Chapter 98 - The burning of Kāśī

The sages said:

1-2. Kṛṣṇa who assumed human form performed great deeds. Playfully he defeated Indra, Śaṅkara and Devas. May his other activities too withstanding the divine intercession, be mentioned. We are very eager to hear.

Vyāsa said:

3. O excellent sages, even as I narrate, let this be listened to with great attention how Vāraṇasī was burned by Kṛṣṇa during his incarnation as a human being.

4. (Defective) Pauṇḍraka, king of Vārāṇasī was told by the people deluded by ignorance—“Vāsudeva has taken incarnation on the Earth. You are that incarnation.”

5. Accordingly, he thought that he was the incarnation of Vāsudeva on the Earth. He who lost all faculty of reasoning adopted the symbols of Viṣṇu, O excellent brahmins, he sent a messenger to Kṛṣṇa.

6-7. “Leave off the discus and other symbols that pertain to me. O foolish one, eschew everything pertaining to Vāsudeva. For the sake of your sustenance bow unto me”.

When he was addressed thus, Kṛṣṇa said to the messenger.

The lord said:

8-12. Go and tell Puṇḍraka thus: “I shall leave ray symbol, the discus on you (I shall hurl it against you) O messenger, may these words be mentioned as mine.

“The good intention behind your words has been understood. May what should be done be carried out I shall come to your city taking the symbols with me. I shall discharge discus certainly towards you. Since you have commanded me to come I shall carry it out tomorrow without delay. O king, seeking refuge in you, I will do that whereby there will not be further fear from you.”

Vyāsa said:

13. When the messenger who had been instructed thus, had gone away, Kṛṣṇa rode on Garuḍa who came to him on being remembered, and hastened to that city.

14. On hearing about the endeavour of Kṛṣṇa and that of his (Pauṇḍraka’s), the lord of Kāśī came as his supporting ally, with all his armies surrounding him.

15. With a great army (of his own) and that of the king of Kāśī, Pauṇḍraka Vāsudeva marched against Kṛṣṇa.

16-18. From a distance Kṛṣṇa saw him seated in an elegant chariot. He carried discus, conch and iron club in his hands and he held a lotus with another hand. He wore a garland and held the bow Śārṅga. The emblem of Garuḍa adorned his banner. Kṛṣṇa saw the scar Śrīvatsa marked on his chest. He wore a crown on his head and earrings too. He was clad in yellow robes. On seeing him, lord Kṛṣṇa laughed heartily.

19. O brahmins, he fought with his army that was very strong in elephants and horses and that contained swords, daggers, maces, tridents, javelins and bows.

20. Instantaneously he slew the army by means of arrows discharged from his bow and blazing like fires, and by means of hits and blows with the iron clubs and discus.

21. After destroying the army of the king of Kāśī also, Kṛṣṇa spoke to Pauṇḍraka who was deluded and who bore his own characteristic marks.

The lord said:

22. O Pauṇḍraka, through the messenger you had told me “Leave the symbols.” I shall now accomplish it.

23. This discus is left off; this iron club is discharged against you. This Garuḍa has been directed. Let him mount your banner.

24. After saying this, he discharged his discus by which Pauṇḍraka was torn asunder. He was then threshed with his iron club. Garuḍa of Pauṇḍraka was smashed by his own Garuḍa.

25. When there was a great hue and cry the overlord of Kāśī stood ready for avenging the slaughter of his friend. He fought with Vāsudeva. If Kṛṣṇa cut off his head with the arrows discharged from his bow, he hurled it into the city of Kāśī, causing wonderment amongst the people.

27. After killing Pauṇḍraka and the king of Kāśī along with his followers Kṛṣṇa returned to Dvārakā and sported like an immortal being staying in heaven.

28. On seeing the head of the king of Kāśī fallen in his city the wonder-struck people said—“What is this? By whom is this heinous crime committed?

29. On understanding that he was killed by Vāsudeva, his son propitiated Śaṅkara assisted by his priest.

30. Śaṅkara was propitiated by him at the great holy centre ‘Avimukta’. The lord then said to the Prince, “Choose your boon”.

31. He chose thus—“O lord, O Maheśvara, by your favour, may a Kṛtyā (female deity of destruction) rise up for destroying Kṛṣṇa who slew my father.”

Vyāsa said:

32. When this was uttered “It will be so”, a great Kṛtyā rose up from the chamber of sacrificial fire at a spot beyond Dakṣiṇāgni.

33. It had an awful face blazing terrible with flames of fire. The tresses were dishevelled and blazing. Angrily shouting ‘Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa’ it went to Dvāravatī.

34. On seeing the terrible Kṛtyā with hideous eyes, the people of Dvārakā sought refuge in Śrī Kṛṣṇa who is worthy of being the refuge to the worlds.

The people said:

35. After propitiating the bull-emblemed deity this great Kṛtyā has been created by the son of the king of Kāśī for killing you, the discus-bearing lord. Kill this terrible Kṛtyā having a confused mess of matted hair blazing like flame of fire.

Vyāsa said:

36-41. Sudarśana, the discus ofViṣṇu was playfully hurled down amongst the dice as he had been engaged in the game. It became very terrible, spitting flames of fire. Clusters of fiery flames appeared like matted hair. It pursued Kṛtyā quickly. When hit and smashed by the discus Kṛtyā rushed along quickly. The discus too followed her. Kṛtyā hurriedly entered Vārāṇasī. O excellent sages, its prowess was restrained by the discus of Viṣṇu. Then the vast army of Kāśī and the army of Pramathas (attendants of Śiva) marched against discus. They were equipped with various weapons and missiles. They were discharging missiles and weapons.

After burning that army with its own prowess, the discus went to Vārāṇasī. It burnt citizens, their servants, horses and elephants.

42-43. It burnt the entire city with all its chambers and forts. Flames of fire surrounded the outer walls and arched gateways of all abodes. It was an unbearable sight even to Devas. Still the fury of discus did not abate. It was as indifferent as though very little had been accomplished. Shining and blazing as before, the discus went back to the hand of Viṣṇu.