Shloka 14
Pauṇḍraka’s False Vāsudeva Claim, His Death, and the Burning of Vārāṇasī by Sudarśana
तस्य काशीपतिर्मित्रं पार्ष्णिग्राहोऽन्वयान्नृप । अक्षौहिणीभिस्तिसृभिरपश्यत् पौण्ड्रकं हरि: ॥ १२ ॥ शङ्खार्यसिगदाशार्ङ्गश्रीवत्साद्युपलक्षितम् । बिभ्राणं कौस्तुभमणिं वनमालाविभूषितम् ॥ १३ ॥ कौशेयवाससी पीते वसानं गरुडध्वजम् । अमूल्यमौल्याभरणं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ १४ ॥
tasya kāśī-patir mitraṁ pārṣṇi-grāho ’nvayān nṛpa akṣauhiṇībhis tisṛbhir apaśyat pauṇḍrakaṁ hariḥ
L’ami de Pauṇḍraka, le roi de Kāśī, ô roi, le suivait par derrière en qualité d’arrière-garde, avec trois divisions akṣauhiṇī. Le Seigneur Hari vit que Pauṇḍraka portait les insignes mêmes du Seigneur—conque, disque, épée et massue—ainsi qu’un arc Śārṅga et la marque Śrīvatsa contrefaits. Il arborait une Kaustubha factice, était orné d’une guirlande de fleurs de la forêt, vêtu de soie jaune fine; son étendard portait l’image de Garuḍa, et il portait une couronne précieuse et des boucles d’oreilles étincelantes en forme de makara.
Śrīla Prabhupāda comments in Kṛṣṇa: “When the two kings came before Lord Kṛṣṇa to oppose Him, Kṛṣṇa saw Pauṇḍraka face to face for the first time.”
FAQs
This verse highlights divine identifiers—yellow silk garments, the Garuḍa emblem, and extraordinary, priceless ornaments—used in the narrative to contrast genuine divinity with Pauṇḍraka’s imitation.
The Garuḍa emblem is a classic Vaiṣṇava royal and divine sign associated with the Supreme Lord’s sovereignty and protection, helping devotees and readers identify the Lord’s authentic insignia in the scripture’s narratives.
It teaches discernment: don’t be misled by external display or claims—evaluate authenticity by consistent, verifiable qualities and higher character, just as the Bhagavatam contrasts true divinity with imitation.