Vishnu Purana (Taylor)
by McComas Taylor | 2021 | 157,710 words | ISBN-13: 9781760464400
The Vishnu Purana is an ancient Sanskrit text composed around 1500 years ago. The text details the universe's history, creation, and the essence of Hindu theology. It highlights the roles of gods, human origins, and ideals of Brahminical society. The Purana further narrates stories of devotion, cosmic battles, and Krishna’s famed romantic exploits....
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Chapter 34 - Kṛṣṇa burns Vārāṇasī
Maitreya
Performing mighty deeds in mortal form, Śūra’s scion defeated Indra, Śiva and all the other gods with ease. 1
Tell me what other deeds were done by that being capable of supernatural feats, fortunate sage, as I’m very curious. 2
Parāśara
Listen closely, brahmin sage, while I recount how Kṛṣṇa in mortal form burned the city of Vārāṇasī. 3
There was once a man named Pauṇḍraka Vāsudeva. Folk misled by ignorance told him he was the actual Vāsudeva, Viṣṇu’s avatāra in this world. 4
He began to think he was indeed that being come down to earth. Forgetting his own true nature, he made himself a set of Vaiṣṇava insignia. 5
He sent an emissary to mighty Kṛṣṇa, saying, ‘Give up your discus and other emblems, and renounce the name of Vāsudeva, 6
Shed your pride and come to pay me homage, fool, if you value life.’ 7
Hearing this, Janārdana gave a laugh and said, ‘Take this message back to Pauṇḍraka: “I’ll surely send my discus-emblem to you. 8
I understand the import of your words: what must be done will indeed occur. 9
With my emblem in my hand, I’ll come to your city and present it to you without a doubt. 10
Just say the word, and I’ll appear to you on time tomorrow. 11
Once I receive your protection, sire, I’ll do what’s needed so I need not fear you.”’ 12
Parāśara:
Hearing this, the emissary departed. Hari then mounted Garuḍa, whom he summoned with a thought, and proceeded swiftly to the city where Pauṇḍraka resided. 13
When the king of Kāśī learned of Keśava’s intention, he set out to act as Pauṇḍraka’s rearguard with all his troops.[1] 14
Pauṇḍraka Vāsudeva advanced to counter Keśava with his own extensive force accompanied by the royal army. 15
Hari saw Pauṇḍraka in the distance, riding in a splendid chariot, with discus, mace, sword and lotus in his hands. 16
He wore a garland, held a bow like Śārṅga and his banner showed Garuḍa. Hari noticed that he even had a mark like Śrīvatsa on his chest. 17
Seeing Pauṇḍraka clad in yellow garments with a diadem and earrings, the Garuḍa-banner’s rightful owner laughed aloud. 18
Kṛṣṇa battled Pauṇḍraka’s army with its elephants, cavalry and foot soldiers, brahmin, armed with swords and lances, clubs and pikes, spears and bows. 19
In a trice, he routed it with enemy-cleaving arrows loosed from Śārṅga and blows of mace and discus. 20
Janārdana sent the king of Kāśī’s army to its doom, then spoke to foolish Pauṇḍraka, who still displayed his Vaiṣṇava insignia. 21
The Lord:
Pauṇḍraka, your emissary said I must renounce my emblems, so now I’ll let you have them. 22
I’ll send this discus and this mace, and here’s Garuḍa. Put him on your standard! 23
Parāśara:
So saying, Hari cast his discus, cutting Pauṇḍraka to pieces. He struck him with his mace, while Garuḍa downed the bogus emblem on his standard. 24
People cried in anguish as the mighty king of Kāśī fought with Vāsudeva to avenge his ally. 25
With shafts he loosed from Śārṅga, Hari severed the royal head and flung it into Kāśī, spreading panic among the populace. 26
After slaying Pauṇḍraka, the king of Kāśī and his followers, the scion of Śūra returned to Dvārakā, where he indulged in heavenly pleasures. 27
Seeing the king of Kāśī’s head that landed in the city, the bewildered residents wondered what had happened and who had done the deed. 28
When the prince learned that his father had been killed by Vāsudeva, guided by his family priest, he propitiated Śiva. 29
At the sacred site of Avimukta, the royal scion gratified that deity, who then offered him a boon. 30
The prince replied: ‘By your grace, Lord Śiva, let a phantom rise to bring about the death of Kṛṣṇa, my father’s murderer.’ 31
Parāśara:
‘It will be so,’ replied the god, and from the fire in the southernmost of the prince’s sacrificial hearths arose at once a monstrous phantom. 32
Her gaping maw blazed with fire; her hair was a mass of flames. Crying Kṛṣṇa’s name repeatedly, the raging ghoul set out for Dvārakā. 33
When the people saw her, sage, their eyes began to dart with terror and they fled for protection to Madhu’s subduer, the refuge of the world. 34
The discus-wielder understood that this great spectre had been conjured forth by bull-bannered Śiva when the king of Kāśī’s son had worshipped him. 35
In the middle of a game of dice, Kṛṣṇa casually released his discus with the order to destroy the frightful apparition whose locks were a mass of blazing fire. 36
Viṣṇu’s weapon Sudarśana set off at once towards the dreadful fire-belching spectre, her hair a fiery garland. 37
Confounded by the discus’s blow, that phantom born of mighty Śiva fled as quickly as she could, but the weapon in pursuit was just as fast. 38
As she hastened into Vārāṇasī, best of sages, Viṣṇu’s discus sapped her strength. 39
The king of Kāśī’s army, with a mighty force of Pramathas, armed with every kind of weapon and with missiles, met Sudarśana. 40
Hari’s discus burned the armies with its energy, even though they knew the use of weapons. Then it burned down all of Vārāṇasī, source of the apparition, 41
Along with its king, his minions, subjects, horses, elephants, men and all its stores and granaries such as even deities rarely see. 42
Until every residence, square and rampart was engulfed by flames, Hari’s discus burned it all. 43
Sudarśana, ablaze with splendour, then returned to Viṣṇu’s hand with undiminished energy and a thirst for further missions so easily accomplished. 44
So ends Chapter Thirty-Four in Book Five of the glorious Viṣṇu Purāṇa.