Shloka 6
Pauṇḍraka’s False Vāsudeva Claim, His Death, and the Burning of Vārāṇasī by Sudarśana
यानि त्वमस्मच्चिह्नानि मौढ्याद् बिभर्षि सात्वत । त्यक्त्वैहि मां त्वं शरणं नो चेद् देहि ममाहवम् ॥ ६ ॥
yāni tvam asmac-cihnāni mauḍhyād bibharṣi sātvata tyaktvaihi māṁ tvaṁ śaraṇaṁ no ced dehi mamāhavam
O Sātvata, lege die Zeichen ab, die du aus Torheit als die meinen trägst, und komm zu mir in Zuflucht; andernfalls stelle dich mir zum Kampf.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī again interprets Pauṇḍraka’s words according to the inspiration of Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning. Thus they may be understood to mean “Out of foolishness I have assumed an imitation conchshell, disc, lotus and club, and You are maintaining these by allowing me to use them. You have not yet subdued me and gotten rid of these imitation symbols. Therefore please mercifully come and liberate me by forcing me to give them up. Give me battle, and grant me liberation by killing me.”
FAQs
This verse shows Pauṇḍraka’s delusion in claiming Kṛṣṇa’s identity and symbols; the Bhagavatam presents such imitation as ignorance rooted in ego, opposed to true surrender (śaraṇāgati).
Pauṇḍraka, misled by pride and false honor, believed himself to be the real “Vāsudeva” and demanded Kṛṣṇa either surrender or fight, setting the stage for Kṛṣṇa to expose his imposture.
Avoid spiritual ego and identity-based delusion; instead of competing with the divine or the saintly, practice humility, authenticity, and surrender to truth rather than external symbols.