> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 10
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > *******

> > Canto 10: 'Summum Bonum'

> > *******

> > Chapter Sixty-six: Paundraka, the False Vâsudeva

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > nanda-vrajam gate râme

> > karûshâdhipatir nripa

> > vâsudevo 'ham ity ajn'o

> > dûtam krishnâya prâhinot

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; nanda - of Nanda Mahârâja; vrajam - to the cowherd village; gate - having gone; râme - Lord Balarâma; karûsha- adhipatih - the ruler of Karûsha (Paundraka); nripa - O King (Parîkchit); vâsudevah - the Supreme Lord, Vâsudeva; aham - I; iti - thus thinking; ajn'ah - foolish; dûtam - a messenger; krishnâya - to Lord Krishna; prâhinot - sent.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: O King, while Lord Balarâma was away visiting Nanda's village of Vraja, the ruler of Karûsha, foolishly thinking "I am the Supreme Lord, Vâsudeva," sent a messenger to Lord Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > tvam vâsudevo bhagavân

> > avatîrino jagat-patih

> > iti prastobhito bâlair

> > mena âtmânam acyutam

> > tvam - you; vâsudevah - Vâsudeva; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; avatîrnah - descended; jagat - of the universe; patih - the master; iti - thus; prastobhitah - emboldened with flattery; bâlaih - by childish men; mene - he imagined; âtmânam - himself; acyutam - the infallible Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Paundraka was emboldened by the flattery of childish men, who told him, "You are Vâsudeva, 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > dûtam ca prâhinon mandah

> > krishnâyâvyakta-vartmane

> > dvârakâyâm yathâ bâlo

> > nripo bâla-krito 'budhah

> > dûtam - a messenger; ca - and; prâhinot - he sent; mandah - slow-witted; krishnâya - to Lord Krishna; avyakta - inscrutable; vartmane - whose path; dvârakâyâm - at Dvârakâ; yathâ - as; bâlah - a boy; nripah - king; bâla - by children; kritah - made; abudhah - unintelligent.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > dûtas tu dvârakâm etya

> > sabhâyâm âsthitam prabhum

> > krishnam kamala-patrâksham

> > râja-sandes'am abravît

> > dûtah - the messenger; tu - then; dvârakâm - at Dvârakâ; etya - arriving; sabhâyâm - in the royal assembly; âsthitam - present; prabhum - to the almighty Lord; krishnam - Krishna; kamala - of a lotus; patra - (like) the petals; aksham - whose eyes; râja - of his King; sandes'am - the message; abravît - spoke.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > vâsudevo 'vatîrno 'ham

> > eka eva na câparah

> > bhûtânâm anukampârtham

> > tvam tu mithyâbhidhâm tyaja

> > vâsudevah - Lord Vâsudeva; avatîrnah - descended to this world; aham - I; ekah eva - the only one; na - not; ca - and; aparah - anyone else; bhûtânâm - to the living beings; anukampâ - of showing mercy; artham - for the purpose; tvam - You; tu - however; mithyâ - false; abhidhâm - designation; tyaja - give up.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [On Paundraka's behalf, the messenger said:] I am the one and only Lord Vâsudeva, 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > yâni tvam asmac-cihnâni

> > maudhyâd bibharshi sâtvata

> > tyaktvaihi mâm tvam s'aranam

> > no ced dehi mamâhavam

> > yâni - which; tvam - You; asmat - our; cihnâni - symbols; maudhyât - out of delusion; bibharshi - carry; sâtvata - O chief of the Sâtvatas; tyaktvâ - giving up; ehi - come; mâm - to me; tvam - You; s'aranam - for shelter; na - not; u - otherwise; cet - if; dehi - give; mama - me; âhavam - battle.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Sâtvata, 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > katthanam tad upâkarnya

> > paundrakasyâlpa-medhasah

> > ugrasenâdayah sabhyâ

> > uccakair jahasus tadâ

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; katthanam - boasting; tat - that; upâkarnya - hearing; paundrakasya - of Paundraka; alpa - small; medhasah - whose intelligence; ugrasena-âdayah - headed by King Ugrasena; sabhyâh - the members of the assembly; uccakaih - loudly; jahasuh - laughed; tadâ - then.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: King Ugrasena and the other members of the assembly laughed loudly when they heard this vain boasting of unintelligent Paundraka.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > uvâca dûtam bhagavân

> > parihâsa-kathâm anu

> > utsrakshye mûdha cihnâni

> > yais tvam evam vikatthase

> > uvâca - said; dûtam - to the messenger; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; parihâsa - joking; kathâm - discussion; anu - after; utsrakshye - I will throw; mûdha - O fool; cihnâni - the symbols; yaih - about which; tvam - you; evam - in this way; vikatthase - are boasting.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Personality of Godhead, after 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > mukham tad apidhâyâjn'a

> > kanka-gridhra-vathair vritah

> > s'ayishyase hatas tatra

> > bhavitâ s'aranam s'unâm

> > mukham - face; tat - that; apidhâya - being covered; ajn'a - O ignorant man; kanka - by herons; gridhra - vultures; vathaih - and vatha birds; vritah - surrounded; s'ayishyase - you will lie; hatah - killed; tatra - thereupon; bhavitâ - you will become; s'aranam - shelter; s'unâm - for dogs.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > iti dûtas tam âkshepam

> > svâmine sarvam âharat

> > krishno 'pi ratham âsthâya

> > kâs'îm upajagâma ha

> > iti - thus addressed; dûtah - the messenger; tam - those; âkshepam - insults; svâmine - to his master; sarvam - entire; âharat - carried; krishnah - Lord Krishna; api - and; ratham - His chariot; âsthâya - riding; kâs'îm - to Vârânasî; upajagâma ha - went near.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the Lord had thus spoken, the messenger conveyed His insulting reply to his master in its entirety. Lord Krishna then mounted His chariot and went to the vicinity of Kâs'î.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > paundrako 'pi tad-udyogam

> > upalabhya mahâ-rathah

> > akshauhinîbhyâm samyukto

> > nis'cakrâma purâd drutam

> > paundrakah - Paundraka; api - and; tat - His; udyogam - preparations; upalabhya - noticing; mahâ-rathah - the mighty warrior; akshauhinîbhyâm - by two full military divisions; samyuktah - joined; nis'cakrâma - went out; purât - from the city; drutam - quickly.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXTS 12 - 14

> > tasya kâs'î-patir mitram

> > pârshni-grâho 'nvayân nripa

> > akshauhinîbhis tisribhir

> > apas'yat paundrakam harih

> > s'ankhâry-asi-gadâ-s'ârnga-

> > s'rîvatsâdy-upalakshitam

> > bibhrânam kaustubha-manim

> > vana-mâlâ-vibhûshitam

> > kaus'eya-vâsasî pîte

> > vasânam garuda-dhvajam

> > amûlya-mauly-âbharanam

> > sphuran-makara-kundalam

> > tasya - his (Paundraka's); kâs'î-patih - the master of Kâs'i; mitram - friend; pârshni-grâhah - as the rear guard; anvayât - followed; nripa - O King (Parîkchit); akshauhinîbhih - with divisions; tisribhih - three; apas'yat - saw; paundrakam - Paundraka; harih - Lord Krishna;

> > s'ankha - with conchshell; ari - disc; asi - sword; gadâ - club; s'ârnga - S'ârnga bow; s'rîvatsa - with the S'rîvatsa sign of hair on His chest; âdi - and other symbols; upalakshitam - marked; bibhrânam - bearing; kaustubha-manim - the Kaustubha gem; vana-mâlâ - with a garland of forest flowers; vibhûshitam - decorated;

> > kaus'eya - of fine silk; vâsasî - a pair of garments; pîte - yellow; vasânam - wearing; garuda-dhvajam - his banner marked with the image of Garuda; amûlya - valuable; mauli - a crown; âbharanam - whose ornament; sphurat - gleaming; makara - shark-shaped; kundalam - with earrings.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Paundraka's friend, the King of Kâs'î, followed behind, O King, leading the rear guard with three akshauhinî divisions. Lord Krishna saw that Paundraka was carrying the Lord's own insignia, such as the conchshell, disc, sword and club, and also an imitation S'ârnga bow and S'rîvatsa 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 Garuda, and he wore a valuable crown and gleaming, shark- shaped earrings.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > drishthvâ tam âtmanas tulyam

> > vesham kritrimam âsthitam

> > yathâ natham ranga-gatam

> > vijahâsa bhris'am harîh

> > drishthvâ - seeing; tam - him; âtmanah - to His own; tulyam - equal; vesham - in dress; kritrimam - imitation; âsthitam - arrayed; yathâ - like; natham - an actor; ranga - a stage; gatam - entered upon; vijahâsa - laughed; bhris'am - strongly; harih - Lord Krishna.

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > s'ulair gadâbhih parighaih

> > s'akty-rishthi-prâsa-tomaraih

> > asibhih paththis'air bânaih

> > prâharann arayo harim

> > s'ûlaih - with tridents; gadâbhih - clubs; parighaih - and bludgeons; s'akti - pikes; rishthi - a kind of sword; prâsa - long, barbed darts; tomaraih - and lances; asibhih - with swords; paththis'aih - with axes; bânaih - and with arrows; prâharan - attacked; arayah - the enemies; harim - Lord Krishna.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > krishnas tu tat paundraka-kâs'irâjayor

> > balam gaja-syandana-vâji-patti-mat

> > gadâsi-cakreshubhir ârdayad bhris'am

> > yathâ yugânte huta-bhuk prithak prajâh

> > krishnah - Lord Krishna; tu - however; tat - that; paundraka-kâs'irâjayoh - of Paundraka and the King of Kâs'î; balam - military force; gaja - elephants; syandana - chariots; vâji - horses; patti - and infantry; mat - consisting of; gadâ - with His club; asi - sword; cakra - disc; isubhih - and arrows; ârdayat - tormented; bhris'am - fiercely; yathâ - as; yuga - of an age of universal history; ante - at the end; huta-bhuk - the fire (of universal annihilation); prithak - of different kinds; prajâh - living entities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > But Lord Krishna fiercely struck back at the army of Paundraka and Kâs'irâja, which consisted of elephants, chariots, cavalry and infantry. The Lord tormented His enemies with His club, sword, Sudars'ana disc and arrows, just as the fire of annihilation torments the various kinds of creatures at the end of a cosmic age.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > âyodhanam tad ratha-vâji-kun'jara-

> > dvipat-kharoshthrair arinâvakhanditaih

> > babhau citam moda-vaham manasvinâm

> > âkrîdanam bhûta-pater ivolbanam

> > âyodhanam - battlefield; tat - that; ratha - with the chariots; vâji - horses; kun'jara - elephants; dvipat - two-legged (humans); khara - mules; ushthraih - and camels; arinâ - by His disc; avakhanditaih - cut to pieces; babhau - shone; citam - spread; moda - pleasure; vaham - bringing; manasvinâm - to the wise; âkrîdanam - the playground; bhûta-pateh - of the lord of ghostly spirits, Lord S'iva; iva - as if; ulbanam - 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 Bhûtapati, giving pleasure to the wise.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > athâha paundrakam s'aurir

> > bho bho paundraka yad bhavân

> > dûta-vâkyena mâm âha

> > tâny astrany utsrijâmi te

> > atha - then; âha - said; paundrakam - to Paundraka; s'aurih - Lord Krishna; bhoh bhoh paundraka - My dear Paundraka; yat - those which; bhavân - your good self; dûta - of the messenger; vâkyena - through the words; mâm - to Me; âha - spoke about; tâni - those; astrâni - weapons; utsrijâmi - I am releasing; te - unto you.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > tyâjayishye 'bhidhânam me

> > yat tvayâjn'a mrishâ dhritam

> > vrajâmi s'aranam te 'dya

> > yadi necchâmi samyugam

> > tyâjayishye - I will make (you) renounce; abhidhânam - designation; me - My; yat - which; tvayâ - by you; ajn'a - O fool; mrishâ - falsely; dhritam - assumed; vrajâmi - I will go; s'aranam - to the shelter; te - your; adya - today; yadi - if; na icchâmi - I do not desire; samyugam - 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."

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > iti kshiptvâ s'itair bânair

> > virathî-kritya paundrakam

> > s'iro 'vris'cad rathângena

> > vajrenendro yathâ gireh

> > iti - with these words; kshiptvâ - deriding; s'itaih - sharp; bânaih - with His arrows; virathî - chariotless; kritya - making; paundrakam - Paundraka; s'irah - his head; avris'cat - He cut off; ratha-angena - with His Sudars'ana disc; vajrena - with his thunderbolt weapon; indrah - Lord Indra; yathâ - as; gireh - of a mountain.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Having thus derided Paundraka, Lord Krishna destroyed his chariot with His sharp arrows. The Lord then cut off his head with the Sudars'ana disc, just as Lord Indra lops off a mountain peak with his thunderbolt weapon.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > tathâ kâs'î-pateh kâyâc

> > chira utkritya patribhih

> > nyapâtayat kâs'î-puryâm

> > padma-kos'am ivânilah

> > tathâ - similarly; kâs'î-pateh - of the King of Kâs'î; kâyât - from his body; s'irah - the head; utkritya - severing; patribhih - with His arrows; nyapâtayat - He sent it flying; kâs'i-puryâm - into the city of Kâs'î; padma - of a lotus; kos'am - the flower cup; iva - as; anilah - the wind.

> > TRANSLATION

> > With His arrows, Lord Krishna similarly severed Kâs'irâja's head from his body, sending it flying into Kâs'î city like a lotus flower thrown by the wind.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > evam matsarinam hatvâ

> > paundrakam sa-sakham harih

> > dvârakâm âvis'at siddhair

> > gîyamâna-kathâmritah

> > evam - thus; matsarinam - envious; hatvâ - killing; paundrakam - Paundraka; sa - together with; sakham - his friend; harih - Lord Krishna; dvârakâm - Dvârakâ; âvis'at - He entered; siddhaih - by the mystics of heaven; gîyamâna - being sung; kathâ - narrations about Him; amritah - nectarean.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Having thus killed envious Paundraka and his ally, Lord Krishna returned to Dvârakâ. As He entered the city, the Siddhas of heaven chanted His immortal, nectarean glories.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > sa nityam bhagavad-dhyâna-

> > pradhvastâkhila-bandhanah

> > bibhrânas' ca hare râjan

> > svarûpam tan-mayo 'bhavat

> > sah - he (Paundraka); nityam - constant; bhagavat - upon the Supreme Lord; dhyâna - by his meditation; pradhvasta - completely shattered; akhila - all; bandhanah - whose bondage; bibhrânah - assuming; ca - and; hareh - of Lord Krishna; râjan - O King (Parîkchit); svarûpam - the personal form; tat-mayah - absorbed in consciousness of Him; abhavat - he became.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > s'irah patitam âlokya

> > râja-dvâre sa-kundalam

> > kim idam kasya vâ vaktram

> > iti sams'is'ire janâh

> > s'irah - the head; patitam - fallen; âlokya - seeing; râja-dvâre - at the gate of the royal palace; sa-kundalam - with earrings; kim - what; idam - is this; kasya - whose; vâ - or; vaktram - head; iti - thus; sams'is'ire - expressed doubt; janâh - 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?"

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > râjn'ah kâs'î-pater jn'âtvâ

> > mahishyah putra-bândhavâh

> > paurâs' ca hâ hatâ râjan

> > nâtha nâtheti prârudan

> > râjn'ah - of the King; kâs'î-pateh - the lord of Kâs'î; jn'âtvâ - recognizing; mahishyah - his queens; putra - his sons; bândhavâh - and other relatives; paurâh - the citizens of the city; ca - and; hâ - alas; hatâh - (we are) killed; râjan - O King (Parîkchit); nâtha nâtha - O master, master; iti - thus; prârudan - they cried out loud.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear King, when they recognized it as the head of their King - the lord of Kâs'i - 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!"

> > ******

> > TEXTS 27 - 28

> > sudakshinas tasya sutah

> > kritvâ samsthâ-vidhim pateh

> > nihatya pitri-hantâram

> > yâsyâmy apacitim pituh

> > ity âtmanâbhisandhâya

> > sopâdhyâyo mahes'varam

> > su-dakshino 'rcayâm âsa

> > paramena samâdhinâ

> > sudakshinah - named Sudakshina; tasya - his (Kâs'irâja's); sutah - son; kritvâ - executing; samsthâ-vidhim - the funeral rituals; pateh - of his father; nihatya - by killing; pitri - of my father; hantâram - the killer; yâsyâmi - I will achieve; apacitim - revenge; pituh - for my father;

> > iti - thus; âtmanâ - with his intelligence; abhisandhâya - deciding; sa - with; upâdhyâyah - priests; mahâ- îs'varam - the great Lord S'iva; su-dakshinah - being very charitable; arcayâm âsa - he worshiped; paramena - with great; samâdhinâ - attention.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After the King's son Sudakshina 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 Sudakshina, together with his priests, began worshiping Lord Mahes'vara with great attention.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > prîto 'vimukte bhagavâms

> > tasmai varam adâd vibhuh

> > pitri-hantri-vadhopâyam

> > sa vavre varam îpsitam

> > prîtah - satisfied; avimukte - at Avimukta, an especially holy area within the district of Kâs'î; bhagavân - Lord S'iva; tasmai - to him; varam - a choice of benedictions; adât - gave; vibhuh - the powerful demigod; pitri - of his father; hantri - the killer; vadha - to slay; upâyam - the means; sah - he; vavre - chose; varam - as his benediction; îpsitam - desired.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXTS 30 - 31

> > dakshinâgnim paricara

> > brâhmanaih samam ritvijam

> > abhicâra-vidhânena

> > sa câgnih pramathair vritah

> > sâdhayishyati sankalpam

> > abrahmanye prayojitah

> > ity âdishthas tathâ cakre

> > krishnâyâbhicaran vratî

> > dakshina-agnim - to the Dakshina fire; paricara - you should render service; brâhmanaih - brâhmanas; samam - together with; ritvijam - the original priest; abhicâra-vidhânena - with the ritual known as abhicâra (meant for killing or otherwise harming an enemy); sah - that; ca - and; agnih - fire; pramathaih - by the Pramathas (powerful mystics who are in Lord S'iva's retinue and who assume many different forms); vritah - surrounded;

> > sâdhayishyati - it will accomplish; sankalpam - your intention; abrahmanye - against one who is inimical to brâhmanas; prayojitah - utilized; iti - so; âdishthah - instructed; tathâ - in that way; cakre - he did; krishnâya - against Lord Krishna; abhicaran - intending to do harm; vratî - observing the required vows.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord S'iva told him, "Accompanied by brâhmanas, serve the Dakshinâgni fire - the original priest - following the injunctions of the abhicâra ritual. Then the Dakshinâgni fire, together with many Pramathas, will fulfill your desire if you direct it against someone inimical to the brâhmanas." So instructed, Sudakshina strictly observed the ritualistic vows and invoked the abhicâra against Lord Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 32 - 33

> > tato 'gnir utthitah kundân

> > mûrtimân ati-bhîshanah

> > tapta-tâmra-s'ikhâ-s'mas'rur

> > angârodgâri-locanah

> > damshthrogra-bhru-kuthî-danda-

> > kathhorâsyah sva-jihvayâ

> > âlihan srikvanî nagno

> > vidhunvams tri-s'ikham jvalat

> > tatah - then; agnih - the fire; utthitah - rose up; kundât - from the sacrificial altar pit; mûrti-mân - assuming a personal form; ati - extremely; bhîshanah - fearsome; tapta - molten; tâmra - (like) copper; s'ikhâ - the tuft of hair on whose head; s'mas'ruh - and whose beard; angâra - hot cinders; udgâri - emitting; locanah - whose eyes;

> > damshthra - with his teeth; ugra - terrible; bhru - of the eyebrows; kuthî - of the furrowing; danda - and with the arch; kathhora - harsh; âsyah - whose face; sva - his; jihvayâ - with the tongue; âlihan - licking; srikvanî - both corners of his mouth; nagnah - naked; vidhunvan - shaking; tri-s'ikham - 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > padbhyâm tâla-pramânâbhyâm

> > kampayann avanî-talam

> > so 'bhyadhâvad vrito bhûtair

> > dvârakâm pradahan dis'ah

> > padbhyâm - with his legs; tâla - of palm trees; pramânâbhyâm - whose measure; kampayan - shaking; avanî - of the earth; talam - the surface; sah - he; abhyadhâvat - ran; vritah - accompanied; bhûtaih - by ghostly spirits; dvârakâm - toward Dvârakâ; pradahan - burning up; dis'ah - the directions.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > tam âbhicâra-dahanam

> > âyântam dvârakaukasah

> > vilokya tatrasuh sarve

> > vana-dâhe mrigâ yathâ

> > tam - him; âbhicâra - created by the abhicâra ritual; dahanam - the fire; âyântam - approaching; dvârakâ-okasah - the residents of Dvârakâ; vilokya - seeing; tatrasuh - became frightened; sarve - all; vana-dâhe - when there is a forest fire; mrigâh - animals; yathâ - as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Seeing the approach of the fiery demon created by the abhicâra ritual, the residents of Dvârakâ were all struck with fear, like animals terrified by a forest fire.

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > akshaih sabhâyâm krîdantam

> > bhagavantam bhayâturâh

> > trâhi trâhi tri-lokes'a

> > vahneh pradahatah puram

> > akshaih - with dice; sabhâyâm - in the royal court; krîdantam - playing; bhagavantam - to the Personality of Godhead; bhaya - with fear; âturâh - agitated; trâhi trâhi - (they said) "Save us! Save us!"; tri - three; loka - of the worlds; îs'a - O Lord; vahneh - from the fire; pradahatah - 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!"

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > s'rutvâ taj jana-vaiklavyam

> > drishthvâ svânâm ca sâdhvasam

> > s'aranyah samprahasyâha

> > mâ bhaishthety avitâsmy aham

> > s'rutvâ - hearing; tat - this; jana - of the populace; vaiklavyam - agitation; drishthvâ - seeing; svânâm - of His own men; ca - and; sâdhvasam - the disturbed condition; s'aranyah - the best source of shelter; samprahasya - loudly laughing; âha - said; mâ bhaishtha - do not fear; iti - thus; avitâ asmi - will give protection; aham - I.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Lord Krishna 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."

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > sarvasyântar-bahih-sâkshî

> > krityâm mâhes'varîm vibhuh

> > vijn'âya tad-vighâtârtham

> > pârs'va-stham cakram âdis'at

> > sarvasya - everyone; antah - within; bahih - and without; sâkshî - the witness; krityâm - the manufactured creature; mâhâ-îs'varîm - of Lord S'iva; vibhuh - the almighty Supreme Lord; vijn'âya - fully understanding; tat - him; vighâta - of defeating; artham - for the purpose; pârs'va - at His side; stham - standing; cakram - His disc; âdis'at - He ordered.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > tat sûrya-kothi-pratimam sudars'anam

> > jâjvalyamânam pralayânala-prabham

> > sva-tejasâ kham kakubho 'tha rodasî

> > cakram mukundâstram athâgnim ârdayat

> > tat - that; sûrya - of suns; kothi - millions; pratimam - resembling; sudars'anam - Sudars'ana; jâjvalyamânam - blazing with fire; pralaya - of universal annihilation; anala - (like) the fire; prabham - whose effulgence; sva - his own; tejasâ - with heat; kham - the sky; kakubhah - the directions; atha - and; rodasî - heaven and earth; cakram - the disc; mukunda - of Lord Krishna; astram - the weapon; atha - also; agnim - the fire (created by Sudakshina); ârdayat - tormented.

> > TRANSLATION

> > That Sudars'ana, 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 40

> > krityânalah pratihatah sa rathânga-pâner

> > astraujasâ sa nripa bhagna-mukho nivrittah

> > vârânasîm parisametya sudakshinam tam

> > sartvig-janam samadahat sva-krito 'bhicârah.

> > krityâ - produced by mystic power; analah - the fire; pratihatah - frustrated; sah - he; ratha-anga-pâneh - of Lord Krishna, Who holds the Sudars'ana disc in His hand; astra - of the weapon; ojasâ - by the power; sah - he; nripa - O King; bhagna- mukhah - turning away; nivrittah - having desisted; vârânasîm - the city of Vârânasî; parisametya - approaching on all sides; sudakshinam - Sudakshina; tam - him; sa - together with; ritvik-janam - his priests; samadahat - burned to death; sva - by himself (Sudakshina); kritah - created; abhicârah - meant for doing violence.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Frustrated by the power of Lord Krishna'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 Vârânasî, where he surrounded the city and then burned Sudakshina and his priests to death, even though Sudakshina was his creator.

> > ******

> > TEXT 41

> > cakram ca vishnos tad-anupravishtham

> > vârânasîm sâththa-sabhâlayâpanâm

> > sa-gopurâththâlaka-koshthha-sankulâm

> > sa-kos'a-hasty-as'va-rathânna-s'âlinîm

> > cakram - the disc; ca - and; vishnoh - of Lord Vishnu; tat - it (the fire demon); anupravishtham - entering in pursuit; vârânasîm - Vârânasî; sa - with; aththa - raised porches; sabhâ - its assembly halls; âlaya - residences; âpanâm - and marketplaces; sa - with; gopura - gateways; aththâlaka - watchtowers; koshthha - and warehouses; sankulâm - crowded; sa - with; kos'a - banks; hasti - for elephants; as'va - horses; ratha - chariots; anna - and grains; s'âlinîm - with the buildings.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Vishnu's disc also entered Vârânasî, 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > dagdhvâ vârânasîm sarvâm

> > vishnos' cakram sudars'anam

> > bhûyah pârs'vam upâtishthhat

> > krishnasyâklishtha-karmanah

> > dagdhvâ - having burned; vârânasîm - Vârânasî; sarvâm - all; vishnoh - of Lord Vishnu; cakram - the disc; sudars'anam - Sudars'ana; bhûyah - once again; pârs'vam - the side; upâtishthhat - went to; krishnasya - of Krishna; aklishtha - without trouble or fatigue; karmanah - whose actions.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After burning down the entire city of Vârânasî, Lord Vishnu's Sudars'ana cakra returned to the side of S'rî Krishna, whose actions are effortless.

> > ******

> > TEXT 43

> > ya enam s'râvayen martya

> > uttamah-s'loka-vikramam

> > samâhito vâ s'rinuyât

> > sarva-pâpaih pramucyate

> > yah - one who; enam - this; s'râvayet - causes others to hear; martyah - a mortal human; uttamah-s'loka - of Lord Krishna, who is praised in the best transcendental verses; vikramam - the heroic pastime; samâhitah - with concentration; vâ - or; s'rinuyât - hears; sarva - from all; pâpaih - sins; pramucyate - becomes released.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupâda to the Tenth Canto, Sixty-sixth Chapter, of the S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam, entitled "Paundraka, the False Vâsudeva."

> > Back to the running text