War in Ancient India c12.39

c12.39

The practice of sending ambassadors to declare war is seen in the Viṣṇupurāṇa²⁰ where Vāsudeva, the king of Puṇḍra, claimed a divine status for himself and sent an ambassador to Kṛṣṇa, the king of Dvārakā. The message delivered was: ‘Leave off your cakra, Oh foolish person, and come and accord me your homage and I shall forgive you and grant you means of subsistence.’ The Lord laughed and sent a fitting reply: ‘I shall even to-morrow go with my cakra and yield it to you’. Mounting Garuḍa, Kṛṣṇa set out against Puṇḍraka, and the king of Puṇḍra helped by the ruler of Kāśī came to meet him.