Srimad Bhagavatam. Canto 10: The Summum Bonum

Chapter 66: Paundraka, the False Vasudeva. Text 5

vÄsudevo 'vatÄ«rno 'ham
eka eva na cÄparaḥ
bhÅ«tÄnÄm anukampÄrthaá¹
tvaá¹ tu mithyÄbhidhÄá¹ tyaja

 vÄsudevaḥ - Lord VÄsudeva; avatÄ«rṇaḥ - descended to this world; aham - I; ekaḥ eva - the only one; na - not; ca - and; aparaḥ - anyone else; bhÅ«tÄnÄm - to the living beings; anukampÄ - of showing mercy; artham - for the purpose; tvam - You; tu - however; mithyÄ - false; abhidhÄm - designation; tyaja - give up.


Text

[On Pauṇá¸raka’s behalf, the messenger said:] I am the one and only Lord VÄsudeva, 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.

Purport

Inspired by Goddess SarasvatÄ«, ÅšrÄ«la ViÅ›vanÄtha CakravartÄ« gives the real import of these two verses: “I am not VÄsudeva incarnate, but rather You alone, and no one else, are VÄsudeva. Since You have descended to show mercy to the living beings, please make me give up my false designation, which is like that of an oyster claiming to be silver.†The Supreme Lord will certainly comply with this request.