Shloka 27
पौण्ड्रक-वधः, कृत्या-प्रशमनम्, वाराणसी-दाहः
हत्वा च पौण्ड्रकं शौरिः काशिराजं च सानुगम् पुनर् द्वारवतीं प्राप्तो रेमे स्वर्गगतो यथा
hatvā ca pauṇḍrakaṃ śauriḥ kāśirājaṃ ca sānugam punar dvāravatīṃ prāpto reme svargagato yathā
Having slain Pauṇḍraka and the king of Kāśī with all his followers, Śauri returned to Dvāravatī and rejoiced there in sovereign ease, like one who has attained heaven.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Kṛṣṇa removes Pauṇḍraka’s imposture and the Kāśī king’s aggression, restoring stability and allowing dharmic rule to continue from Dvārakā.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Protection of true divinity from counterfeit claims and suppression of violent retaliation against Kṛṣṇa’s allies
Concept: The Lord’s protective power restores peace for the devoted, and opposition to the true Bhagavān ends in ruin.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Rely on dharmic action and steady devotion rather than reactive vengeance; let restoration of order be the aim after conflict.
Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān is the accessible personal Lord who governs the world and grants security to those under his refuge (śaraṇāgati).
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: shanta
FAQs
Pauṇḍraka represents counterfeit divinity—an impostor claiming the name and signs of Vāsudeva—whose defeat affirms Krishna’s true sovereignty and the protection of dharma.
In Parāśara’s narration to Maitreya, Krishna’s slaying of Pauṇḍraka and the king of Kāśī is presented as decisive restoration of order, followed by a calm return to Dvārakā—showing divine mastery rather than human agitation.
Krishna’s effortless victory and serene enjoyment afterward underscores Bhagavān’s supremacy: he acts to uphold cosmic and social order, yet remains untroubled—an expression of transcendent lordship central to Vaiṣṇava theology.