Shloka 9

पौण्ड्रक-वधः, कृत्या-प्रशमनम्, वाराणसी-दाहः

Devanagari script

वाच्यश् च पौण्ड्रको गत्वा त्वया दूत वचो मम ज्ञातस् त्वद्वाक्यसद्भावो यत् कार्यं तद् विधीयताम्

Transliteration

vācyaś ca pauṇḍrako gatvā tvayā dūta vaco mama jñātas tvadvākyasadbhāvo yat kāryaṃ tad vidhīyatām

Translation

“And you, messenger—go to Pauṇḍraka and convey my words. I have understood the purport and intent behind your statement; therefore, let whatever must be done in response be carried out accordingly.”

Word by Word

• वाच्यः: is to be told
• वाच्यः: Karya (Obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु; वदने)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘to be said’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• पौण्ड्रकः: Pauṇḍraka
• पौण्ड्रकः: Karman (Target of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौण्ड्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु; गत्यर्थे)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) — having gone

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (Instrument/Agent-instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन — Pronoun; Instrumental, Singular

• दूत: O messenger
• दूत: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• वचः: words, message
• वचः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Pronoun; Genitive, Singular

• ज्ञातः: is known / has been understood
• ज्ञातः: Karta (Predicate/State)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु; अवबोधने)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वद्वाक्यसद्भावः: the truth/intent of your words
• त्वद्वाक्यसद्भावः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् + वाक्य + सद्भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘the true import/validity of your words’

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Relative pronoun; Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular (correlative with तत्)

• कार्यम्: what is to be done
• कार्यम्: Karma (Thing to be done)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Demonstrative; Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

• विधीयताम्: let it be done / should be carried out
• विधीयताम्: Kriya (Injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु; विधाने)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive) — Imperative, 3rd person, Singular, Passive

Speaker

Sri Krishna (Vasudeva), responding to Paundraka’s messenger

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa orders a fitting response to Pauṇḍraka’s provocation, ensuring dharma is upheld through measured yet decisive action.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Restoration of truth, rightful devotion, and the protection of society from blasphemous imposture

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When intent is understood, appropriate action aligned with dharma should follow—neither impulsive nor negligent.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Respond to conflict with discernment: understand motives, then act firmly and proportionately in defense of truth and responsibility.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān’s governance is purposeful and ordered; divine action is not arbitrary but dharma-protective.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Paundraka
• Messenger (Duta)

FAQs

What is the significance of Paundraka’s challenge in the Vishnu Purana?

It frames a direct confrontation between false divine claim and true divine sovereignty, allowing Krishna to reveal that authority is proven by dharmic power and rightful action, not proclamation.

How does the text portray Krishna’s approach to conflict here?

Krishna is shown as calm and discerning—he understands the messenger’s intent and then authorizes the necessary response, reflecting deliberate, ordered governance rather than impulsive anger.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu (Krishna) in this context?

Krishna’s words emphasize that the Supreme Reality recognizes deception and restores order; the Lord’s identity is inseparable from upholding dharma and establishing the truth through decisive action.