Shloka 25
पौण्ड्रक-वधः, कृत्या-प्रशमनम्, वाराणसी-दाहः
ततो हाहाकृते लोके काशीनाम् अधिपो बली युयुधे वासुदेवेन मित्रस्यापचितौ स्थितः
tato hāhākṛte loke kāśīnām adhipo balī yuyudhe vāsudevena mitrasyāpacitau sthitaḥ
Then, as the world rose in cries of alarm, the mighty lord of Kāśī—standing forth to avenge the outrage done to his ally—joined battle with Vāsudeva.
Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Kṛṣṇa acts to protect dharma by punishing imposture and hostile kings who attack his allies and disrupt righteous order.
Leela: Yuddha
Dharma Restored: Protection of true devotion and royal order against adharmic aggression and deceit
Vishnu Form: Vasudeva
Vyuha Form: Vasudeva
FAQs
It marks a dynastic conflict where royal alliance-duty and retribution drive the narrative, while Vāsudeva’s presence frames the outcome as the restoration of rightful order.
By portraying the Kāśī ruler as acting for an ally’s requital (apaciti), Parāśara highlights the kingly code of loyalty, retaliation for injustice, and public consequences of war.
Even in a historical battle-setting, Vāsudeva functions as the decisive center of sovereignty—Vishnu’s līlā through which dharma is upheld and disorder (public ‘hāhā’) is ultimately resolved.