Vishnu Purana — Amsha 5 — Chapter 34
ViP 5 34.1
चक्रे कर्म महच् छौरिर् बिभ्राणो मानुषीं तनुम् जिगाय शक्रं शर्वं च सर्वान् देवांश् च लीलया ॥
cakre karma mahac chaurir bibhrāṇo mānuṣīṃ tanum jigāya śakraṃ śarvaṃ ca sarvān devāṃś ca līlayā //
Bearing a human body, the son of Śūra performed a great deed: in sport he conquered Śakra and Śarva and all the gods.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.2
यच् चान्यद् अकरोत् कर्म दिव्यचेष्टाविधानकृत् तत् कथ्यतां महाभाग परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥
yac cānyad akarot karma divyaceṣṭāvidhānakṛt tat kathyatāṃ mahābhāga paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me //
"Let whatever other deed he did, he the performer of divine feats, be told, greatly fortunate one, for my curiosity is very great."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.3
गदतो मम विप्रर्षे श्रूयताम् इदम् आदरात् नरावतारे कृष्णेन दग्धा वाराणसी यथा ॥
gadato mama viprarṣe śrūyatām idam ādarāt narāvatāre kṛṣṇena dagdhā vārāṇasī yathā //
"As I tell it, O sage among brahmins, listen to this with attention: how, in his descent as a man, Vārāṇasī was burnt by Kṛṣṇa."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.4
पौण्ड्रको वासुदेवस् तु वासुदेवो ऽभवद् भुवि अवतीर्णस् त्वम् इत्य् उक्तो जनैर् अज्ञानमोहितैः ॥
pauṇḍrako vāsudevas tu vāsudevo 'bhavad bhuvi avatīrṇas tvam ity ukto janair ajñānamohitaiḥ //
But Pauṇḍraka became Vāsudeva on earth, being told by people deluded by ignorance, "You are (Viṣṇu) descended (here)."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.5
स मेने वासुदेवो ऽहम् अवतीर्णो महीतले नष्टस्मृतिस् ततः सर्वं विष्णुचिह्नम् अचीकरत् ॥
sa mene vāsudevo 'ham avatīrṇo mahītale naṣṭasmṛtis tataḥ sarvaṃ viṣṇucihnam acīkarat //
He thought, "I am Vāsudeva, descended upon the earth"; then, his memory lost, he had every mark of Viṣṇu made (for himself).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.6
दूतं च प्रेषयाम् आस कृष्णाय सुमहात्मने त्यक्त्वा चक्रादिकं चिह्नं मदीयं नाम चात्मनः ॥
dūtaṃ ca preṣayām āsa kṛṣṇāya sumahātmane tyaktvā cakrādikaṃ cihnaṃ madīyaṃ nāma cātmanaḥ //
And he sent a messenger to the great-souled Kṛṣṇa, (saying:) "Having given up the discus and the other marks that are mine, and my name,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.7
वासुदेवात्मकं मूढ मुक्त्वा गर्वं विशेषतः आत्मनो जीवितार्थाय ततो मे प्रणतिं व्रज ॥
vāsudevātmakaṃ mūḍha muktvā garvaṃ viśeṣataḥ ātmano jīvitārthāya tato me praṇatiṃ vraja //
and (given up) especially your pride of being Vāsudeva, fool—for the sake of your own life, then come to bow before me."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.8
इत्य् उक्तः संप्रहस्यैनं दूतं प्राह जनार्दनः निजचिह्नम् अहं चक्रं समुत्स्रक्ष्ये त्वयीति वै ॥
ity uktaḥ saṃprahasyainaṃ dūtaṃ prāha janārdanaḥ nijacihnam ahaṃ cakraṃ samutsrakṣye tvayīti vai //
Addressed thus, Janārdana laughed heartily and said to this messenger: "I shall indeed hurl at you the discus that is my own mark."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.9
वाच्यश् च पौण्ड्रको गत्वा त्वया दूत वचो मम ज्ञातस् त्वद्वाक्यसद्भावो यत् कार्यं तद् विधीयताम् ॥
vācyaś ca pauṇḍrako gatvā tvayā dūta vaco mama jñātas tvadvākyasadbhāvo yat kāryaṃ tad vidhīyatām //
"And going (back), messenger, my word is to be told to Pauṇḍraka: the true purport of your speech is understood; let what must be done be done.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.10
गृहीतचिह्न एवाहम् आगमिष्यामि ते पुरम् समुत्स्रक्ष्यामि ते चक्रं निजचिह्नम् असंशयम् ॥
gṛhītacihna evāham āgamiṣyāmi te puram samutsrakṣyāmi te cakraṃ nijacihnam asaṃśayam //
I shall come to your city bearing the very marks (you demand); I shall hurl at you the discus, my own mark, without doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.11
आज्ञापूर्वं च यद् इदम् आगच्छेति त्वयोदितम् संपादयिष्ये श्वस् तुभ्यं तद् अप्य् एषो ऽविलम्बितम् ॥
ājñāpūrvaṃ ca yad idam āgaccheti tvayoditam saṃpādayiṣye śvas tubhyaṃ tad apy eṣo 'vilambitam //
And this which you said commandingly, 'Come!'—that too I shall accomplish for you tomorrow without delay.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.12
शरणं ते समभ्येत्य कर्तास्मि नृपते तथा यथा त्वत्तो भयं भूयो न मे किंचिद् भविष्यति ॥
śaraṇaṃ te samabhyetya kartāsmi nṛpate tathā yathā tvatto bhayaṃ bhūyo na me kiṃcid bhaviṣyati //
Coming to you for refuge, O king, I shall act in such a way that I shall never again have any fear from you."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.13
इत्य् उक्ते ऽपगते दूते संस्मृत्याभ्यागतं हरिः गरुत्मन्तम् अथारुह्य त्वरितं तत्पुरं ययौ ॥
ity ukte 'pagate dūte saṃsmṛtyābhyāgataṃ hariḥ garutmantam athāruhya tvaritaṃ tatpuraṃ yayau //
When this had been said and the messenger had departed, Hari, calling to mind (Garuḍa), who came at once, then mounted Garuḍa and swiftly went to that city.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.14
तस्यापि केशवोद्योगं श्रुत्वा काशिपतिस् तदा सर्वसैन्यपरीवारः पार्ष्णिग्राह उपाययौ ॥
tasyāpi keśavodyogaṃ śrutvā kāśipatis tadā sarvasainyaparīvāraḥ pārṣṇigrāha upāyayau //
Hearing of Keśava's advance against him, the lord of Kāśi then came up as a rear-guard support, surrounded by his whole army.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.15
ततो बलेन महता काशिराजबलेन च पौण्ड्रको वासुदेवो ऽसौ केशवाभिमुखं ययौ ॥
tato balena mahatā kāśirājabalena ca pauṇḍrako vāsudevo 'sau keśavābhimukhaṃ yayau //
Then, with a great force and with the army of the king of Kāśi, that Pauṇḍraka Vāsudeva went to face Keśava.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.16
तं ददर्श हरिर् दूराद् उदारस्यन्दने स्थितम् चक्रहस्तं गदाखड्गबाहुं पाणिगताम्बुजम् ॥
taṃ dadarśa harir dūrād udārasyandane sthitam cakrahastaṃ gadākhaḍgabāhuṃ pāṇigatāmbujam //
Hari saw him from afar, standing on a lofty chariot, with a discus in his hand, with mace and sword on his arms, with a lotus in his hand,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.17
स्रग्धरं धृतशार्ङ्गं च सुपर्णरचितध्वजम् वक्षःस्थले कृतं चास्य श्रीवत्सं ददृशे हरिः ॥
sragdharaṃ dhṛtaśārṅgaṃ ca suparṇaracitadhvajam vakṣaḥsthale kṛtaṃ cāsya śrīvatsaṃ dadṛśe hariḥ //
wearing a garland, holding the Śārṅga bow, with a banner fashioned with Garuḍa; and Hari saw the Śrīvatsa made upon his chest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.18
किरीटकुण्डलधरं पीतवासःसमन्वितम् दृष्ट्वा तं भावगम्भीरं जहास गरुडध्वजः ॥
kirīṭakuṇḍaladharaṃ pītavāsaḥsamanvitam dṛṣṭvā taṃ bhāvagambhīraṃ jahāsa garuḍadhvajaḥ //
Seeing him wearing crown and earrings, provided with yellow garments, (and) solemn in demeanour, the Garuḍa-bannered one laughed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.19
युयुधे च बलेनास्य हस्त्यश्वबलिना द्विज निस्त्रिंशर्ष्टिगदाशूलशक्तिकार्मुकशालिना ॥
yuyudhe ca balenāsya hastyaśvabalinā dvija nistriṃśarṣṭigadāśūlaśaktikārmukaśālinā //
And he fought, O brahmin, with his army, strong in elephants and horses, resplendent with swords, spears, maces, pikes, lances and bows.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.20
क्षणेन शार्ङ्गनिर्मुक्तैः शरैर् अरिविदारणैः गदाचक्रनिपातैश् च सूदयाम् आस तद्बलम् ॥
kṣaṇena śārṅganirmuktaiḥ śarair arividāraṇaiḥ gadācakranipātaiś ca sūdayām āsa tadbalam //
In a moment, with arrows released from the Śārṅga that split apart foes, and with blows of mace and discus, he destroyed that army.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.21
काशिराजबलं चैव क्षयं नीत्वा जनार्दनः उवाच पौण्ड्रकं मूढम् आत्मचिह्नोपलक्षणम् ॥
kāśirājabalaṃ caiva kṣayaṃ nītvā janārdanaḥ uvāca pauṇḍrakaṃ mūḍham ātmacihnopalakṣaṇam //
And having brought the army of the king of Kāśi to destruction, Janārdana said to the foolish Pauṇḍraka, who was marked with his (Kṛṣṇa's) own emblems:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.22
पौण्ड्रकोक्तं त्वया यत् तु दूतवक्त्रेण मां प्रति समुत्सृजेति चिह्नानि तत् ते संपादयाम्य् अहम् ॥
pauṇḍrakoktaṃ tvayā yat tu dūtavaktreṇa māṃ prati samutsṛjeti cihnāni tat te saṃpādayāmy aham //
"Pauṇḍraka, that which was said by you to me through the mouth of a messenger—'Release (them)!'—those emblems I now bestow upon you.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.23
चक्रम् एतत् समुत्सृष्टं गदेयं ते विसर्जिता गरुत्मान् एष निर्दिष्टः समारोहतु ते ध्वजम् ॥
cakram etat samutsṛṣṭaṃ gadeyaṃ te visarjitā garutmān eṣa nirdiṣṭaḥ samārohatu te dhvajam //
This discus is released; this mace of yours is let fly; this Garuḍa is assigned—let him mount upon your banner."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.24
इत्य् उच्चार्य विमुक्तेन चक्रेणासौ विदारितः पोथितो गदया भग्नो गरुत्मांश् च गरुत्मता ॥
ity uccārya vimuktena cakreṇāsau vidāritaḥ pothito gadayā bhagno garutmāṃś ca garutmatā //
Having said this, he was split open by the discus that was let fly, crushed by the mace, and his Garutmān was shattered by Garutmān.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.25
ततो हाहाकृते लोके काशीनाम् अधिपो बली युयुधे वासुदेवेन मित्रस्यापचितौ स्थितः ॥
tato hāhākṛte loke kāśīnām adhipo balī yuyudhe vāsudevena mitrasyāpacitau sthitaḥ //
Then, while the people cried out in dismay, the mighty lord of the Kāśis fought with Vāsudeva, standing firm in requital for his friend.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.26
ततः शार्ङ्गधनुर्मुक्तैश् छित्त्वा तस्य शरैः शिरः काशिपुर्यां स चिक्षेप कुर्वंल् लोकस्य विस्मयम् ॥
tataḥ śārṅgadhanurmuktaiś chittvā tasya śaraiḥ śiraḥ kāśipuryāṃ sa cikṣepa kurvaṃl lokasya vismayam //
Then, cutting off his head with arrows loosed from the Śārṅga bow, he flung it into the city of Kāśi, causing amazement in the people.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.27
हत्वा च पौण्ड्रकं शौरिः काशिराजं च सानुगम् पुनर् द्वारवतीं प्राप्तो रेमे स्वर्गगतो यथा ॥
hatvā ca pauṇḍrakaṃ śauriḥ kāśirājaṃ ca sānugam punar dvāravatīṃ prāpto reme svargagato yathā //
And having slain Pauṇḍraka and the king of Kāśi along with his followers, Śauri returned to Dvāravatī and took his pleasure like one who has gone to heaven.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.28
तच्छिरः पतितं दृष्ट्वा तत्र काशिपतेः पुरे जनः किम् एतद् इत्य् आह केनेत्य् अत्यन्तविस्मितः ॥
tacchiraḥ patitaṃ dṛṣṭvā tatra kāśipateḥ pure janaḥ kim etad ity āha kenety atyantavismitaḥ //
Seeing that head of the lord of Kāśi fallen there in the city, the people, utterly astonished, said, "What is this? By whom (was it done)?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.29
ज्ञात्वा तं वासुदेवेन हतं तस्य सुतस् ततः पुरोहितेन सहितस् तोषयाम् आस शंकरम् ॥
jñātvā taṃ vāsudevena hataṃ tasya sutas tataḥ purohitena sahitas toṣayām āsa śaṃkaram //
Then, learning that he had been slain by Vāsudeva, his son, together with the family priest, propitiated Śaṃkara.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.30
अविमुक्ते महाक्षेत्रे तोषितस् तेन शंकरः वरं वृणीष्वेति तदा तं प्रोवाच नृपात्मजम् ॥
avimukte mahākṣetre toṣitas tena śaṃkaraḥ varaṃ vṛṇīṣveti tadā taṃ provāca nṛpātmajam //
Śaṃkara, gratified by him in the great sacred field of Avimukta, then said to that son of the king, "Choose a boon."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.31
स वव्रे भगवन् कृत्या पितृहन्तुर् वधाय मे समुत्तिष्ठतु कृष्णस्य त्वत्प्रसादान् महेश्वर ॥
sa vavre bhagavan kṛtyā pitṛhantur vadhāya me samuttiṣṭhatu kṛṣṇasya tvatprasādān maheśvara //
He chose: "Lord, great Īśvara, by your grace let a kṛtyā arise for me, for the slaying of Kṛṣṇa, the killer of my father."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.32
एवं भविष्यतीत्य् उक्ते दक्षिणाग्नेर् अनन्तरम् महाकृत्या समुत्तस्थौ तस्यैवाग्निनिवेशनात् ॥
evaṃ bhaviṣyatīty ukte dakṣiṇāgner anantaram mahākṛtyā samuttasthau tasyaivāgniniveśanāt //
When it had been said, "So shall it be," at once from the southern fire, out of that very fire-receptacle of his, a great kṛtyā rose up.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.33
ततो ज्वालाकरालास्या ज्वलत्केशकलापिका कृष्ण कृष्णेति कुपिता कृत्या द्वारवतीं ययौ ॥
tato jvālākarālāsyā jvalatkeśakalāpikā kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇeti kupitā kṛtyā dvāravatīṃ yayau //
Then the kṛtyā, her mouth gaping with flames, the mass of her hair blazing, enraged, crying "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!", went to Dvāravatī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.34
ताम् अवेक्ष्य जनस् त्रासविचलल्लोचनो मुने ययौ शरण्यं जगतां शरणं मधुसूदनम् ॥
tām avekṣya janas trāsavicalallocano mune yayau śaraṇyaṃ jagatāṃ śaraṇaṃ madhusūdanam //
Seeing her, O sage, the people, their eyes darting with terror, went for refuge to Madhusūdana, the refuge of the worlds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.35
काशिराजसुतेनेयम् आराध्य वृषभध्वजम् उत्पादिता महाकृत्येत्य् अवगम्याथ चक्रिणा ॥
kāśirājasuteneyam ārādhya vṛṣabhadhvajam utpāditā mahākṛtyety avagamyātha cakriṇā //
Then, when the wielder of the discus understood, "This great kṛtyā has been produced by the son of the king of Kāśi through propitiating the bull-bannered god,"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.36
जहि कृत्याम् इमाम् उग्रां वह्निज्वालाजटाकुलाम् चक्रम् उत्सृष्टम् अक्षेषु क्रीडासक्तेन लीलया ॥
jahi kṛtyām imām ugrāṃ vahnijvālājaṭākulām cakram utsṛṣṭam akṣeṣu krīḍāsaktena līlayā //
the discus was released in play, by him who was intent on a game of dice: "Slay this fierce kṛtyā, matted about with tongues of fire."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.37
तदग्निमालाजटिलज्वालोद्गारातिभीषणाम् कृत्याम् अनुजगामाशु विष्णुचक्रं सुदर्शनम् ॥
tadagnimālājaṭilajvālodgārātibhīṣaṇām kṛtyām anujagāmāśu viṣṇucakraṃ sudarśanam //
The discus of Viṣṇu, Sudarśana, swiftly pursued that kṛtyā, exceedingly terrible with her vomiting of flames matted into garlands of fire.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.38
चक्रप्रतापविध्वस्ता कृत्या माहेश्वरी तदा ननाश वेगिनी वेगात् तद् अप्य् अनुजगाम ताम् ॥
cakrapratāpavidhvastā kṛtyā māheśvarī tadā nanāśa veginī vegāt tad apy anujagāma tām //
Then the kṛtyā of Maheśvara, shattered by the discus's blazing power, swift as she was, fled away with speed; and it too pursued her.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.39
कृत्या वाराणसीम् एव प्रविवेश त्वरान्विता विष्णुचक्रप्रतिहतप्रभावा मुनिसत्तम ॥
kṛtyā vārāṇasīm eva praviveśa tvarānvitā viṣṇucakrapratihataprabhāvā munisattama //
The kṛtyā, her power beaten back by Viṣṇu's discus, entered Vārāṇasī itself in haste, O best of sages.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.40
ततः काशिबलं भूरि प्रमथानां तथा बलम् समस्तशस्त्रास्त्रयुतं चक्रस्याभिमुखं ययौ ॥
tataḥ kāśibalaṃ bhūri pramathānāṃ tathā balam samastaśastrāstrayutaṃ cakrasyābhimukhaṃ yayau //
Then the great army of Kāśi, and likewise the army of the Pramathas, furnished with all weapons and missiles, advanced to face the discus.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.41
शस्त्रास्त्रमोक्षचतुरं दग्ध्वा तद् बलम् ओजसा कृत्यागर्भाम् अशेषां तां तदा वाराणसीं पुरीम् ॥
śastrāstramokṣacaturaṃ dagdhvā tad balam ojasā kṛtyāgarbhām aśeṣāṃ tāṃ tadā vārāṇasīṃ purīm //
Having burned with its might that army skilled in the loosing of weapons and missiles, then that whole city of Vārāṇasī, pregnant with the kṛtyā—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.42
सभूभृद्भृत्यपौरां तु साश्वमातङ्गमानवाम् अशेषकोशकोष्ठां तां दुर्निरीक्ष्यां सुरैर् अपि ॥
sabhūbhṛdbhṛtyapaurāṃ tu sāśvamātaṅgamānavām aśeṣakośakoṣṭhāṃ tāṃ durnirīkṣyāṃ surair api //
—with its kings, servants and townsfolk, with its horses, elephants and men, with all its treasuries and storerooms, hard to look upon even for the gods—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.43
ज्वालापरिष्कृताशेषगृहप्राकारचत्वराम् ददाह तद् धरेश् चक्रं सकलाम् एव तां पुरीम् ॥
jvālāpariṣkṛtāśeṣagṛhaprākāracatvarām dadāha tad dhareś cakraṃ sakalām eva tāṃ purīm //
That discus of Hari burned that entire city, every house, rampart and square of it wreathed about with flames.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
ViP 5 34.44
अक्षीणामर्षम् अत्यल्पसाध्यसाधनसस्पृहम् तच् चक्रं प्रस्फुरद्दीप्ति विष्णोर् अभ्याययौ करम् ॥
akṣīṇāmarṣam atyalpasādhyasādhanasaspṛham tac cakraṃ prasphuraddīpti viṣṇor abhyāyayau karam //
That discus, its fury unspent, eager for a task all too easily accomplished, its brilliance flashing, came back to Viṣṇu's hand.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition