Pauṇḍraka’s False Vāsudeva Claim, His Death, and the Burning of Vārāṇasī by Sudarśana
श्रीशुक उवाच कत्थनं तदुपाकर्ण्य पौण्ड्रकस्याल्पमेधस: । उग्रसेनादय: सभ्या उच्चकैर्जहसुस्तदा ॥ ७ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca katthanaṁ tad upākarṇya pauṇḍrakasyālpa-medhasaḥ ugrasenādayaḥ sabhyā uccakair jahasus tadā
श्रीशुक उवाच—तत् पौण्ड्रकस्याल्पमेधसः कत्थनं श्रुत्वा उग्रसेनादयः सभ्याः तदा उच्चकैर्जहसुः।
This verse shows that Pauṇḍraka’s self-proclamation was mere boasting born of poor intelligence, and the wise immediately recognized it as absurd.
Because Pauṇḍraka’s claim to be Vāsudeva was an obvious imitation rooted in delusion; the elders and courtiers could see the truth and thus laughed aloud.
Avoid self-deception and inflated identity; seek genuine spiritual understanding and humility rather than imitating greatness for prestige.