98 - The burning of Kāśi

The sages said: 

1-2. Krishna who assumed human form performed great deeds. Playfully he defeated Indra, Shankara and Devas. May his other activities too withstanding the divine intercession, be mentioned. We are very eager to hear. 

Vyāsa said: 

3. O excellent sages, even as I narrate, let this be listened to with great attention how Varanasi was burned by Krişhna during his incarnation as a human being. 

4. (Defective) Paundraka, king of Vārāṇasi was told by the people deluded by ignorance—"Vasudeva has taken incarnation on the Earth. You are that incarnation." 

5. Accordingly, he thought that he was the incarnation of Vasudeva on the Earth. He who lost all faculty of reasoning adopted the symbols of Vişhnu. O excellent brahmins, he sent a messenger to Krishna. 

6-7. "Leave off the discus and other symbols that pertain to me. O foolish one, eschew everything pertaining to Vasudeva. For the sake of your sustenance bow unto me". 

When he was addressed thus, Krishna said to the messenger. The Lord said: 

8-12. Go and tell Pundraka thus: "I shall leave my symbol, the discus on you (I shall hurl it against you) O messenger, may these words be mentioned as mine. 

"The good intention behind your words has been understood. May what should be done be carried out. I shall come to your city taking the symbols with me. I shall discharge discus certainly towards you. Since you have commanded me to come I shall carry it out tomorrow without delay. O king, seeking refuge in you, I will do that whereby there will not be further fear from you.” 

Vyāsa said: 

13. When the messenger who had been instructed thus, had gone away, Krişhņa rode on Garuda who came to him on being remembered, and hastened to that city. 

14. On hearing about the endeavour of Krishna and that of his (Paundraka's), the lord of Kaśī came as his supporting ally, with all his armies surrounding him. 

15. With a great army (of his own) and that of the king of Kāśī, Paundraka Vasudeva marched against Krişhņa. 

16-18. From a distance Krişhņa saw him seated in an elegant chariot. He carried discus, conch and iron club in his hands and he held a lotus with another hand. He wore a garland and held the bow Sāranga. The ernblem of Garuda adorned his banner. Krishna saw the scar Srivatsa marked on his chest. He wore a crown on his head and earrings too. He was clad in yellow robes. On seeing him, lord Krishna laughed heartily. 

19. O brahmins, he fought with his army that was very strong in elephants and horses and that contained swords, daggers, maces, tridents, javelins and bows. 

20. Instantaneously he slew the army by means of arrows discharged from his bow and blazing like fires, and by means of hits and blows with the iron clubs and discus. 

21. After destroying the army of the king of Kasi also, Krişhņa spoke to Paundraka who was deluded and who bore his own characteristic marks. 

The lord said: 

22. O Paundraka, through the messenger you had told me "Leave the symbols." I shall now accomplish it. 

23. This discus is left off; this iron club is discharged against you. This Garuda has been directed. Let him mount your banner. 

24. After saying this, he discharged his discus by which Paundraka was torn asunder. He was then threshed with his iron club. Garuda of Paundraka was smashed by his own Garuda. 

25. When there was a great hue and cry the overlord of Kasi stood ready for avenging the slaughter of his friend. He fought with Vasudeva. If Krişhņa cut off his head with the arrows discharged from his bow, he hurled it into the city of Kaśī, causing wonderment amongst the people. 

27. After killing Paundraka and the king of Kasi alongwith his followers Krishna returned to Dvārakā and sported like an immortal being staying in heaven. 

28. On seeing the head of the king of Kaśī fallen in his city thc wonder-struck people said-"What is this? By whom is this heinous crime committed? 

29. On understanding that he was killed by Vasudeva, his son propitiated Shankara assisted by his priest. 

30. Shankara was propitiated by him at the great holy centre Avimukta'. The lord then said to the Prince, “Choose your boon". 

31. He chose thus—"O lord, O Maheśvara, by your favour, may a Krutya (female deity of destruction) rise up for destroying Krishna who slew my father." 

Vyāsa said: 

32. When this was uttered "It will be so", a great Krutyä rose up from the chamber of sacrificial fire at a spot beyond Dakşiņāgni, 

33. It had an awful face blazing terrible with flames of fire. The tresses were dishevelled and blazing. Angrily shouting Krishna Krishna' it went to Dväravati. 

34. On sceing the terrible Krutyā with hideous eyes, the people of Dvārakā sought refuge in Sri Krishna wino is worthy of being the refuge to the worlds.

The people said: 

35. After propitiating the bull-emblemed deity this great Krutyā has been created by the son of the king of Kāśī for killing you, the discus-bearing lord. Kill this terrible Krutya having a confused mess of matted hair blazing like flame of fire.

Vyāsa said: 

36-41. Sudarśana, the discus of Vişhņu was playfully lurled down amongst the dice as he had been engaged in the game. It became very terrible, spitting flames of fire. Clusters of fiery flames appeared like matted hair. It pursued Krutyā quickly. When hit and smashed by the discus Krutyā rushed along quickly. The discus too followed her. Krutyā hurriedly entered Vārānasi. O excellent sages, its prowess was restrained by the discus of Visnu. Then the vast army of Kāśi and the army of Pramathas (attendants of Siva) marched against discus. They were equipped with various weapons and missiles. They were discharging missiles and weapons. 

After burning that army with its own prowess, the discus went to Värānasi. It burnt citizens, their servants, horses and elephants. 

42-43. It burnt the entire city with all its chambers and forts. Flames of fire surrounded the outer walls and arched gateways of all abodes. It was an unbearable sight even to Devas. Still the fury of discus did not abate. It was as indifferent as though very little had been accomplished. Shining and blazing as before, the discus went back to the hand of Visņu.