Shloka 19
Pauṇḍraka’s False Vāsudeva Claim, His Death, and the Burning of Vārāṇasī by Sudarśana
अथाह पौण्ड्रकं शौरिर्भो भो पौण्ड्रक यद् भवान् । दूतवाक्येन मामाह तान्यस्त्रण्युत्सृजामि ते ॥ १९ ॥
athāha pauṇḍrakaṁ śaurir bho bho pauṇḍraka yad bhavān dūta-vākyena mām āha tāny astraṇy utsṛjāmi te
അപ്പോൾ ശൗരി ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണൻ പൗണ്ഡ്രകനോടു പറഞ്ഞു—“ഹേ പൗണ്ഡ്രകാ! ദൂതവാക്യത്തിലൂടെ നീ പറഞ്ഞ അതേ ആയുധങ്ങൾ ഇപ്പോൾ നിനക്കേയ്ക്ക് ഞാൻ വിടുന്നു।”
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes as follows in Kṛṣṇa: “At this time Lord Kṛṣṇa told Pauṇḍraka, ‘Pauṇḍraka, you requested Me to give up the symbols of Lord Viṣṇu, specifically My disc. Now I will give it up to you. Be careful! You falsely declare yourself to be Vāsudeva, imitating Me. Therefore no one is a greater fool than you.’ From this statement of Kṛṣṇa’s it is clear that any rascal who advertises himself as God is the greatest fool in human society.”
FAQs
This verse shows Kṛṣṇa directly confronting Pauṇḍraka’s imposture—responding to his boastful message and indicating He will neutralize the so‑called “weapons,” illustrating that divinity is not established by claim but by truth and potency.
Pauṇḍraka had sent a messenger demanding Kṛṣṇa abandon His symbols and submit; Kṛṣṇa replies publicly and decisively, turning the challenge back on Pauṇḍraka and setting the stage for his defeat.
It cautions against ego-driven self-promotion and spiritual pretension; authentic spirituality is shown through humility, integrity, and alignment with dharma—not by loud claims or intimidation.