दूतं च प्राहिणोन्मन्दः कृष्णायाव्यक्तवर्त्मने। द्वारकायां यथा बालो नृपो बालकृतोऽबुधः
The deluded king, acting like a child and lacking understanding, sent a messenger to Krishna, whose actions are inscrutable, just as a boy might send one to another in Dvaraka.
दूतस्तु द्वारकामेत्य सभायामास्थितं प्रभुम्। कृष्णं कमलपत्राक्षं राजसन्देशमब्रवीत्
The messenger, arriving in Dvaraka, entered the assembly and addressed Krishna, the lotus-eyed Lord, delivering the royal message.
वासुदेवोऽवतीर्णोहमेक एव न चापरः। भूतानामनुकम्पार्थं त्वं तु मिथ्याभिधां त्यज
"I alone am Vasudeva incarnate; there is no other. Out of compassion for beings I have descended. You should abandon your false claim."
यानि त्वमस्मच्चिह्नानि मौढ्याद्बिभर्षि सात्वत। त्यक्त्वैहि मां त्वं शरणं नो चेद्देहि ममाहवम्
"The emblems you bear, which are mine, you wear out of ignorance, O Sātvata. Give them up and take refuge in me, or else, grant me battle."
श्रीशुक उवाच। कत्थनं तदुपाकर्ण्य पौण्ड्रकस्याल्पमेधसः। उग्रसेनादयः सभ्या उच्चकैर्जहसुस्तदा
Śrī Śuka said: Hearing the boastful words of Paundraka, who lacked intelligence, Ugrasena and the other members of the assembly burst into loud laughter.
उवाच दूतं भगवान्परिहासकथामनु। उत्स्रक्ष्ये मूढ चिह्नानि यैस्त्वमेवं विकत्थसे
The Blessed Lord, following words of jest, said to the messenger: "Fool, I will indeed relinquish the emblems by which you boast in this way."
मुखं तदपिधायाज्ञ कङ्कगृध्रवटैर्वृतः। शयिष्यसे हतस्तत्र भविता शरणं शुनाम्
"You will lie there slain, your face covered, surrounded by vultures, crows, and jackals; then, your refuge will be among the dogs."
इति दूतस्तमाक्षेपं स्वामिने सर्वमाहरत्। कृष्णोऽपि रथमास्थाय काशीमुपजगाम ह
Thus the messenger reported all these reproaches to his master, and Krishna, mounting his chariot, set out for Kashi.
पौण्ड्रकोऽपि तदुद्योगमुपलभ्य महारथः। अक्षौहिणीभ्यां संयुक्तो निश्चक्राम पुराद्द्रुतम्
Paundraka, the mighty chariot-warrior, learning of Krishna's advance, swiftly departed the city, accompanied by two divisions of troops.
तस्य काशीपतिर्मित्रं पार्ष्णिग्राहोऽन्वयान्नृप। अक्षौहिणीभिस्तिसृभिरपश्यत्पौण्ड्रकं हइः!
The king of Kashi, Paundraka's ally, followed him with three divisions of troops, and beheld Paundraka, O King!
शङ्खार्यसिगदाशार्ङ्ग श्रीवत्साद्युपलक्षितम्। बिभ्राणं कौस्तुभमणिं वनमालाविभूषितम्
He wore the conch, discus, mace, bow, and the mark of Śrīvatsa, adorned with the Kaustubha gem and a garland of forest flowers.
कौशेयवाससी पीते वसानं गरुडध्वजम्। अमूल्यमौल्याभरणं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम्
Clad in yellow silk, bearing the banner of Garuda, adorned with priceless crown and ornaments, and shining with makara-shaped earrings.
दृष्ट्वा तमात्मनस्तुल्यं वेषं कृत्रिममास्थितम्। यथा नटं रङ्गगतं विजहास भृशं हरीः
Seeing him dressed in an imitation of his own appearance, like an actor on stage, Hari laughed heartily.
शूलैर्गदाभिः परिघैः शक्त्यृष्टिप्रासतोमरैः। असिभिः पट्टिशैर्बाणैः प्राहरन्नरयो हरिम्
The enemy kings attacked Hari with spears, maces, clubs, javelins, lances, darts, swords, sabres, and arrows.
कृष्णस्तु तत्पौण्ड्रककाशिराजयोर्। बलं गजस्यन्दनवाजिपत्तिमत्। गदासिचक्रेषुभिरार्दयद्भृशं। यथा युगान्ते हुतभुक्पृथक्प्रजाः
But Krishna struck hard at the forces of Paundraka and the king of Kashi—those with elephants, chariots, horses, and infantry—using his mace, sword, discus, and arrows, just as fire at the end of an age consumes all beings.
आयोधनं तद्र थवाजिकुञ्जर द्विपत्खरोष्ट्रैररिणावखण्डितैः। बभौ चितं मोदवहं मनस्विनामाक्रीडनं भूतपतेरिवोल्बणम्
That battlefield, strewn with the bodies of elephants, horses, camels, donkeys, and men, broken by the warriors, shone like a cremation ground, a place of delight for the bold, and as fearsome as the playground of the Lord of beings.
अथाह पौण्ड्रकं शौरिर्भो भो पौण्ड्रक यद्भवान्। दूतवाक्येन मामाह तान्यस्त्राण्युत्सृजामि ते
Then Śauri said to Paundraka: "Ho, Paundraka! Since you have spoken to me through your messenger, I will now relinquish these weapons to you."
त्याजयिष्येऽभिधानं मे यत्त्वयाज्ञ मृषा धृतम्। व्रजामि शरणं तेऽद्य यदि नेच्छामि संयुगम्
"I will abandon the name you have falsely assumed of me, O fool. Today I will seek refuge with you, if I do not desire battle."
इति क्षिप्त्वा शितैर्बाणैर्विरथीकृत्य पौण्ड्रकम्। शिरोऽवृश्चद्रथाङ्गेन वज्रेणेन्द्रो यथा गिरेः
Thus, having struck with sharp arrows and deprived Paundraka of his chariot, he severed his head with a chariot wheel, as Indra would a mountain with his thunderbolt.
तथा काशीपतेः कायाच्छिर उत्कृत्य पत्रिभिः। न्यपातयत्काशीपुर्यां पद्मकोशमिवानिलः
In the same way, he cut off the head of the king of Kashi from his body with arrows and cast it down in the city of Kashi, like the wind drops a lotus bud.
एवं मत्सरिणम्हत्वा पौण्ड्रकं ससखं हरिः। द्वारकामाविशत्सिद्धैर्गीयमानकथामृतः
Having thus slain the envious Paundraka along with his ally, Hari entered Dvaraka, as the perfected beings sang nectar-like tales.
स नित्यं भगवद्ध्यान प्रध्वस्ताखिलबन्धनः। बिभ्राणश्च हरे राजन्स्वरूपं तन्मयोऽभवत्
He, constantly meditating on the Blessed Lord, freed from all bonds, and bearing the form of Hari, O King, became absorbed in Him.
शिरः पतितमालोक्य राजद्वारे सकुण्डलम्। किमिदं कस्य वा वक्त्रमिति संशिशिरे जनाः
Seeing the severed head, adorned with earrings, at the royal gate, people wondered, 'What is this? Whose face could this be?'
राज्ञः काशीपतेर्ज्ञात्वा महिष्यः पुत्रबान्धवाः। पौराश्च हा हता राजन्नाथ नाथेति प्रारुदन्
Recognizing it as the head of the king of Kashi, his queens, sons, relatives, and the citizens wailed, 'Alas, the king is slain! Our protector is gone!'
सुदक्षिणस्तस्य सुतः कृत्वा संस्थाविधिं पतेः। निहत्य पितृहन्तारं यास्याम्यपचितिं पितुः
Sudakshina, his son, performed the funeral rites for his father and resolved, 'I will destroy my father's killer and thus honor my father.'
इत्यात्मनाभिसन्धाय सोपाध्यायो महेश्वरम्। सुदक्षिणोऽर्चयामास परमेण समाधिना
Thus resolved, together with his priest, Sudakshina worshipped Maheshvara with supreme concentration.
प्रीतोऽविमुक्ते भगवांस्तस्मै वरमदाद्विभुः। पितृहन्तृवधोपायं स वव्रे वरमीप्सितम्
Pleased in Avimukta, the Lord granted him a boon; he chose the boon he desired—the means to slay his father's killer.
दक्षिणाग्निं परिचर ब्राह्मणैः सममृत्विजम्। अभिचारविधानेन स चाग्निः प्रमथैर्वृतः
Worship the southern fire together with Brahmins and the officiating priest, performing the ritual of sorcery; that fire, surrounded by spirits—
साधयिष्यति सङ्कल्पमब्रह्मण्ये प्रयोजितः। इत्यादिष्टस्तथा चक्रेकृष्णायाभिचरन्व्रती
—when employed against one who is unrighteous, will accomplish your intent.' Thus instructed, he performed the sorcery rite against Krishna, observing the vow.
ततोऽग्निरुत्थितः कुण्डान्मूर्तिमानतिभीषणः। तप्तताम्रशिखाश्मश्रुरङ्गारोद्गारिलोचनः
Then, from the fire-pit arose a terrifying embodied fire, with blazing copper-red hair and beard, and eyes emitting streams of flames.