The Slaying of Poundraka

There was a king named Poundraka who suffered from the illusion that he was Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu on earth. He adopted the name of Vasudeva and sent a messenger to Krishna saying. “Stop pretending that you are Vishnu. It is I who am Vasudeva. Come tome and beg for your life.”

Poundraka was a friend of the king of Kashi. Krishna told the messenger that he would leave for Kashi the very next day.

Hearing the message, Poundraka got ready with his army. Krishna arrived in Kashi on Garuda. Krishna killed the enemy soldiers with his arrows, mace and chakra. He sliced Poundraka’s body with his chakra and eventually killed him with a mace. He also killed Poundraka’s friends, the king of Kashi. He cut off the king’s head with his arrows and flung it into the city of Kashi. After that, Krishna returned to Dvaraka.