Paundraka Vasudeva
Paundraka Vasudeva is a king appearing in the Bhagavata Purana. According to it, he was the king of Pundra Kingdom. Some sources state he was an ally of Jarasandha, the king of Magadha. He was a major enemy of Lord Krishna. He imitated Lord Krishna, believing himself to be Vasudeva, or God. Later he was killed by Krishna in battle. He is considered to be an incarnation of the demoniac King Vena as per some sources.
Declaration to be God
In the Srimad Bhagavatam, it is stated that Paundraka collected taxes from several kings. [1] He foolishly believed the words of his friends, who said Paundraka was God. During the absence of Balarama in Dvaraka (Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 65), Paundraka sent a message to Lord Krishna, stating that the symbols used by the latter belonged to him, such as the flag of Garuda. He declared he was the real Vasudeva (God) and not Krishna, who is considered the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He ordered Krishna to stop using "his" identity. Then, Krishna waged war against Paundraka and killed him.
Death
According to the 66th chapter of Canto 10 of Srimad Bhagavatam, when Paundraka sent a message to Dvaraka stating that he was God, Krishna declared war against him. Paundraka's chariot was made similar to Krishna's, even with a flag of Garuda.After giving many warnings to him to leave his false claims of pretaining as Vasudeva,Krishna killed Paundraka by beheading off Paundraka's head with the Sudarshana Chakra. The son of the king of Kashi, Sudakshina, created a demon using black magic to destroy Dvaraka, with the help of some corrupt priests. However, Krishna's Sudarshana Chakra set fire around Kashi. The whole kingdom was burnt and Sudakshina and all his priests were killed.
See also
References
- "Srimad Bhagavatam: Canto 10 - Chapter 66". bhagavata.org. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
Further reading
- Kakati, Banikanta (1952). Viṣṇuite Myths and Legends in Folklore Setting. Sri Tarini Das. p. 21.
- Sircar, Dineschandra (1971). Studies in the Religious Life of Ancient and Medieval India. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 22–. ISBN 978-81-208-2790-5.
- Dandekar, Ramchandra Narayan (1979). Insights into Hinduism. Ajanta Publications. pp. 211–212.
- Goyala, Śrīrāma (1986). A Religious History of Ancient India, Upto C. 1200 A.D. Volume 2: Smarta, epic-Pauranika and Tantrika Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Kusumanjali Prakashan. pp. 171, 188, 207.
- Sengupta, Nitish (2011). Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 36–. ISBN 978-81-8475-530-5.