śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; nanda — of Nanda Mahārāja; vrajam — to the cowherd village; gate — having gone; rāme — Lord Balarāma; karūṣa-adhipatiḥ — the ruler of Karūṣa (Pauṇḍraka); nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit); vāsudevaḥ — the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva; aham — I; iti — thus thinking; ajñaḥ — foolish; dūtam — a messenger; kṛṣṇāya — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; prāhiṇot — sent.

tvam — you; vāsudevaḥ — Vāsudeva; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; avatīrṇaḥ — descended; jagat — of the universe; patiḥ — the master; iti — thus; prastobhitaḥ — emboldened with flattery; bālaiḥ — by childish men; mene — he imagined; ātmānam — himself; acyutam — the infallible Lord.

dūtam — a messenger; ca — and; prāhiṇot — he sent; mandaḥ — slow-witted; kṛṣṇāya — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; avyakta — inscrutable; vartmane — whose path; dvārakāyām — at Dvārakā; yathā — as; bālaḥ — a boy; nṛpaḥ — king; bāla — by children; kṛtaḥ — made; abudhaḥ — unintelligent.

dūtaḥ — the messenger; tu — then; dvārakām — at Dvārakā; etya — arriving; sabhāyām — in the royal assembly; āsthitam — present; prabhum — to the almighty Lord; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa; kamala — of a lotus; patra — (like) the petals; akṣam — whose eyes; rāja — of his King; sandeśam — the message; abravīt — spoke.

vāsudevaḥ — Lord Vāsudeva; avatīrṇaḥ — descended to this world; aham — I; ekaḥ eva — the only one; na — not; ca — and; aparaḥ — anyone else; bhūtānām — to the living beings; anukampā — of showing mercy; artham — for the purpose; tvam — You; tu — however; mithyā — false; abhidhām — designation; tyaja — give up.

yāni — which; tvam — You; asmat — our; cihnāni — symbols; mauḍhyāt — out of delusion; bibharṣi — carry; sātvata — O chief of the Sātvatas; tyaktvā — giving up; ehi — come; mām — to me; tvam — You; śaraṇam — for shelter; na — not; u — otherwise; cet — if; dehi — give; mama — me; āhavam — battle.

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; katthanam — boasting; tat — that; upākarṇya — hearing; pauṇḍrakasya — of Pauṇḍraka; alpa — small; medhasaḥ — whose intelligence; ugrasena-ādayaḥ — headed by King Ugrasena; sabhyāḥ — the members of the assembly; uccakaiḥ — loudly; jahasuḥ — laughed; tadā — then.

uvāca — said; dūtam — to the messenger; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; parihāsa — joking; kathām — discussion; anu — after; utsrakṣye — I will throw; mūḍha — O fool; cihnāni — the symbols; yaiḥ — about which; tvam — you; evam — in this way; vikatthase — are boasting.

mukham — face; tat — that; apidhāya — being covered; ajña — O ignorant man; kaṅka — by herons; gṛdhra — vultures; vaṭaiḥ — and vaṭa birds; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; śayiṣyase — you will lie; hataḥ — killed; tatra — thereupon; bhavitā — you will become; śaraṇam — shelter; śunām — for dogs.

iti — thus addressed; dūtaḥ — the messenger; tam — those; ākṣepam — insults; svāmine — to his master; sarvam — entire; āharat — carried; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; api — and; ratham — His chariot; āsthāya — riding; kāśīm — to Vārāṇasī; upajagāma ha — went near.

pauṇḍrakaḥ — Pauṇḍraka; api — and; tat — His; udyogam — preparations; upalabhya — noticing; mahā-rathaḥ — the mighty warrior; akṣauhiṇībhyām — by two full military divisions; saṁyuktaḥ — joined; niścakrāma — went out; purāt — from the city; drutam — quickly.

tasya — his (Pauṇḍraka’s); kāśī-patiḥ — the master of Kāśi; mitram — friend; pārṣṇi-grāhaḥ — as the rear guard; anvayāt — followed; nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit); akṣauhiṇībhiḥ — with divisions; tisṛbhiḥ — three; apaśyat — saw; pauṇḍrakam — Pauṇḍraka; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; śaṅkha — with conchshell; ari — disc; asi — sword; gadā — club; śārṅga — Śārṅga bow; śrīvatsa — with the Śrīvatsa sign of hair on His chest; ādi — and other symbols; upalakṣitam — marked; bibhrāṇam — bearing; kaustubha-maṇim — the Kaustubha gem; vana-mālā — with a garland of forest flowers; vibhūṣitam — decorated; kauśeya — of fine silk; vāsasī — a pair of garments; pīte — yellow; vasānam — wearing; garuḍa-dhvajam — his banner marked with the image of Garuḍa; amūlya — valuable; mauli — a crown; ābharaṇam — whose ornament; sphurat — gleaming; makara — shark-shaped; kuṇḍalam — with earrings.

dṛṣṭvā — seeing; tam — him; ātmanaḥ — to His own; tulyam — equal; veṣam — in dress; kṛtrimam — imitation; āsthitam — arrayed; yathā — like; naṭam — an actor; raṅga — a stage; gatam — entered upon; vijahāsa — laughed; bhṛśam — strongly; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

śūlaiḥ — with tridents; gadābhiḥ — clubs; parighaiḥ — and bludgeons; śakti — pikes; ṛṣṭi — a kind of sword; prāsa — long, barbed darts; tomaraiḥ — and lances; asibhiḥ — with swords; paṭṭiśaiḥ — with axes; bāṇaiḥ — and with arrows; prāharan — attacked; arayaḥ — the enemies; harim — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; tu — however; tat — that; pauṇḍraka-kāśirājayoḥ — of Pauṇḍraka and the King of Kāśī; balam — military force; gaja — elephants; syandana — chariots; vāji — horses; patti — and infantry; mat — consisting of; gadā — with His club; asi — sword; cakra — disc; isubhiḥ — and arrows; ārdayat — tormented; bhṛśam — fiercely; yathā — as; yuga — of an age of universal history; ante — at the end; huta-bhuk — the fire (of universal annihilation); pṛthak — of different kinds; prajāḥ — living entities.

āyodhanam — battlefield; tat — that; ratha — with the chariots; vāji — horses; kuñjara — elephants; dvipat — two-legged (humans); khara — mules; uṣṭraiḥ — and camels; ariṇā — by His disc; avakhaṇḍitaiḥ — cut to pieces; babhau — shone; citam — spread; moda — pleasure; vaham — bringing; manasvinām — to the wise; ākrīḍanam — the playground; bhūta-pateḥ — of the lord of ghostly spirits, Lord Śiva; iva — as if; ulbaṇam — horrible.

atha — then; āha — said; pauṇḍrakam — to Pauṇḍraka; śauriḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhoḥ bhoḥ pauṇḍraka — My dear Pauṇḍraka; yat — those which; bhavān — your good self; dūta — of the messenger; vākyena — through the words; mām — to Me; āha — spoke about; tāni — those; astrāṇi — weapons; utsṛjāmi — I am releasing; te — unto you.

tyājayiṣye — I will make (you) renounce; abhidhānam — designation; me — My; yat — which; tvayā — by you; ajña — O fool; mṛṣā — falsely; dhṛtam — assumed; vrajāmi — I will go; śaraṇam — to the shelter; te — your; adya — today; yadi — if; na icchāmi — I do not desire; saṁyugam — battle.

iti — with these words; kṣiptvā — deriding; śitaiḥ — sharp; bāṇaiḥ — with His arrows; virathī — chariotless; kṛtya — making; pauṇḍrakam — Pauṇḍraka; śiraḥ — his head; avṛścat — He cut off; ratha-aṅgena — with His Sudarśana disc; vajreṇa — with his thunderbolt weapon; indraḥ — Lord Indra; yathā — as; gireḥ — of a mountain.

tathā — similarly; kāśī-pateḥ — of the King of Kāśī; kāyāt — from his body; śiraḥ — the head; utkṛtya — severing; patribhiḥ — with His arrows; nyapātayat — He sent it flying; kāśi-puryām — into the city of Kāśī; padma — of a lotus; kośam — the flower cup; iva — as; anilaḥ — the wind.

evam — thus; matsariṇam — envious; hatvā — killing; pauṇḍrakam — Pauṇḍraka; sa — together with; sakham — his friend; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dvārakām — Dvārakā; āviśat — He entered; siddhaiḥ — by the mystics of heaven; gīyamāna — being sung; kathā — narrations about Him; amṛtaḥ — nectarean.

saḥ — he (Pauṇḍraka); nityam — constant; bhagavat — upon the Supreme Lord; dhyāna — by his meditation; pradhvasta — completely shattered; akhila — all; bandhanaḥ — whose bondage; bibhrāṇaḥ — assuming; ca — and; hareḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); svarūpam — the personal form; tat-mayaḥ — absorbed in consciousness of Him; abhavat — he became.

śiraḥ — the head; patitam — fallen; ālokya — seeing; rāja-dvāre — at the gate of the royal palace; sa-kuṇḍalam — with earrings; kim — what; idam — is this; kasya — whose; vā — or; vaktram — head; iti — thus; saṁśiśire — expressed doubt; janāḥ — the people.

rājñaḥ — of the King; kāśī-pateḥ — the lord of Kāśī; jñātvā — recognizing; mahiṣyaḥ — his queens; putra — his sons; bāndhavāḥ — and other relatives; paurāḥ — the citizens of the city; ca — and; hā — alas; hatāḥ — (we are) killed; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); nātha nātha — O master, master; iti — thus; prārudan — they cried out loud.

sudakṣiṇaḥ — named Sudakṣiṇa; tasya — his (Kāśirāja’s); sutaḥ — son; kṛtvā — executing; saṁsthā-vidhim — the funeral rituals; pateḥ — of his father; nihatya — by killing; pitṛ — of my father; hantāram — the killer; yāsyāmi — I will achieve; apacitim — revenge; pituḥ — for my father; iti — thus; ātmanā — with his intelligence; abhisandhāya — deciding; sa — with; upādhyāyaḥ — priests; mahā-īśvaram — the great Lord Śiva; su-dakṣiṇaḥ — being very charitable; arcayām āsa — he worshiped; parameṇa — with great; samādhinā — attention.

prītaḥ — satisfied; avimukte — at Avimukta, an especially holy area within the district of Kāśī; bhagavān — Lord Śiva; tasmai — to him; varam — a choice of benedictions; adāt — gave; vibhuḥ — the powerful demigod; pitṛ — of his father; hantṛ — the killer; vadha — to slay; upāyam — the means; saḥ — he; vavre — chose; varam — as his benediction; īpsitam — desired.

dakṣiṇa-agnim — to the Dakṣiṇa fire; paricara — you should render service; brāhmaṇaiḥ — brāhmaṇas; samam — together with; ṛtvijam — the original priest; abhicāra-vidhānena — with the ritual known as abhicāra (meant for killing or otherwise harming an enemy); saḥ — that; ca — and; agniḥ — fire; pramathaiḥ — by the Pramathas (powerful mystics who are in Lord Śiva’s retinue and who assume many different forms); vṛtaḥ — surrounded; sādhayiṣyati — it will accomplish; saṅkalpam — your intention; abrahmaṇye — against one who is inimical to brāhmaṇas; prayojitaḥ — utilized; iti — so; ādiṣṭaḥ — instructed; tathā — in that way; cakre — he did; kṛṣṇāya — against Lord Kṛṣṇa; abhicaran — intending to do harm; vratī — observing the required vows.

tataḥ — then; agniḥ — the fire; utthitaḥ — rose up; kuṇḍāt — from the sacrificial altar pit; mūrti-mān — assuming a personal form; ati — extremely; bhīṣaṇaḥ — fearsome; tapta — molten; tāmra — (like) copper; śikhā — the tuft of hair on whose head; śmaśruḥ — and whose beard; aṅgāra — hot cinders; udgāri — emitting; locanaḥ — whose eyes; daṁṣṭra — with his teeth; ugra — terrible; bhru — of the eyebrows; kuṭī — of the furrowing; daṇḍa — and with the arch; kaṭhora — harsh; āsyaḥ — whose face; sva — his; jihvayā — with the tongue; ālihan — licking; sṛkvaṇī — both corners of his mouth; nagnaḥ — naked; vidhunvan — shaking; tri-śikham — his trident; jvalat — ablaze.

padbhyām — with his legs; tāla — of palm trees; pramāṇābhyām — whose measure; kampayan — shaking; avanī — of the earth; talam — the surface; saḥ — he; abhyadhāvat — ran; vṛtaḥ — accompanied; bhūtaiḥ — by ghostly spirits; dvārakām — toward Dvārakā; pradahan — burning up; diśaḥ — the directions.

tam — him; ābhicāra — created by the abhicāra ritual; dahanam — the fire; āyāntam — approaching; dvārakā-okasaḥ — the residents of Dvārakā; vilokya — seeing; tatrasuḥ — became frightened; sarve — all; vana-dāhe — when there is a forest fire; mṛgāḥ — animals; yathā — as.

akṣaiḥ — with dice; sabhāyām — in the royal court; krīḍantam — playing; bhagavantam — to the Personality of Godhead; bhaya — with fear; āturāḥ — agitated; trāhi trāhi — (they said) “Save us! Save us!”; tri — three; loka — of the worlds; īśa — O Lord; vahneḥ — from the fire; pradahataḥ — which is burning up; puram — the city.

śrutvā — hearing; tat — this; jana — of the populace; vaiklavyam — agitation; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; svānām — of His own men; ca — and; sādhvasam — the disturbed condition; śaraṇyaḥ — the best source of shelter; samprahasya — loudly laughing; āha — said; mā bhaiṣṭa — do not fear; iti — thus; avitā asmi — will give protection; aham — I.

sarvasya — everyone; antaḥ — within; bahiḥ — and without; sākṣī — the witness; kṛtyām — the manufactured creature; māhā-īśvarīm — of Lord Śiva; vibhuḥ — the almighty Supreme Lord; vijñāya — fully understanding; tat — him; vighāta — of defeating; artham — for the purpose; pārśva — at His side; stham — standing; cakram — His disc; ādiśat — He ordered.

tat — that; sūrya — of suns; koṭi — millions; pratimam — resembling; sudarśanam — Sudarśana; jājvalyamānam — blazing with fire; pralaya — of universal annihilation; anala — (like) the fire; prabham — whose effulgence; sva — his own; tejasā — with heat; kham — the sky; kakubhaḥ — the directions; atha — and; rodasī — heaven and earth; cakram — the disc; mukunda — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; astram — the weapon; atha — also; agnim — the fire (created by Sudakṣiṇa); ārdayat — tormented.

kṛtyā — produced by mystic power; analaḥ — the fire; pratihataḥ — frustrated; saḥ — he; ratha-aṅga-pāṇeḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Who holds the Sudarśana disc in His hand; astra — of the weapon; ojasā — by the power; saḥ — he; nṛpa — O King; bhagna-mukhaḥ — turning away; nivṛttaḥ — having desisted; vārānasīm — the city of Vārāṇasī; parisametya — approaching on all sides; sudakṣiṇam — Sudakṣiṇa; tam — him; sa — together with; ṛtvik-janam — his priests; samadahat — burned to death; sva — by himself (Sudakṣiṇa); kṛtaḥ — created; abhicāraḥ — meant for doing violence.

cakram — the disc; ca — and; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; tat — it (the fire demon); anupraviṣṭam — entering in pursuit; vārāṇasīm — Vārāṇasī; sa — with; aṭṭa — raised porches; sabhā — its assembly halls; ālaya — residences; āpaṇām — and marketplaces; sa — with; gopura — gateways; aṭṭālaka — watchtowers; koṣṭha — and warehouses; saṅkulām — crowded; sa — with; kośa — banks; hasti — for elephants; aśva — horses; ratha — chariots; anna — and grains; śālinīm — with the buildings.

dagdhvā — having burned; vārāṇasīm — Vārāṇasī; sarvām — all; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; cakram — the disc; sudarśanam — Sudarśana; bhūyaḥ — once again; pārśvam — the side; upātiṣṭhat — went to; kṛṣṇasya — of Kṛṣṇa; akliṣṭa — without trouble or fatigue; karmaṇaḥ — whose actions.

yaḥ — one who; enam — this; śrāvayet — causes others to hear; martyaḥ — a mortal human; uttamaḥ-śloka — of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is praised in the best transcendental verses; vikramam — the heroic pastime; samāhitaḥ — with concentration; vā — or; śṛṇuyāt — hears; sarva — from all; pāpaiḥ — sins; pramucyate — becomes released.