dispatched His disc weapon, who was waiting at His side.

 

10.66.39

tat sūrya-koṭi-pratimaḿ sudarśanaḿ

jājvalyamānaḿ pralayānala-prabham

sva-tejasā khaḿ kakubho 'tha rodasī

cakraḿ mukundāstraḿ athāgnim ārdayat

 

tat — that; sūrya — of suns; koṭi — millions; pratimam — resembling; sudarśanam — Sudarśana; jājvalyamānam — blazing with fire; pralaya — of universal annihilation; anala — (like) the fire; prabham — whose effulgence; sva — his own; tejasā — with heat; kham — the sky; kakubhaḥ — the directions; atha — and; rodasī — heaven and earth; cakram — the disc; mukunda — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; astram — the weapon; atha — also; agnim — the fire (created by Sudakṣiṇa); ārdayat — tormented.

 

TRANSLATION

 

That Sudarśana, the disc weapon of Lord Mukunda, blazed forth like millions of suns. His effulgence blazed like the fire of universal annihilation, and with his heat he pained the sky, all the directions, heaven and earth, and also the fiery demon.

 

10.66.40

kṛtyānalaḥ pratihataḥ sa rathānga-pāṇer

astraujasā sa nṛpa bhagna-mukho nivṛttaḥ

vārāṇasīḿ parisametya sudakṣiṇaḿ taḿ

sartvig-janaḿ samadahat sva-kṛto 'bhicāraḥ

 

kṛtyā — produced by mystic power; analaḥ — the fire; pratihataḥ — frustrated; saḥ — he; ratha-ańga-pāṇeḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Who holds the Sudarśana disc in His hand; astra — of the weapon; ojasā — by the power; saḥ — he; nṛpa — O King; bhagna-mukhaḥ — turning away; nivṛttaḥ — having desisted; vārānasīm — the city of Vārāṇasī; parisametya — approaching on all sides; sudakṣiṇam — Sudakṣiṇa; tam — him; sa — together with; ṛtvik-janam — his priests; samadahat — burned to death; sva — by himself (Sudakṣiṇa); kṛtaḥ — created; abhicāraḥ — meant for doing violence.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Frustrated by the power of Lord Kṛṣṇa's weapon, O King, the fiery creature produced by black magic turned his face away and retreated. Created for violence, the demon then returned to Vārāṇasī, where he surrounded the city and then burned Sudakṣiṇa and his priests to death, even though Sudakṣiṇa was his creator.

 

10.66.41

cakraḿ ca viṣṇos tad-anupraviṣṭaḿ

vārānasīḿ sāṭṭa-sabhālayāpaṇām

sa-gopurāṭṭālaka-koṣṭha-sańkulāḿ

sa-kośa-hasty-aśva-rathānna-śālinīm

 

cakram — the disc; ca — and; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; tat — it (the fire demon); anupraviṣṭam — entering in pursuit; vārāṇasīm — Vārāṇasī; sa — with; aṭṭa — raised porches; sabhā — its assembly halls; ālaya — residences; āpaṇām — and marketplaces; sa — with; gopura — gateways; aṭṭālaka — watchtowers; koṣṭha — and warehouses; sańkulām — crowded; sa — with; kośa — banks; hasti — for elephants; aśva — horses; ratha — chariots; anna — and grains; śālinīm — with the buildings.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Viṣṇu's disc also entered Vārāṇasī, in pursuit of the fiery demon, and proceeded to burn the city to the ground, including all its assembly halls and residential palaces with raised porches, its numerous marketplaces, gateways, watchtowers, warehouses and treasuries, and all the buildings housing elephants, horses, chariots and grains.

 

10.66.42

dagdhvā vārāṇasīḿ sarvāḿ

viṣṇoś cakraḿ sudarśanam

bhūyaḥ pārśvam upātiṣṭhat

kṛṣṇasyākliṣṭa-karmaṇaḥ

 

dagdhvā — having burned; vārāṇasīm — Vārāṇasī; sarvām — all; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; cakram — the disc; sudarśanam — Sudarśana; bhūyaḥ — once again; pārśvam — the side; upātiṣṭhat — went to; kṛṣṇasya — of Kṛṣṇa; akliṣṭa — without trouble or fatigue; karmaṇaḥ — whose actions.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After burning down the entire city of Vārāṇasī, Lord Viṣṇu's Sudarśana cakra returned to the side of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose actions are effortless.

 

10.66.43

ya enaḿ śrāvayen martya

uttamaḥ-śloka-vikramam

samāhito vā śṛṇuyāt

sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate

 

yaḥ — one who; enam — this; śrāvayet — causes others to hear; martyaḥ — a mortal human; uttamaḥ-śloka — of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is praised in the best transcendental verses; vikramam — the heroic pastime; samāhitaḥ — with concentration; vā — or; śṛṇuyāt — hears; sarva — from all; pāpaiḥ — sins; pramucyate — becomes released.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Any mortal who recounts this heroic pastime of Lord Uttamaḥ-śloka's, or who simply hears it attentively, will become freed from all sins.