Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

तमाभिचारदहनमायान्तं द्वारकौकस: । विलोक्य तत्रसु: सर्वे वनदाहे मृगा यथा ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

tam ābhicāra-dahanam āyāntaṁ dvārakaukasaḥ vilokya tatrasuḥ sarve vana-dāhe mṛgā yathā

Translation

เมื่อชาวทวารกาเห็นอสูรเพลิงที่เกิดจากพิธีอภิจารกำลังเข้ามา ทุกคนหวาดผวาดุจสัตว์ที่ตระหนกต่อไฟป่า

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Pronoun accusative singular masculine

• आभिचार-दहनम्: the sorcery-fire (magical conflagration)
• आभिचार-दहनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभिचार + दहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आभिचारस्य दहनम्)

• आयान्तम्: coming/approaching
• आयान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ) उपसर्ग-आ; द्वितीया-एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; Present active participle accusative singular masculine

• द्वारक-ओकसः: the inhabitants of Dvaraka
• द्वारक-ओकसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्वारकायाः ओकसः = dwellers of Dvārakā)

• विलोक्य: having seen
• विलोक्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्यय-भाव), उपसर्ग-वि; Absolutive/gerund (having seen)

• तत्रसुः: they trembled / were terrified
• तत्रसुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परिपूर्ण-भूत (perfect) रूपम्; प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; Perfect, 3rd person plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• वन-दाहे: in a forest-fire
• वन-दाहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन + दाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वनस्य दाहः)

• मृगाः: deer/animals
• मृगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय; indeclinable of comparison

Characters & Entities

• Dvārakā-vāsīs (residents of Dvārakā)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about sorcery or black magic affecting devotees?

This verse shows a sorcerous fire approaching Dvārakā and frightening the citizens, setting the stage for Lord Kṛṣṇa’s protection—implying that such threats may appear, but the Lord safeguards His devotees and abode.

Why were the residents of Dvārakā terrified in this verse?

They saw an “ābhicāra-dahana”—a fire created by hostile magical rites—advancing toward the city, and they panicked like animals trapped by a forest wildfire.

Practical application of this shloka’s lesson in modern life?

When fear spreads like a wildfire, remember that panic worsens suffering; take refuge in prayer, steadiness, and dharmic action—trusting the Divine protection that the Bhagavatam repeatedly emphasizes.