Chapter 99 - Greatness of Daṇḍapāṇi-Cakradhara

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-3. Thereafter, O goddess, a pilgrim should go to the holy place where Cakradhara (Discus-bearing Lord) and the staffbearing deities are present, O goddess of Devas. They are stationed in the same spot.

They are situated within a distance of five Dhanus to the north of Someśa and to the east of Candreśa. They are very near Gandharveśa.

It is also on the south-western side of Umā. It is honoured by Brāhmaṇical and celestial sages. I shall narrate its origin which destroys all sins.

4-5. Formerly there was Pauṇḍraka^[1] (King of the country Puṇdra) Vāsudeva in Vārāṇasī. While the Purāṇas were being read by Brāhmaṇas, he heard that at the beginning of the Kalpa, towards the close of the Dvāpara Yuga, the mighty Vāsudeva would be taking his incarnation in the household of Kṣatriyas.

6. The foolish fellow considered himself Vāsudeva, O my beloved of excellent countenance, and bore (his) marks such as holding a discus.

7-10. He sent a messenger (called) Mahodara to Dvārakā. He went there and said to Viṣṇu: “Give up your discus etc. King Pauṇḍraka says so. If you do not, you will meet with death.” Thereupon, Lord Viṣṇu told him these charming words: “That king Pauṇdraka should be told these words of mine: ‘I will come to your city Kāśī holding my discus. I will then leave (hurl) the discus as well as this club. Undoubtedly you should accept (receive) the discus or the other thing as you wish.’”

11. On being told thus the messenger went away. Hari remembered Garuḍa and when he came, he rode on it and immediately went to that City (Vārāṇasī).

12. Due to his friendship, the king of Kāśī approached (joined) Pauṇḍraka along with all his attendants, armies and followers.

13. Thereupon, accompanied by his own big army and that of the king of Kāśī, Pauṇḍraka Vāsudeva marched against Keśava.

14. Hari saw him from a distance. He was seated in his irresistible chariot. He held a discus, a dub and the Śārṅga bow. He had the emblem of Garuḍa.

15. On seeing him, Kṛṣṇa with the real Garuḍa as his emblem laughed meaningfully. He then spoke to the foolish Pauṇdraka characterised with his (Hari’s) own marks:

16-17. “O Pauṇḍraka, through your messenger’s oral message, you told me thus: ‘Leave (hurl) the marks’, I shall leave (discharge) everything. This discus has been discharged. So also this club. Let this Garuḍa go and climb on to your banner.”

18. After saying thus, the discus was discharged and the (enemy) was caused to fall down. The chariot was broken by the club. The elephants and the horses were smashed into smithereens.

19. Thereat a loud cry of lamentation spread in the world. The highly powerful king of Kāśī, who grieved at the misery (death) of his friend, fought with Vāsudeva.

20. By means of arrows discharged from his Śārṅga bow his head was cut off (by Vāsudeva) and hurled into the city of Kāśī. This caused great wonder in the minds of the people.

21. After killing Pauṇdraka and the King of Kāśī along with his followers, Śauri came back to Dvārakā like one who had gone ahunting.

22. Thereafter, the son of the king of Kāśī, miserable due to his father’s mishap, propitiated Śaṅkara. He (Śaṅkara) granted him a boon.

23. He wooed: “O Lord, O Lord of Suras, with your favour let a Kṛtyā (Ogress of destruction) appear before me for killing Kṛṣṇa, the slayer of my father.”

24. “It will happen so”. When this was uttered (by the Lord) a great Kṛtyā rose up from the centre of the Dakṣiṇāgni (Sacrificial Fire) and started towards Dvārakā.

25. On seeing the terrible Kṛtyā emitting wreaths of flames, all the frightened Yādavas approached Janārdana seeking refuge.

26. Then the Garuḍa-emblemed Lord discharged Sudarśana for the destruction of the Kṛtyā which was shattered (fled) on being afflicted by the brilliance of the discus.

27. The discus of Viṣṇu, Sudarśana, pursued the Kṛtyā immediately. The Kṛtyā reached Vārāṇasī and the discus followed closely.

28. Then excessively frightened, the Kṛtyā sought refuge in Śaṅkara, Somanātha, the Lord of the universe. No one else was competent to save it.

29. Then Śaṅkara hit the discus with his excellent arrows. Getting entangled with the arrows of Śiva it returned to Dvārāvatī.

30. On seeing his discus hit with the arrows marked by Śiva’s name, Lord Hari became furious. He seized it with his hand and went to the place where Kālabhairava Someśa was present.

31. His eyes became red like copper. He stood there raising the discus with his hand. He determined to destroy the Kṛtyā created by Kālabhairava.

32. He was seen thus by all the Devas and the Gaṇa of the Staff-bearing Lord (Daṇḍapāṇi). Even as the Devas were looking, the great Gaṇa Daṇḍapāṇi looked at the Lotus-eyed Viṣṇu with the discus in his raised hand and requested him:

Daṇḍapāṇi said:

33. O Lord of Devas, O Lord of the universe, do not be angry with the Kṛtyā.

34. Your discus is infallible in battle. Śaṅkara’s Kṛtyā too is so. When the discus is hurled and if Hara becomes furious, a great calamity will befall or the destruction of the worlds will follow.

35. Hence the discus should not be released. Listen once again to our words. O Hari, I have been appointed in this holy spot by Śaṅkara formerly.

36. It is for the sake of protection the sinners^[2] and to obstruct the evil-minded ones. Hence, O Hari, do stand beside me holding the discus.

37. Men will worship Lord Cakradhara here by means of incense, garlands, offerings and various kinds of Naivedyas (foodstuffs).

Viṣṇu said:

38. Here I am restrained by your words as though with a goad. I shall stay here by your side with my hand holding the Cakra raised up.

39. It was thus, O my beloved, that Lord Cakradhara stationed himself there. So also Lord Daṇḍapāṇi, the Lord of Gaṇas, my own form.

40. A man who devoutly worships Daṇḍapāṇi and Hari duly will be rid of sins. He shall go to the city of Śiva.

41. If anyone worships Daṇḍanāyaka with scents, incense and offerings especially on the fourteenth lunar day as well as eighth lunar day in the dark half of the month of Māgha, he will have no obstacle anywhere while he stays in the holy spot.

42-43. He who abstains from food on the eleventh day and worships Cakrapāṇi shall be rid of all sins. He will attain Salokatā (residing in the same world) of Viṣṇu.

Thus the greatness of Cakrapāṇi has been briefly stated. So also that of Daṇḍapāṇi Gaṇa. If listened to it destroys sins.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Pauṇḍraka was not the king of Vārāṇasī. He was the king of Kuruṣa (Mod. Shahabad, District Bihar). Kṛṣṇa killed him when challenged. (Bh.P. X.65)

[2]:

The reading should have been prāṇinām instead of pāpinām.