Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

तस्य काशीपतिर्मित्रं पार्ष्णिग्राहोऽन्वयान्नृप । अक्षौहिणीभिस्तिसृभिरपश्यत् पौण्ड्रकं हरि: ॥ १२ ॥ शङ्खार्यसिगदाशार्ङ्गश्रीवत्साद्युपलक्षितम् । बिभ्राणं कौस्तुभमणिं वनमालाविभूषितम् ॥ १३ ॥ कौशेयवाससी पीते वसानं गरुडध्वजम् । अमूल्यमौल्याभरणं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

tasya kāśī-patir mitraṁ pārṣṇi-grāho ’nvayān nṛpa akṣauhiṇībhis tisṛbhir apaśyat pauṇḍrakaṁ hariḥ

Translation

庞德拉卡的朋友，迦尸国国王，跟在后面，哦国王，率领着三个阿克绍希尼师团的后卫。奎师那主看到庞德拉卡带着主自己的标志，如海螺、圆盘、剑和棍棒，还有一个仿制的沙恩加弓和室利瓦察标记。他戴着假的考斯图巴宝石，装饰着森林花环，穿着精美的黄色丝绸上下装。他的旗帜上印有迦楼罗的形象，戴着贵重的王冠和闪闪发光的鲨鱼形耳环。

Synonyms

• शङ्ख-अरि-असि-गदा-शार्ङ्ग-श्रीवत्स-आदि-उपलक्षितम्: marked by conch, discus, sword, mace, Śārṅga bow, Śrīvatsa, etc.
• शङ्ख-अरि-असि-गदा-शार्ङ्ग-श्रीवत्स-आदि-उपलक्षितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक) + असि (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रीवत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + उपलक्षित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (उपलक्षितम् = ‘marked by’ + instrumental sense implied)

• बिभ्राणम्: bearing
• बिभ्राणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘bearing’

• कौस्तुभ-मणिम्: the Kaustubha gem
• कौस्तुभ-मणिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौस्तुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Kaustubha jewel)

• वनमाला-विभूषितम्: adorned with a forest garland
• वनमाला-विभूषितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वनमाला (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थः (adorned with a forest-garland)

Purport

Śrīla Prabhupāda comments in Kṛṣṇa: “When the two kings came before Lord Kṛṣṇa to oppose Him, Kṛṣṇa saw Pauṇḍraka face to face for the first time.”

Characters & Entities

• Pauṇḍraka (false Vāsudeva)
• Hari (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Paundraka, the false Vasudeva?

This verse describes how Pauṇḍraka imitated Lord Hari’s divine insignia—conch, discus, mace, Śārṅga bow, Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha, and garland—externally copying the Lord’s appearance.

Why are the Kaustubha jewel and Srivatsa mark important in Vishnu’s identity?

They are distinctive divine identifiers of Lord Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa; the verse highlights Pauṇḍraka’s attempt to appropriate these sacred signs to appear as the Supreme.

Practical application: what is the lesson about imitation vs genuine spirituality?

External symbols without inner surrender can become a costume for ego; the Bhagavatam warns seekers to value authentic devotion and truth over display and pretension.