Shloka 27
Pauṇḍraka’s False Vāsudeva Claim, His Death, and the Burning of Vārāṇasī by Sudarśana
सुदक्षिणस्तस्य सुत: कृत्वा संस्थाविधिं पते: । निहत्य पितृहन्तारं यास्याम्यपचितिं पितु: ॥ २७ ॥ इत्यात्मनाभिसन्धाय सोपाध्यायो महेश्वरम् । सुदक्षिणोऽर्चयामास परमेण समाधिना ॥ २८ ॥
sudakṣiṇas tasya sutaḥ kṛtvā saṁsthā-vidhiṁ pateḥ nihatya pitṛ-hantāraṁ yāsyāmy apacitiṁ pituḥ
بعد أن أتمّ سُدكشِنَةُ ابنُ الملك الطقوسَ الجنائزية الواجبة لأبيه، عزم في نفسه: «لا أُثأر لأبي إلا بقتل قاتله». فبهذا القصد، شرع سُدكشِنَةُ الكريم، مع كهَنته، في عبادة المهيشورا بتركيزٍ عميق.
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “The lord of the kingdom of Kāśi is Viśvanātha (Lord Śiva). The temple of Lord Viśvanātha is still existing in Vārāṇasī, and many thousands of pilgrims still gather daily in that temple.”
FAQs
This verse shows Sudakṣiṇa feeling obligated to honor his father through apaciti—repayment and due respect—expressed as avenging the father’s death and completing proper rites.
After performing funeral rites, he resolved to avenge his father’s killing, believing this would fulfill his duty and honor his father.
It highlights taking responsibility for family duties and honoring elders—while also warning that grief can turn into vengeance, which should be guided by higher dharma and wisdom.