Bhagavata Purana

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.

दंष्ट्रोग्रभ्रुकुटीदण्ड कठोरास्यः स्वजिह्वया। आलिहन्सृक्वणी नग्नो विधुन्वंस्त्रिशिखं ज्वलत्

With fierce fangs, a dreadful brow, a harsh mouth, licking his lips with his own tongue, naked, shaking a blazing trident, and making a rattling sound—

पद्भ्यां तालप्रमाणाभ्यां कम्पयन्नवनीतलम्। सोऽयधावद्वृतो भूतैर्द्वारकां प्रदहन्दिशः

With feet as large as palm trees, shaking the earth, he advanced, surrounded by spirits, burning all directions as he headed for Dvaraka.

तमाभिचारदहनमायान्तं द्वारकौकसः। विलोक्य तत्रसुः सर्वे वनदाहे मृगा यथा

Seeing that sorcerous fire approaching, the inhabitants of Dvaraka were seized with terror, like deer in a forest fire.

अक्षैः सभायां क्रीडन्तं भगवन्तं भयातुराः। त्राहि त्राहि त्रिलोकेश वह्नेः प्रदहतः पुरम्

Frightened, they approached Bhagavan, who was playing dice in the assembly hall, and cried, 'Save us, O Lord of the three worlds, from the fire burning the city!'

श्रुत्वा तज्जनवैक्लव्यं दृष्ट्वा स्वानां च साध्वसम्। शरण्यः सम्प्रहस्याह मा भैष्टेत्यवितास्म्यहम्

Hearing their distress and seeing his people afraid, the refuge of all smiled and said, 'Do not fear; I am your protector.'

सर्वस्यान्तर्बहिःसाक्षी कृत्यां माहेश्वरीं विभुः। विज्ञाय तद्विघातार्थं पार्श्वस्थं चक्रमादिशत्

The all-pervading Lord, witness within and without all, recognized the sorcerous act of Maheshvara and, to thwart it, ordered his discus, which stood at his side.

तत्सूर्यकोटिप्रतिमं सुदर्शनं जाज्वल्यमानं प्रलयानलप्रभम्। स्वतेजसा खं ककुभोऽथ रोदसी चक्रं मुकुन्दास्त्रं अथाग्निमार्दयत्

That Sudarshana discus, blazing like ten million suns, shining with the radiance of the fire at dissolution, illuminated the sky, the directions, and the earth by its own brilliance; then, the weapon of Mukunda, it subdued the fiery being.