Adhyaya 251

The chapter recounts Pauṇḍraka’s fierce Śaiva austerities—twelve years of fasting and mantra-recitation—culminating in an extreme puraścaraṇa in which he offers the lotus of his own eye. Pleased, Śrī Rudra grants him a Viṣṇu-like form and insignia. Pauṇḍraka then proclaims himself “Vāsudeva,” deluding the world. Urged on by Nārada, he marches to Dvārakā with an akṣauhiṇī host to confront the true Vāsudeva. Śrī Kṛṣṇa destroys the army, cuts away the counterfeit emblems, and beheads Pauṇḍraka with the Sudarśana. Pauṇḍraka’s son Daṇḍapāṇi performs a Śaiva rite to raise a kṛtyā meant to slay Kṛṣṇa, but the Sudarśana terrifies it and drives it back to Vārāṇasī. There the discus destroys the kṛtyā, kills Daṇḍapāṇi, burns Kāśī, and then returns to Kṛṣṇa’s hand.