Shloka 38

Pauṇḍraka’s False Vāsudeva Claim, His Death, and the Burning of Vārāṇasī by Sudarśana

Devanagari script

सर्वस्यान्तर्बहि:साक्षी कृत्यां माहेश्वरीं विभु: । विज्ञाय तद्विघातार्थं पार्श्वस्थं चक्रमादिशत् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

sarvasyāntar-bahiḥ-sākṣī kṛtyāṁ māheśvarīṁ vibhuḥ vijñāya tad-vighātārthaṁ pārśva-sthaṁ cakram ādiśat

Translation

الربّ القدير، الشاهد في الباطن والظاهر على الجميع، أدرك أن هذه «الكِرتيا» قد أُنشئت من نار القربان على يد ماهيشڤارا (شِڤا)؛ ولإبادتها أرسل كريشنا قرصه سُدارشَن القائم إلى جانبه.

Synonyms

• सर्वस्य: of all
• सर्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• अन्तः-बहिः-साक्षी: the witness within and without
• अन्तः-बहिः-साक्षी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय) + बहिः (अव्यय) + साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular; समासः द्वन्द्वः (अन्तः च बहिः च) + साक्षी (witness)

• कृत्याम्: the witchcraft-creation (magical entity)
• कृत्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• माहेश्वरीम्: belonging to Maheśvara (Śiva)
• माहेश्वरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular feminine (qualifying कृत्याम्)

• विभुः: the all-powerful Lord
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• विज्ञाय: having understood
• विज्ञाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्यय-भाव) उपसर्ग-वि; Absolutive/gerund (having understood)

• तत्-विघात-अर्थम्: for its destruction
• तत्-विघात-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + विघात + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (प्रयोजन/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular used adverbially ‘for the purpose’; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य विघातस्य अर्थम्)

• पार्श्व-स्थम्: standing at (his) side
• पार्श्व-स्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्श्व + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular neuter (qualifying चक्रम्); समासः सप्तमी/अधिकरण-तत्पुरुषः (पार्श्वे स्थितम्)

• चक्रम्: the discus
• चक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• आदिशत्: commanded / directed
• आदिशत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतन-भूत), परस्मैपदी; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Imperfect, 3rd person singular

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments that Lord Kṛṣṇa, playing the part of a king, was absorbed in a gambling match and did not want to be disturbed by such an insignificant matter as the attack of a fiery demon. So He simply dispatched His cakra weapon and ordered him to take the necessary steps.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Sudarśana Cakra
• Maheśvara (Lord Śiva)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being the witness within and without?

This verse calls Kṛṣṇa “sarvasyāntar-bahiḥ-sākṣī,” affirming that He knows all actions and intentions internally as Paramātmā and externally as the all-seeing Lord.

What is a kṛtyā in the Bhagavatam, and how is it countered?

A kṛtyā is a destructive, ritually-generated magical force; here Kṛṣṇa neutralizes it by ordering the Sudarśana Cakra, showing the Lord’s supremacy over such occult powers.

Practical application: how should a devotee respond to fear of negative influences?

The verse emphasizes taking shelter of the Lord’s protection—remembering His all-knowing presence and relying on His divine power (symbolized by Sudarśana) rather than fear.