|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 266 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  117

Paundraka Vadham

Shankharyasi Gadha Sharnga Srivathsadhyupalakshitham | Bibranam Kausthubhamanim Vanamala Vibhooshitham || Kausheyavasasi Peethe Vasanam Garudadhvajam | Amoolya MaulyaAbaranam Spuran Makarakundalam|| Dhrishtva Thamathmanasthulavesham Krithrimamasthitham | Yadha  Natam  Rangagatham Vijahasa  Dhrisham Hari: ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, there was a King Paundraka who was ruling the city Karusha, he was a close associate of the King of Kashi.  King Paundraka was black-complexioned, loved to wear a yellow silk garment, and has some similarities to Krishna.  King of Kashi convinced him and praised him as Vaikundha Vasudeva, and inspired him to dress up like supreme Lord Krishna.  Thus, King Paundraka transformed himself as Paundraka Vasudeva, adorned in yellow silk garment, four arms holding Shankha, chakra, Gadha, and the Padma, adorned in Srivathsa, Kausthubham and Vanamala, magnificent ear ornaments, and a majestic crown.  King of Kashi prompted Paundraka Vasudeva to send a message to Lord Krishna, introducing himself as real Vaikundapathi, the message was duly sent through a messenger.  Krishna, the Vaikundapathi whose eyes have the appearance of lotus flower petals was seated in the assembly received the message of Paundraka, in that he was introduced himself as Vasudeva and threatened to give away all those marvelous things owned and surrender to him.  The Supreme Lord Krishna laughed out loud reading the message of Paundraka, eventually decided to meet him in person.  Thus, Lord Krishna arrived in the city of Karusha, he blew the conch as a sign of his arrival.  Soon Paundraka appeared before Lord, Krishna was amazed to watch the similarities and could not control his laugh.  Krishna teased Paundraka openly and hurled his disc that sieved the head off Paundraka and it chased the King of Kashi and tossed his head in his assembly.  The elder son of King of Kashi decided to take revenge on Krishna; he took shelter at the feet of Lord Vishwanatha of Kashi.  He sincerely worshiped Lord Vishwanatha following strict austerities and pleased him. Thus, the son of King of Kashi brought a powerful spirit Krithya with a dreadful appearance, it quivered the entire Earth.  That vicious spirit entered in the city of Dwaraka  to fight against Krishna.” 

Thus, Lord Krishna was returned from the Kingdom of Kurusha after the battle with the King of Kashi and Paundraka.   Once, he was playing a board game with the members of the family.  Suddenly, he heard the shriek of the children rose from the seat, hurled his Sudharshana Chakram against the Krithya who could not withstand the blazing fire from the disc.  She ran out of the city and took shelter in Kashi, eventually the powerful disc of Krishna took round and round in the entire city and burned into ashes.  Whoever listens or recite the legend of Paundraka Vadham would get relieved from all the sins.

In this legend Paundraka Vasudeva imitated all those outward appearances of the Supreme Lord without understanding his values got killed in the hands of the Lord.  The devotion is not something to imitate from others; devotion should be followed with the knowledge of self along with constant contemplation upon supreme Lord who is beyond description or perception.  True devotion is the complete surrender to the supreme Lord, and prepares oneself to face any adverse situations in life with a balanced state of mind.  The constant remembrance of the Supreme Lord, who is the source of the functioning of the Panchaprana, Karmendhriya, Gnanedhriyas, Prana, mind, intellect, Ahamkara in living beings, and persistently engages in the union of mind and intellect in the contemplation of supreme Lord is described as ‘Ananya Bhakti’.