Canto 7 - Encounter between Krishna and Shiva

Having heard from Narada the whole story as to how Aniruddha had been imprisoned, Lord Krishna decided to march against Sonitapura. 21 And at that moment, drums were beaten to indicate the victory of Lord Krishna. Further Krsna assigned Satyaki the responsibility of looking after Dwaraka; He held His weapons such as Sudarsana, Pancajanya, Sarnga and Kaumodaki and proceeded to Sonitapura seated on Garuda together with Balarama and Pradyumna.' While Lord Krsna, Balarama and Pradyumna seated on Garuda, moving through the air, they with their innate lustre, shone like the three fires - Ahavaniya, Garhapatya and Daksinagni. 23 Perhaps the glorious

21. samyancam tadanu parikvanatsuvinam satkurvannamaramunim muda mukundah | 22. sanujno matimakarodamoghakamah kalajno ripunagaram prati prayane || Ibid., (VII.1) sasneham sadasi samiksya satyakim sah preksavan puraparipalane prayojya | sankalpaksanavidamadaratsuparnisunum supranatimupetamaruroha || arudhe tamanu gatanuje virajam bibhrane halamusale halayudhe ca | pradyumno dadhadisukarmukasicarmanyanvasta sphuradurunilasailasobhah || Ibid., (VII. 4&5) 23. adityariparabhavonmukhamukha hetirvahanto muhuh susrusaratamanasadvijavara sreyaskarah samskrtah | niryanto nagararaneh stutimayabrahmoktibhih prerita bhanti sma jvalana iva traya ime nakaukasam trptidah || Ibid., (VII.7)

46 vehicle of Lord Krsna i.e., Garuda with great speed, crossed the long distance and reached the city of Sonitapura within no time. Moreover, having seen Lord Krishna Balarama and Pradyumna, full of resplendence, the demigods roaming about in Antariksa, came under a delusion that the Meru mountain inherited with various jewels, on its own was moving to decorate the pleasure-garden of Bana due to fear from him.2 24 Having entered Sonitapura, Lord Krsna blew His Pancajanya conch as a furious call to the fight. This sound of the Pancajanya pervaded all over the earth and entered all seven nether worlds too.' 25 The security demon-army at the fort-door was very much frightened by the sound of the conch. As such, all demons in rage, rushed to the place wherefrom Krishna was entering. And the demon-army surrounded Krishna from all sides and hit with their weapons. Lord Krsna accompanied by Balarama and Pradyumna discharged sharp ablazing arrows at them. In consequence of this, a part of Bana's army fled away, some enemies were screaming out as their bodies shattered but only life remained, some were stained in urine. 26 At that moment, Lord Shiva guarding Bana's city emanated out of his fierceful form, Mahajvara in the form of his attendant possessing three heads. It attacked Lord Krsna which appeared like Rahu swallowing the 24. skandharopitarevatiratiramakantam samantadamum drstva drstivighatakadyuticayam khe khecaranam bhramah | nanaratnanagam sumerusikharam prayah prabhavadvibho- rbanasyopavanasthalim svayamalankartum prayatityabhut || Ibid., (VII.10) 25. niryannurdhvandopalasphaladadharya- dagacchantya svapratidhvanavrttya | sabdah sadyassanugastanmukhotthah prthvim bhitva sapta castasu (nya ?) lokan || Ibid., (VII.14) 26. kecidyatah pranamatravasesah snasta gatraih prasnavanmutradigdhaih | artaravavyaptavisvadigantanyuddharambhodghosanayaiva visnoh || Ibid., (VII. 26)

47 full moon. 27 Though Balarama made it disappear in the cavity of his shoulders, it did not cease to exist. Therefore Krsna with His tender hands crushed Mahajvara down, and said to it thus: "Oh, you, tormenting to the universe, you have come here on your own. You possessing three heads, by nature full of demerits, are censurable. You are fit to be abandoned. "28 Saying thus, Lord Krishna forcibly stroke on Mahajvara with His tight fist. But it found its place in Krishna 's stomach. As a result, He felt Himself pained a bit due to the scorching heat of the Mahajvara." With the purpose of lessening the tormenting power of Mahajvara hid in Krishna's stomach, Lord Krsna emanated out of Himself Vaisnavajvara. Beholding Mahajvara, Lord Krishna sent forth His own juara, and both the Juaras, the one belonging to Shiva and the other belonging to Krishna, began to grapple with each other. Beaten with violence by Vaisnavajvara commanded by Krishna, the Mahajvara commanded by Shiva loudly screamed and submitted to the feet of Lord Krsna Seeking shelter with Lord Krsna, the Mahajvara glorified Him with joined palms. Being pleased, Lord Krsna favoured him with security from fear. 31 30 Then a most tumultuous and astounding encounter took place between Lord Krsna and Lord Siva - an encounter which made one's hair 27. athagrato grasitumivogravigrahah parigrahastripuraripoh krtagrahah | samagraruggraha iva rahuragranirjagadrhamiha dadrse mahagadah || Ibid., (VII. 27 ) 28. jugupsitam duritamayacchirastrayam sarirato rahayitumudyato'dya te | bhujastu me bhavatu tatha mahatphalam bhavantu bhorjagati jana niramayah || Ibid., (VII.35) 29. tamirayanniti sa jaghana bahuna pura hatah praharadanistamustibhih | sa vistarasravasamatha pravistavanaristakrdghanaghanamustipistahrt || Ibid., (VII.36) 30. karajanugharsanavinitavigrahah prasabhannigrhya galanalake parah | karunakarasya caranagrasannidhau pranipatitah pranatamurtinamuna || Ibid., (VII.45) 31. mukharam mukhaih svagunagauraveranapravanaih prasadasumukhastamunmukhah | abhayam bhayaskhalitasamstutastavam sa tatana manamiva manmathadvisah || Ibid., ( VII.46)

48 stand on end. Krsna and Siva holding their Sarnga and Pinaka respectively employed the volleys of arrows on each other.3 32 On the other side, the demon-enemies attacked the leader of Yadavas, Lord Krsna. But, they were engulfed in the continuous waveslike-arrows discharged by the latter. Thus, Lord Krsna caused a noisy and violent atmosphere all over the battle-field.3 Here ends the seventh Canto.

32. utkarmukau kanakanirmitavarmavitau nirmuktabananikarau dyutimadadhate | 33. 34. sandhyambudaviva nirantaravrstimantavulkasataih suradanussakalakulau tau || Ibid., (VII.67) dhvanatam gabhiramabhitah prasarpatamupari sriya samabhisisriye harih | bahupatpalasasayano mahiyasi pralaye mahabdhipayasamivocchraye || Ibid., (VII. 70)