Paundraka Vasudeva was a king of the Pundra Kingdom who considered himself the real Vasudeva (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) and challenged Lord Krishna to a battle. He was the son of King Vriddhasharma and Queen Shrutadeva. Shrutadeva was the sister of Vasudeva, Lord Krishna’s father. Per another version, he was the son of Vasudeva (not the father of Lord Krishna) and Sutanu (the princess of Kashi). His story appears in the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, and the Mahabharata.
Meaning of the Name Paundraka:
It is a common belief that Paundraka got the name because he was the king of the Pundra Kingdom. Per some versions, he was the king of Kashi. The word Paundraka has two other meanings, viz:
1. The pale, straw-colored species of sugarcane.
2. A man of a mixed caste, from the Vaishya and female of the distiller caste, whose business is to boil the sugar.
Why did Paundraka Vasudeva think that he was the real Vasudeva (Padma Purana):
Paundraka Vasudeva was a devotee of Lord Shiva and did severe penance for 12 years to propitiate him. When the deity’s name was repeated, he worshipped Lord Shiva by offering his lotus-like eye. Then, Lord Shiva, having the trident in his hand, was pleased and asked him to choose a boon. Then he said, “O giver of boons, give me a form similar to that of Vasudeva (Lord Krishna).” Lord Shiva gave him a form with four arms, a disc, a conch, a mace, and a lotus (held in them), eyes like lotus petals, and charming hair with a crown (on it) resembling that of Vasudeva. He also asked, “Give me also the marks like a yellow garment and ornaments like Lord Krishna.” Lord Shiva gave him all that. He enticed all people, saying, “I am Vasudeva”.
Paundraka Vasudeva Sends a Messenger to Lord Krishna:
After getting the boon from Lord Shiva, he started thinking he was a god. His ministers and friends also started treating him like a god. One day, Sage Narada, having come from heaven to his kingdom, said, “You cannot have the status of Vasudeva without conquering Lord Krishna.”
(The remaining part of the story is taken from the Bhagavata Purana.)
Therefore, King Paunḍraka sent a messenger to Lord Krishna at Dvaraka. On Paundraka’s behalf, the messenger said, “I am the one and only Lord Vasudeva, and there is no other. It is I who have descended to this world to show mercy to the living beings. Therefore, give up your false name and give up my symbols, which out of foolishness you now carry, and take shelter with me. If you do not, then you must face me in the battle.”
King Ugrasena and the other assembly members laughed loudly when they heard this vain boasting of unintelligent Paundraka.
Lord Krishna told the messenger to relay a message to his master, “You fool, I will indeed let loose the weapons you boast of in this way. When you lie dead, O fool, your face covered by vultures, herons, and vata birds, you will become the shelter of dogs.”
The messenger conveyed his insulting reply to his master in its entirety. Lord Krishna then mounted his chariot and went to the vicinity of Kashi.
Death of Paundraka Vasudeva:
Even though Paundraka was a pompous brat, he was not a coward. He quickly left the city with two military divisions to face his rival. Paundraka’s friend, the King of Kashi, followed behind, leading the rear guard with three akshauhini divisions.
Lord Krishna saw that Paundraka was carrying his insignia, such as the conch shell, Sudarshana Chakra, sword, club, and an imitation of the Sharanga bow and Shrivatsa mark. He wore a mock Kaustubha gem, was decorated with a garland of forest flowers, and was dressed in upper and lower garments of fine yellow silk. His banner bore the image of Garuda, and he wore a valuable crown and gleaming, shark-shaped earrings.
When Paundraka and his army attacked him, Lord Krishna fiercely struck back and killed many soldiers. He then addressed Paundraka, “My dear Paundraka, the very weapons you spoke of through your messenger, I now release unto you. O fool, now I shall make you renounce my name, which you have falsely assumed. And I will certainly take shelter with you if I do not wish to fight you.”
After saying this, Lord Krishna destroyed the chariot of Paundraka with his arrows and cut off his head with the Sudarshana Chakra. Then he severed Kashiraj’s head with his arrows, sending it flying into Kashi city like a lotus flower thrown by the wind.
Burning Down of Varanasi:
After seeing the severed head of his father at the royal gate, Sudakshina, the son of Kashiraj, resolved to avenge his death. Therefore, he started worshiping Lord Shiva and propitiated him. The prince asked Lord Shiva for a means to avenge his father’s death.
(In some versions, Paundraka Vasudeva’s son tried to avenge his father.)
Sudakshina Gets the Boon from Lord Shiva:
Lord Shiva told him, “Accompanied by Brahmanas, serve the Dakshinagni fire — the original priest — following the injunctions of the abhichara (Tantric magic) ritual. Then the Dakshinagni fire, together with many Pramathas, will fulfill your desire if you direct it against someone inimical to the Brahmanas.” So instructed, Sudakshina strictly observed the ritualistic vows and invoked the abhichara against Lord Krishna.
The Demon Attacks Dvaraka:
After the completion of the ritual, a fierce demon accompanied by ghostly spirits arose from the fire pit and raced toward Dvaraka. After seeing the demon, the citizens of Dvaraka started running here and there in fear. They went to the royal court and requested Lord Krishna to save them.
To defeat the demon, Krishna dispatched his disc weapon. The Sudarshana Chakra blazed forth like millions of suns. Its effulgence blazed like the fire of universal annihilation, and with its heat, it pained the sky, all the directions, heaven, and earth, and also the fiery demon.
Unable to do anything against the disc weapon, the demon then returned to Varanashi, where he surrounded the city and then burned Sudakshiṇa and his priests to death.
Varanasi was Burnt Down:
The Sudarshana Chakra also entered the city after the demon. It burnt the city to the ground, including all its assembly halls and residential palaces with raised porches, its numerous marketplaces, gateways, watchtowers, warehouses and treasuries, and all the buildings housing elephants, horses, chariots, and grains. Then it returned to Lord Krishna.
Per some sources, Paundraka Vasudeva was an ally of Jarasandha and Shakuni and was a major enemy of Lord Krishna. He made the mistake of underestimating Lord Krishna and met his fate.
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