Shloka 28
पौण्ड्रक-वधः, कृत्या-प्रशमनम्, वाराणसी-दाहः
तच्छिरः पतितं दृष्ट्वा तत्र काशिपतेः पुरे जनः किम् एतद् इत्य् आह केनेत्य् अत्यन्तविस्मितः
tacchiraḥ patitaṃ dṛṣṭvā tatra kāśipateḥ pure janaḥ kim etad ity āha kenety atyantavismitaḥ
काशीपति की नगरी में वह कटा हुआ सिर पड़ा देखकर लोग अत्यन्त विस्मित होकर बोले—“यह क्या है? यह किसने किया?”
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
FAQs
This verse places the event within Kāśī—depicted as a prominent and sacred royal city—so the public shock underscores how breaches of order (dharma) become especially momentous in such a renowned seat of sovereignty.
Parāśara advances the plot through a vivid public scene—citizens witnessing a startling sign and questioning its cause—creating suspense before the narrative explains who acted and why.
Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic worldview assumes events unfold within Vishnu’s overarching governance of dharma and karmic consequence, where worldly power and disorder remain subordinate to the Supreme Reality.