82 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

“T am the only Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. There is no
man who can compete with me. I have descended as King Paundraka,
taking compassion on the distressed conditioned souls out of my unlimited
causeless mercy. You have falsely taken the position of Vasudeva without
authority, but you should not propagate this false idea. You must give up
Your position. O descendant of the Yadu dynasty, please give up all the
symbols of Vasudeva which You have falsely assumed. And after giving up
this position, come and surrender unto me. If out of Your gross impudence
You do not care for my words, then I challenge You to fight. I am inviting
You to a battle in which the decision will be settled.”

When all the members of the royal assembly, including King Ugrasena,
heard this message sent by Paundraka, they laughed very loudly for a
considerable time. After enjoying the loud laughter of all the members of
the assembly, Krsna replied to the messenger as follows. “O messenger of
Paundraka, you may carry My message to your master: He is a foolish
rascal. I directly call him a rascal, and I refuse to follow his instructions. I
shall never give up the symbols of Vasudeva, especially My disc. I shall
use this disc to kill not only King Paundraka but all his followers also. I
shall destroy this Paundraka and his foolish associates, who merely con-
stitute a society ot cheaters and cheated. When this action is taken, foolish
King, you will have to conceal your face in disgrace, and when your head
is severed from your body by My disc, it will be surrounded by meat-eating
birds like vultures, hawks and eagles. At that time, instead of becoming My
shelter as you have demanded, you will be subjected to the mercy of these
low-born birds. At that time your body will be thrown to the dogs, who
will eat it with great pleasure.”

The messenger carried the words of Lord Krsna to his master, Paundraka,
who patiently heard all these insults. Without waiting longer, Lord Sri
Krsna immediately started out on His chariot to punish the rascal
Paundraka. Because at that time the King of Karisa was living with his
friend the King of Kasi, Krsna surrounded the whole city of Kaéi.

King Paundraka was a great warrior, and as soon as he heard of Krsna’s
attack, he came out of the city along with two aksauhini divisions of
soldiers. The King of Kasi was also a friend to King Paundraka, and he
came out with three aksauhini divisions. When the two kings came before
Lord Krsna to oppose Him, Krsna saw Paundraka face to face for the first
time. Krsna saw that Paundraka had decorated himself with the symbols
of the conchshell, disc, lotus and club. He carried the Sarnga bow, and on
his chest was the insignia of Srivatsa. His neck was decorated with a false
Kaustubha jewel, and he wore a flower garland in exact imitation of Lord
