Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 38

Pauṇḍraka’s False Vāsudeva Claim, His Death, and the Burning of Vārāṇasī by Sudarśana

Devanagari script

सर्वस्यान्तर्बहि:साक्षी कृत्यां माहेश्वरीं विभु: । विज्ञाय तद्विघातार्थं पार्श्वस्थं चक्रमादिशत् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

sarvasyāntar-bahiḥ-sākṣī kṛtyāṁ māheśvarīṁ vibhuḥ vijñāya tad-vighātārthaṁ pārśva-sthaṁ cakram ādiśat

Translation

સર્વના અંતર-બાહ્ય સાક્ષી સર્વશક્તિમાન પ્રભુએ જાણ્યું કે આ કૃત્યા મહેશ્વરી (શિવકૃત) યજ્ઞાગ્નિમાંથી ઉત્પન્ન થઈ છે; તેને નાશ કરવા માટે તેમણે બાજુમાં રહેલા સુદર્શન ચક્રને આદેશ આપ્યો।

Synonyms

• सर्वस्य: of all
• सर्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• अन्तः-बहिः-साक्षी: the witness within and without
• अन्तः-बहिः-साक्षी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय) + बहिः (अव्यय) + साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular; समासः द्वन्द्वः (अन्तः च बहिः च) + साक्षी (witness)

• कृत्याम्: the witchcraft-creation (magical entity)
• कृत्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• माहेश्वरीम्: belonging to Maheśvara (Śiva)
• माहेश्वरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular feminine (qualifying कृत्याम्)

• विभुः: the all-powerful Lord
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• विज्ञाय: having understood
• विज्ञाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्यय-भाव) उपसर्ग-वि; Absolutive/gerund (having understood)

• तत्-विघात-अर्थम्: for its destruction
• तत्-विघात-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + विघात + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (प्रयोजन/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular used adverbially ‘for the purpose’; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य विघातस्य अर्थम्)

• पार्श्व-स्थम्: standing at (his) side
• पार्श्व-स्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्श्व + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular neuter (qualifying चक्रम्); समासः सप्तमी/अधिकरण-तत्पुरुषः (पार्श्वे स्थितम्)

• चक्रम्: the discus
• चक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• आदिशत्: commanded / directed
• आदिशत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतन-भूत), परस्मैपदी; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Imperfect, 3rd person singular

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments that Lord Kṛṣṇa, playing the part of a king, was absorbed in a gambling match and did not want to be disturbed by such an insignificant matter as the attack of a fiery demon. So He simply dispatched His cakra weapon and ordered him to take the necessary steps.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Sudarśana Cakra
• Maheśvara (Lord Śiva)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being the witness within and without?

This verse calls Kṛṣṇa “sarvasyāntar-bahiḥ-sākṣī,” affirming that He knows all actions and intentions internally as Paramātmā and externally as the all-seeing Lord.

What is a kṛtyā in the Bhagavatam, and how is it countered?

A kṛtyā is a destructive, ritually-generated magical force; here Kṛṣṇa neutralizes it by ordering the Sudarśana Cakra, showing the Lord’s supremacy over such occult powers.

Practical application: how should a devotee respond to fear of negative influences?

The verse emphasizes taking shelter of the Lord’s protection—remembering His all-knowing presence and relying on His divine power (symbolized by Sudarśana) rather than fear.