Shloka 8
पौण्ड्रक-वधः, कृत्या-प्रशमनम्, वाराणसी-दाहः
इत्य् उक्तः संप्रहस्यैनं दूतं प्राह जनार्दनः निजचिह्नम् अहं चक्रं समुत्स्रक्ष्ये त्वयीति वै
ity uktaḥ saṃprahasyainaṃ dūtaṃ prāha janārdanaḥ nijacihnam ahaṃ cakraṃ samutsrakṣye tvayīti vai
Thus addressed, Janārdana smiled and, with a light laugh, spoke to that messenger: “Indeed—I shall hurl at you my own emblem, the discus (cakra).”
Janārdana (Lord Vishnu, as the divine sovereign within the narrative)
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Kṛṣṇa reveals the futility of counterfeit divinity by promising to hurl his true emblem, the Sudarśana cakra, to punish adharma.
Leela: Yuddha
Dharma Restored: Protection of divine order through the Lord’s sovereign weapon and the reestablishment of truth
Concept: Divine sovereignty is not a costume; the true Lord’s emblem is efficacious and exposes false claims through decisive action.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Avoid performative spirituality; align speech and identity with truth, and accept correction when ego imitates holiness.
Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān’s śakti (weapon as divine power) is inseparable from him and operates to protect the cosmos and devotees.
Vishnu Form: Hari
FAQs
In this verse it functions as Vishnu’s personal emblem of sovereignty—an unmistakable sign that divine authority actively protects dharma and subdues adharma.
Even within royal genealogies, the Purana depicts Janārdana as the higher governor of events—his smile and decisive act show effortless supremacy over worldly power.
Vishnu is presented as the supreme ruler whose symbols and will maintain cosmic order; the chakra here conveys that dharma ultimately rests on the Lord’s transcendent power.