Chapter 63 - Bāṇa Vanquished—Aniruddha brought to Dvārakā

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. And thus passed away the four months of the rainy season, while the relatives of Aniruddha, (being unable to trace him) missed him and were grieving for him (for his disappearance), O descendant of Bharata!

2. Learning from Nārada, the report of Aniruḍdha’s valorous fight and his imprisonment, Vṛṣṇis who looked upon Kṛṣṇa as their presiding deity, speedily marched against Śoṇitapura, the capital of Bāṇa.

3-4. Pradyumna, Yuyudhāna, Gada, Sāmba and Sāraṇa, Nanda, Upananda, Bhadra and others—all loyal followers of Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa—these prominent Sātvata heroes accompanied with twelve akṣauhiṇīs of army, laid close siege to the city of Bāṇa, on all sides.

5. Noticing that the parks of the city, fortifications, gates, balconies and towers were shattered down, Bāṇa was fired with rage and taking with him an equally strong army, sallied forth out of the city.

6. The worshipful god Rudra surrounded by the Pramathas and accompanied by his son Skanda, rode his big bull and fought with Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa for the sake of Bāṇa.

7. The combat that raged between Kṛṣṇa and Śaṅkara and the duel between Pradyumna and Guha (Kārttikeya) was tumultuous, astounding and horripilating (making the hair stand on the ends).

8. There was an encounter between Balarāma with Kumbhāṇḍa and Kūpakarṇa; and a duel between Sāmba and the son of Bāṇa, and between Bāṇa and Sātyaki.

9. Great gods like Brahmā and others, sages, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Gandharvas (celestial singers) heavenly damsels, Yakṣas came in their aerial cars to witness the wonderful battle.

10-11. With sharp-pointed shafts discharged from his Śārṅga bow, Kṛṣṇa put to flight the followers of god Śiva viz. goblins, Pramathas, Yakṣas, Dākinīs, Yātudhānas, Vināyakas, Vetālas, and ghosts, Mātṛkas, Piśācas Kūṣmāṇḍas and Brahmarākṣasas.

12. God Śiva, the wielḍer of Pināka bow, discharged various kinds of missiles on Kṛṣṇa, the wielder of Śārṅga bow. Śrī Kṛṣṇa, without expressing any surprise, neutralised each and every missile of Śiva by his counter-missiles.

13. He nullified Brahmāstra with a Brahmāstra, Vāyavyāstra (missile creating stormy winds) with Parvatāstra (a missile surrounding the winds by mountain-like obstacles), the Agnyastra (the fire missile) with the rain missile and Rudra’s special Pāśupata missile with his own Nārāyaṇāstra.

14. Then Śrī Kṛṣṇa stupefied god Śiva by making him yawn and lethargic with Jṛmbhaṇāstra (yawning missile) and in the meanwhile slaughtered Bāṇa’s army with his sword, mace and arrows.

15. Skanda being pierced on all sides by the streams of arrows discharged by Pradyumna and bleeding in every part of the body, retreated from the battle on the back of his peacock.

16. Kumbhāṇḍa and Kūpakarṇa fell down pounded by the pestle of Balarāma and their armies with their leaders killed, raṅ away in all directions.

17. Noticing his army shattered and scattered in this way, Bāṇa became extremely enraged. He left his combatant Sātyaki, and in his chariot he rode to and attacked Kṛṣṇa.

18. Simultaneously bending five hundred bows, Bāṇa who was over-proud of his valour, applied a couple of arrows each on each of the bows.

19. The glorious Lord Hari simultaneously snapped all Bāṇa’s bows, killed his charioteer, horses and shattered his chariot and blew his conch.

20. Bāṇa had a mother^[1] (mother-like presiding deity) called Koṭarā. With a desire to protect the life of her son, she appeared before Kṛṣṇa completely nude with locks of her hair dishevelled.

21. Then (in that situation), Kṛṣṇa turned his face without casting a look at the naked deity. In the meanwhile, Bāṇa whose chariot was broken and bows cut down, retreated to his capital.

22. When all the army of Bhūtas (goblins etc.) fled away, Jvara (Śiva’s fever) having three heads and three feet, rushed at Kṛṣṇa burning down as it were, all the ten cardinal points.

22(A). And he appeared in the battle in front of Kṛṣṇa.

23. Thereupon the refulgent god Nārāyaṇa had a look at that Jvara and let loose against him his own (Vaiṣṇava) Fever. In this way the Śaivite and Vaiṣṇavite fevers fought with each other.

24. Severely beaten by the fever commanded by Viṣṇu, the Śaivite fever screamed loudly. He could not find any shelter from fear. Being terribly afraid, the fever commanded by Śiva sought refuge with Kṛṣṇa and folding his palm praised him.

Jvara prayed:

25. I bow to you, Lord of infinite potency, the controller of great gods (like Brahmā and others), the Soul of all (the universe). One without a second, (of the nature of) Absolute Consciousness, the Cause of the creation, subsistence and dissolution of the universe, you are what is known as the Brahman which is indicated by the Vedas (but not cognised directly), absolutely serene, subject to no modification.

26. (You, being beyond all attributes, are the Lord of all). The Time-spirit (that impels action), Providence (resultant from the karma or action), Karma, Svabhāva (the natural propensities as a result of Karma), substance (subtle elements), the body, Prāṇa (vital breath called Sūtra), the Ego, modifications (viz. eleven senses—10 cognative and cognitive senses + 1 mind, the internal organ) and the combination of these evolutes called the Liṅga or subtle body which sets in motion the stream of cause-effect relation like that of the seed and the tree—all is your Māyā. I seek shelter in you in whom there is negation of Māyā.

27. Sportively assuming various incarnations (as Fish, Tortoise, Boar etc.) you protect the gods, saintly persons who abide by the dharma (duties prescribed for their respective class and stage in life) and for their protection you exterminate those who deviate from the righteous path and live by committing violence. This incarnation of yours is intended for lessening the burden of the earth.

28. I am being consumed by the extremely unbearable, terrible, deadly cold fever created by your irresistible energy. Corporeal beings have to suffer, so long as they, remaining enmeshed in desires, do not take shelter at the soles of your feet.

The Lord said:

29. “Oh Triśira! (three-headed fever) I am pleased with you. May your fear from my fear be set at rest. May he who remembers our conversation, be free from fear from you.”

30. Thus ordered the Śaivite Fever bowed down to Lord Kṛṣṇa and departed. But Bāṇa mounting his chariot advanced and fought with Kṛṣṇa.

31. Then equipped with various weapons in each of his arm, Bāṇa who was extremely enraged, discharged a volley of arrows on the Lord with the discus as his weapon, O king!

32. White Bāṇa was discharging missiles, the Lord amputated with his discus, the sharp razor-like felly, the arms of Bāṇa, like branches of a tree.

33. While Bāṇa’s arms were thus being lopped off, the worshipful god Śiva who was compassionate to his devotee approached Kṛṣṇa and requested him as follows:

Rudra submitted:

34. (It is not surprising that Bāṇa fights with you as he is unaware of your real nature, for you are the veritable Brahman, the Supreme Light lying concealed in the Vedas (which are the Brahman revealed in verbal form). You reveal yourself to sages and hence those sages of pure heart realize you to be all-pervading and pure as the sky and (eternally) absolute.

35. You are indeed the Cosmic Man (Virāṭ puruṣa) that comprise within you (as parts of your body) all the universe. Thus the sky is your navel; the fire, your mouth; water, your seminal fluid; the heavenly region, your head; the cardinal points, your ears; the earth, your feet; the moon your mind; the Sun, your eye; myself (viz. Rudra), your Ego (ahaṃkāra); the seas, your belly; Indra (and other protectors of the world), your arms;

36. Herbs and plants are your hair on the body; clouds, the locks of your hair; god Brahmā, your intellect; the pro- creator of the worlds, your generative organ; and Dharma (the god upholding righteousness), your heart. (But this Bāṇa does not know this Cosmic Personality of yours).

37. This incarnation of yours, O Lord of undiminished glory and power (or who stay eternally in Go-loka), is for the protection of righteousness and for the prosperity of the world. All of us (protectors of various spheres) are delegated powers by you and hence we (can) protect the seven spheres of the universe.

38. You are the one without a second, the First Person (beyond all persons belonging to the three states), pure, self-lumiṇous through knowledge, the cause of all but yourself without any cause, the controller (of the universe). Yet you manifest your self through your Māyā as an individual Soul (in every being be it gods, men or subhuman beings) and throw light on everything.

39. O Perfect Lord! Just as the Sun, covered under his own shadow (viz. clouds, his creation) illuminates both the clouds as well as other forms, you, though the Self-luminous, get concealed under the guṇas (viz. Ego) and yet make all the guṇas and their products shine (with your light).

40. With their intellect deluded by your Māyā, men are attached to their sons, wives, houses and other belongings and they sink and come up again in the sea of misery (saṃsāra)

41. He who, after obtaining this human body (birth) through the Grace of the God, does not worship respectfully your feet, is certainly a self-deceiver fit to be pitied.

42. The mortal man who, for the sake of sense objects which are worthless and hollow, neglects you who are the beloved Soul and the Ruler of the world, consumes poison throwing aside the nectar.

43. I myself, god Brahmā, celestials and sages of pure heart have with all our heart and soul resorted to you who are the most beloved Soul and the controller of the world.

44. In order to get Liberation from saṃsāra, we seek asylum in you and worship you who are the cause of creation, subsistence and dissolution of the world, equal to all, serene, a beloved friend and deity. You are One without a second, the only goal, the one abode of all the world.

45. O god, this Bāṇāsura is my dear devotee deeply attached to me and much liked by me. Full protection has been promised by me to him. Therefore, may Your Grace be extended to him as you did in the case of Prahlāḍa, the king of Daityas.

The Lord said:

46. O worshipful Śiva! We shall comply with whatever you have requested us and what is pleasing to you. Whatever you have decided (about Bāṇa) has my full approval.

47. This Asura is the son of Bali and as such I should not kill him. I have conferred a boon on Prahlāḍa that none ofhis descendants would be killed by me.

48. It was just to curb his arrogance that his arms have been lopped off by me. And his big army is annihilated because it was a burden to the earth.

49. The four arms that are left to him (Bāṇa) shall not suffer from age or destruction. From no quarters this Asura need entertain any fear and he shall be your attendant.

50. Having thus secured protection, the Asura bowed to Kṛṣṇa with his head and brought Aniruddha, the son of Pradyumna along with his bride, placing them in a chariot.

51. Placing in the van, Aniruddha and his bride who were clad in excellent dress, decked with ornaments and guarded by an akṣauhiṇī of soldiers, Kṛṣṇa set out with compliments from Rudra.

52. He entered His capital (Dvārakā) which was tastefully decorated with flags and ornamental arches, and had its streets and quadrangles thoroughly besprinkled with water. He was warmly received by the citizens, friends, relatives and Brāhmaṇas, with the blowing of conchs and sounding of drums and kettle-drums.

53. He who rising early at dawn, recalls and contemplates on the story of combat between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and god Śaṅkara and Kṛṣṇa’s final triumph, will never meet any defeat in life.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The name of Bāṇa’s real mother was Aśanā. VT clarifies that accord­ing to V.P. Koṭarī was the family deity of Daityas.