Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 31
Pauṇḍraka’s False Vāsudeva Claim, His Death, and the Burning of Vārāṇasī by Sudarśana
दक्षिणाग्निं परिचर ब्राह्मणै: सममृत्विजम् । अभिचारविधानेन स चाग्नि: प्रमथैर्वृत: ॥ ३० ॥ साधयिष्यति सङ्कल्पमब्रह्मण्ये प्रयोजित: । इत्यादिष्टस्तथा चक्रे कृष्णायाभिचरन् व्रती ॥ ३१ ॥
dakṣiṇāgniṁ paricara brāhmaṇaiḥ samam ṛtvijam abhicāra-vidhānena sa cāgniḥ pramathair vṛtaḥ
Lord Śiva told him, “Accompanied by brāhmaṇas, serve the Dakṣiṇāgni fire following the injunctions of the abhicāra ritual. Then the Dakṣiṇāgni fire, together with many Pramathas, will fulfill your desire if you direct it against someone inimical to the brāhmaṇas.” So instructed, Sudakṣiṇa strictly observed the ritualistic vows and invoked the abhicāra against Lord Kṛṣṇa.
It is clearly stated here that the powerful Dakṣiṇāgni fire could be directed only against someone unfavorable to brahminical culture. Lord Kṛṣṇa, however, is most favorable to the brāhmaṇas and in fact maintains the brahminical culture. Lord Śiva thus knew that if Sudakṣiṇa attempted to direct the power of this ritual against Lord Kṛṣṇa, Sudakṣiṇa himself would perish.
FAQs
This verse shows abhicāra being attempted through ritual fire and spirit-beings, but within the narrative it is ultimately powerless before Śrī Kṛṣṇa, teaching that such misused rites cannot harm the Supreme Lord or overturn dharma.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates that an ascetic, after being instructed to use a southern fire-rite with abhicāra procedures, performs sorcery aimed at Śrī Kṛṣṇa as part of the conflict in this chapter.
It cautions against using spiritual practices for harm or egoic rivalry and encourages aligning religious actions with dharma—seeking protection and progress through devotion rather than manipulation.