Shloka 5
पौण्ड्रक-वधः, कृत्या-प्रशमनम्, वाराणसी-दाहः
स मेने वासुदेवो ऽहम् अवतीर्णो महीतले नष्टस्मृतिस् ततः सर्वं विष्णुचिह्नम् अचीकरत्
sa mene vāsudevo 'ham avatīrṇo mahītale naṣṭasmṛtis tataḥ sarvaṃ viṣṇucihnam acīkarat
His memory being eclipsed, he imagined, “I am Vāsudeva, descended upon the earth,” and then proceeded to fashion upon himself every mark and insignia associated with Viṣṇu.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Kṛṣṇa, as Bhagavān, descends to protect dharma and to subdue arrogant claimants and hostile powers that disturb the divine order.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Upholding the unique sovereignty of Bhagavān and preventing adharmic usurpation of divine authority
Concept: Appropriating divine identity through ego and external marks is delusion; true relation to Vāsudeva is grounded in surrender and right knowledge.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Cultivate humility and avoid spiritual ego; seek authentic guidance and measure devotion by inner transformation rather than outward symbols.
Vishishtadvaita: The Lord is the sole possessor of divine lordship; jīvas are dependent (śeṣa) and cannot become the Supreme by self-assertion.
Vishnu Form: Vasudeva
Vyuha Form: Vasudeva
FAQs
In this verse, viṣṇu-cihna indicates the recognized insignia of Viṣṇu’s sovereignty; adopting them signals divine authority and identity, even when the character’s memory is obscured.
Parāśara uses naṣṭa-smṛti to show how delusion can veil clear self-knowledge, driving actions that imitate or externally assert divinity through symbols rather than inner realization.
The verse underscores Viṣṇu as the supreme reality whose signs define legitimate divine kingship and cosmic governance; Vāsudeva’s association with these marks reinforces Vaishnava supremacy within the Purāṇic worldview.