Paundraka Vasudeva

Paundraka Vasudeva is a king appearing in 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 had enmity with Lord Krishna. He imitated Krishna, believing himself to be Vasudeva, or God. Later he was killed by Krishna in battle. He is also considered to be an incarnation of the demoniac King Vena.

Declaration to be God

In the Srimad Bhagavatam, it is stated that Paundraka collected taxes from several kings He foolishly believed the words of his friends, who said Paundraka was God. In the absence of Lord Balarama at Dvaraka (see Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 65), Paundraka sent a message to Krishna, stating that the symbols used by the latter belonged to him, such as the flag of Garuda. He strongly declared he was the "real" Vasudeva, and not Krishna, who is considered the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He ordered Krishna to stop using them. 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. Krishna killed Paundraka by severing Paundraka's head with the Sudarshana Chakra. Paundraka's son, 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

• List of rulers of Bengal
• History of Bengal
• History of India

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. Vol. Volume 2: Smarta, epic-Pauranika and Tantrika Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Kusumanjali Prakashan. pp. 171, 188, 207. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
• 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.