The Meeting of Ūṣā and Aniruddha

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.62.1)

श्रीराजोवाच बाणस्य तनयामूषामुपयेमे यदूत्तमः । तत्र युद्धमभूद् घोरं हरिशङ्करयोर्महत् । एतत् सर्वं महायोगिन् समाख्यातुं त्वमर्हसि ॥ १ ॥

śrī-rājovāca bāṇasya tanayām ūṣām upayeme yadūttamaḥ tatra yuddham abhūd ghoraṁ hari-śaṅkarayor mahat etat sarvaṁ mahā-yogin samākhyātuṁ tvam arhasi

King Parikshit said: The best of the Yadus married Banasura's daughter Usha, and as a result a terrible, great battle broke out between Bhagavan Hari and Bhagavan Shankara. O greatest of yogis, please relate this whole account to me.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.62.2)

श्रीशुक उवाच बाणः पुत्रशतज्येष्ठो बलेरासीन्महात्मनः । येन वामनरूपाय हरयेऽदायि मेदिनी ॥ तस्यौरसः सुतो बाणः शिवभक्तिरतः सदा । मान्यो वदान्यो धीमांश्च सत्यसन्धो दृढव्रतः । शोणिताख्ये पुरे रम्ये स राज्यमकरोत् पुरा ॥ तस्य शम्भोः प्रासादेन किङ्करा इव तेऽमराः । सहस्रबाहुर्वाद्येन ताण्डवेऽतोषयन्मृडम् ॥ २ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca bāṇaḥ putra-śata-jyeṣṭho baler āsīn mahātmanaḥ yena vāmana-rūpāya haraye ’dāyi medinī tasyaurasaḥ suto bānaḥ śiva-bhakti-rataḥ sadā mānyo vadānyo dhīmāṁś ca satya-sandho dṛḍha-vrataḥ śoṇitākhye pure ramye sa rājyam akarot purā tasya śambhoḥ prasādena kiṅkarā iva te ’marāḥ sahasra-bāhur vādyena tāṇdave ’toṣayan mṛḍam

Shukadeva Gosvami said: Bana was the eldest of the hundred sons of the great soul Bali, who had given the entire earth in charity to Hari when He appeared as Vamana. Born of Bali, that Bana was ever devoted to Shiva. He was respectable, generous, intelligent, true to his word, and firm in his vows. He ruled over the beautiful city of Shonitapura. By Shiva's favor, even the gods served him like menials. Once, while Shiva was performing his tandava dance, Bana pleased him greatly by playing music upon it with his thousand arms.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.62.3)

भगवान् सर्वभूतेशः शरण्यो भक्तवत्सलः । वरेण छन्दयामास स तं वव्रे पुराधिपम् ॥ ३ ॥

bhagavān sarva-bhūteśaḥ śaraṇyo bhakta-vatsalaḥ vareṇa chandayām āsa sa taṁ vavre purādhipam

Bhagavan, the lord of all beings, the refuge of the surrendered and affectionate to his devotees, gladdened Bana by offering him a boon of his choice. Bana chose him, Shiva himself, to be the guardian of his city.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.62.4)

स एकदाह गिरिशं पार्श्वस्थं वीर्यदुर्मदः । किरीटेनार्कवर्णेन संस्पृशंस्तत्पदाम्बुजम् ॥ ४ ॥

sa ekadāha giriśaṁ pārśva-sthaṁ vīrya-durmadaḥ kirīṭenārka-varṇena saṁspṛśaṁs tat-padāmbujam

Intoxicated with the pride of his own strength, one day Bana, touching Girisha's lotus feet with his sun-bright crown as the lord stood beside him, spoke as follows.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.62.5)

नमस्ये त्वां महादेव लोकानां गुरुमीश्वरम् । पुंसामपूर्णकामानां कामपूरामराङ्घ्रिपम् ॥ ५ ॥

namasye tvāṁ mahā-deva lokānāṁ gurum īśvaram puṁsām apūrṇa-kāmānāṁ kāma-pūrāmarāṅghripam

[Bana said:] O Mahadeva, I bow to you, the teacher and lord of all the worlds, who are like the wish-fulfilling tree for men whose desires remain unfulfilled.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.62.6)

दोःसहस्रं त्वया दत्तं परं भाराय मेऽभवत् । त्रिलोक्यां प्रतियोद्धारं न लभे त्वदृते समम् ॥ ६ ॥

doḥ-sahasraṁ tvayā dattaṁ paraṁ bhārāya me ’bhavat tri-lokyāṁ pratiyoddhāraṁ na labhe tvad ṛte samam

These thousand arms that you bestowed upon me have become nothing but a burden. Except for you, I find no worthy opponent to fight in all the three worlds.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.62.7)

कण्डूत्या निभृतैर्दोर्भिर्युयुत्सुर्दिग्गजानहम् । आद्यायां चूर्णयन्नद्रीन् भीतास्तेऽपि प्रदुद्रुवुः ॥ ७ ॥

kaṇḍūtyā nibhṛtair dorbhir yuyutsur dig-gajān aham ādyāyāṁ cūrṇayann adrīn bhītās te ’pi pradudruvuḥ

Restless with my arms itching for combat, wishing to fight the elephants that guard the directions, O primal lord, I shattered mountains to pieces — even those great elephants fled in terror.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.62.8)

तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान् क्रुद्धः केतुस्ते भज्यते यदा । त्वद्दर्पघ्नं भवेन्मूढ संयुगं मत्समेन ते ॥ ८ ॥

tac chrutvā bhagavān kruddhaḥ ketus te bhajyate yadā tvad-darpa-ghnaṁ bhaven mūḍha saṁyugaṁ mat-samena te

Hearing this, Bhagavan Shiva grew angry and said, 'Fool, when your banner is broken in battle with one who is my equal, that combat alone will destroy your pride.'

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.62.9)

इत्युक्तः कुमतिर्हृष्टः स्वगृहं प्राविशन्नृप । प्रतीक्षन् गिरिशादेशं स्ववीर्यनशनं कुधीः ॥ ९ ॥

ity uktaḥ kumatir hṛṣṭaḥ sva-gṛhaṁ prāviśan nṛpa pratīkṣan giriśādeśaṁ sva-vīrya-naśanam kudhīḥ

Hearing this, O King, the ill-minded Bana went home delighted, and, foolishly, began waiting for that which Girisha had foretold — the destruction of his own strength.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.62.10)

तस्योषा नाम दुहिता स्वप्ने प्राद्युम्निना रतिम् । कन्यालभत कान्तेन प्रागदृष्टश्रुतेन सा ॥ १० ॥

tasyoṣā nāma duhitā svapne prādyumninā ratim kanyālabhata kāntena prāg adṛṣṭa-śrutena sā

Bana's daughter, the maiden named Usha, in a dream experienced union with the son of Pradyumna, though she had never before seen him or heard of him.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.62.11)

सा तत्र तमपश्यन्ती क्वासि कान्तेति वादिनी । सखीनां मध्य उत्तस्थौ विह्वला व्रीडिता भृशम् ॥ ११ ॥

sā tatra tam apaśyantī kvāsi kānteti vādinī sakhīnāṁ madhya uttasthau vihvalā vrīḍitā bhṛśam

Losing sight of him there, Usha suddenly sat up among her friends, crying out, 'Where are you, my beloved?' — greatly agitated and deeply embarrassed.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.62.12)

बाणस्य मन्त्री कुम्भाण्डश्चित्रलेखा च तत्सुता । सख्यपृच्छत् सखीमूषां कौतूहलसमन्विता ॥ १२ ॥

bāṇasya mantrī kumbhāṇḍaś citralekhā ca tat-sutā sakhy apṛcchat sakhīm ūṣāṁ kautūhala-samanvitā

Bana's minister was named Kumbhanda, and his daughter Chitralekha was Usha's companion. Filled with curiosity, that friend questioned Usha.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.62.13)

कं त्वं मृगयसे सुभ्रु कीदृशस्ते मनोरथः । हस्तग्राहं न तेऽद्यापि राजपुत्र्युपलक्षये ॥ १३ ॥

kaṁ tvaṁ mṛgayase su-bhru kīdṛśas te manorathaḥ hasta-grāhaṁ na te ’dyāpi rāja-putry upalakṣaye

[Chitralekha said:] O fair-browed one, whom are you searching for? What kind of longing is this? O princess, till now I have not seen any man take your hand.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.62.14)

दृष्टः कश्चिन्नरः स्वप्ने श्यामः कमललोचनः । पीतवासा बृहद्बाहुर्योषितां हृदयंगमः ॥ १४ ॥

dṛṣṭaḥ kaścin naraḥ svapne śyāmaḥ kamala-locanaḥ pīta-vāsā bṛhad-bāhur yoṣitāṁ hṛdayaṁ-gamaḥ

[Usha said:] In my dream I saw a certain man — dark-complexioned, lotus-eyed, clad in yellow garments, with mighty arms — one who steals the hearts of women.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.62.15)

तमहं मृगये कान्तं पाययित्वाधरं मधु । क्वापि यातः स्पृहयतीं क्षिप्त्वा मां वृजिनार्णवे ॥ १५ ॥

tam ahaṁ mṛgaye kāntaṁ pāyayitvādharaṁ madhu kvāpi yātaḥ spṛhayatīṁ kṣiptvā māṁ vṛjinārṇave

It is that beloved I search for — who, having made me drink the honey of his lips, went off somewhere, leaving me longing for him, as though casting me into an ocean of sorrow.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.62.16)

चित्रलेखोवाच व्यसनं तेऽपकर्षामि त्रिलोक्यां यदि भाव्यते । तमानेष्ये नरं यस्ते मनोहर्ता तमादिश ॥ १६ ॥

citralekhovāca vyasanaṁ te ’pakarṣāmi tri-lokyāṁ yadi bhāvyate tam āneṣye varaṁ yas te mano-hartā tam ādiśa

Chitralekha said: I will take away your distress. If he exists anywhere in the three worlds, I will bring that man who has stolen your heart — only show me who he is.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.62.17)

इत्युक्त्वा देवगन्धर्वसिद्धचारणपन्नगान् । दैत्यविद्याधरान् यक्षान् मनुजांश्च यथालिखत् ॥ १७ ॥

ity uktvā deva-gandharva siddha-cāraṇa-pannagān daitya-vidyādharān yakṣān manujāṁś ca yathālikhat

Having said this, Chitralekha began to draw accurate portraits of gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, Charanas, serpents, Daityas, Vidyadharas, Yakshas, and human beings.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.62.18)

मनुजेषु च सा वृष्णीन् शूरमानकदुन्दुभिम् । व्यलिखद् रामकृष्णौ च प्रद्युम्नं वीक्ष्य लज्जिता ॥ १८ ॥

manujeṣu ca sā vṛṣnīn śūram ānakadundubhim vyalikhad rāma-kṛṣṇau ca pradyumnaṁ vīkṣya lajjitā

Among humans she drew pictures of the Vrishni clan, of the heroic Anakadundubhi, and of Balarama and Krishna. Seeing Pradyumna's picture, Usha grew bashful.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.62.19)

अनिरुद्धं विलिखितं वीक्ष्योषावाङ्मुखी ह्रिया । सोऽसावसाविति प्राह स्मयमाना महीपते ॥ १९ ॥

aniruddhaṁ vilikhitaṁ vīkṣyoṣāvāṅ-mukhī hriyā so ’sāv asāv iti prāha smayamānā mahī-pate

O King, on seeing the picture of Aniruddha, Usha, her face lowered in bashfulness, said with a smile, 'This is he! This is he!'

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.62.20)

चित्रलेखा तमाज्ञाय पौत्रं कृष्णस्य योगिनी । ययौ विहायसा राजन् द्वारकां कृष्णपालिताम् ॥ २० ॥

citralekhā tam ājñāya pautraṁ kṛṣṇasya yoginī yayau vihāyasā rājan dvārakāṁ kṛṣṇa-pālitām

The mystic Chitralekha recognized him as Krishna's grandson, and, O King, she flew through the sky to Dvaraka, the city protected by Krishna.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.62.21)

तत्र सुप्तं सुपर्यङ्के प्राद्युम्निं योगमास्थिता । गृहीत्वा शोणितपुरं सख्यै प्रियमदर्शयत् ॥ २१ ॥

tatra suptaṁ su-paryaṅke prādyumniṁ yogam āsthitā gṛhītvā śoṇita-puraṁ sakhyai priyam adarśayat

There, by her yogic power, she took up Pradyumna's sleeping son Aniruddha from his fine bed, carried him away to Shonitapura, and presented her friend with her beloved.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.62.22)

सा च तं सुन्दरवरं विलोक्य मुदितानना । दुष्प्रेक्ष्ये स्वगृहे पुम्भी रेमे प्राद्युम्निना समम् ॥ २२ ॥

sā ca taṁ sundara-varaṁ vilokya muditānanā duṣprekṣye sva-gṛhe pumbhī reme prādyumninā samam

Beholding him, the most beautiful of men, Usha's face lit up with joy. She led him into her private chambers, forbidden to any man's sight, and there took her pleasure with the son of Pradyumna.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.62.23)

परार्ध्यवासःस्रग्गन्धधूपदीपासनादिभिः । पानभोजनभक्ष्यैश्च वाक्यैः शुश्रूषणार्चितः ॥ २३ ॥

parārdhya-vāsaḥ-srag-gandha- dhūpa-dīpāsanādibhiḥ pāna-bhojana-bhakṣyaiś ca vākyaiḥ śuśrūṣaṇārcitaḥ

With priceless garments, garlands, fragrances, incense, lamps, seats and the like, and with the service of drink, food, delicacies and sweet words, Usha worshiped him.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.62.24)

गूढः कन्यापुरे शश्वत्प्रवृद्धस्नेहया तया । नाहर्गणान् स बुबुधे ऊषयापहृतेन्द्रियः ॥ २४ ॥

gūḍhaḥ kanyā-pure śaśvat- pravṛddha-snehayā tayā nāhar-gaṇān sa bubudhe ūṣayāpahṛtendriyaḥ

Hidden away thus in the maidens' quarters by her whose affection ever increased, Aniruddha, his senses captivated by Usha, remained unaware of the days passing.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.62.25)

तां तथा यदुवीरेण भुज्यमानां हतव्रताम् । हेतुभिर्लक्षयां चक्रुरापृईतां दुरवच्छदैः ॥ २५ ॥

tāṁ tathā yadu-vīreṇa bhujyamānāṁ hata-vratām hetubhir lakṣayāṁ cakrur āpṛītāṁ duravacchadaiḥ

Enjoyed in this way by the Yadu hero, her maiden vow now broken, and radiant with happiness, Usha was detected by her guards through signs that could not be concealed by any secrecy.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.62.26)

भटा आवेदयां चक्रू राजंस्ते दुहितुर्वयम् । विचेष्टितं लक्षयाम कन्यायाः कुलदूषणम् ॥ २६ ॥

bhaṭā āvedayāṁ cakrū rājaṁs te duhitur vayam viceṣṭitaṁ lakṣayāma kanyāyāḥ kula-dūṣaṇam

The guards reported to Bana: 'O King, we have observed in your daughter conduct of the kind that disgraces a family's honor.'

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.62.27)

अनपायिभिरस्माभिर्गुप्तायाश्च गृहे प्रभो । कन्याया दूषणं पुम्भिर्दुष्प्रेक्ष्याया न विद्महे ॥ २७ ॥

anapāyibhir asmābhir guptāyāś ca gṛhe prabho kanyāyā dūṣaṇaṁ pumbhir duṣprekṣyāyā na vidmahe

'O lord, we have never once left our posts, faithfully guarding her within this secluded palace, and yet we cannot fathom how this maiden, whom no man can even set eyes upon, has come to be so compromised.'

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.62.28)

ततः प्रव्यथितो बाणो दुहितुः श्रुतदूषणः । त्वरितः कन्यकागारं प्राप्तोऽद्राक्षीद् यदूद्वहम् ॥ २८ ॥

tataḥ pravyathito bāṇo duhituḥ śruta-dūṣaṇaḥ tvaritaḥ kanyakāgāraṁ prāpto ’drākṣīd yadūdvaham

Deeply agitated to hear of his daughter's ruin, Bana rushed at once to the maidens' quarters, and there he beheld Aniruddha, the pride of the Yadu race.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.62.29)

कामात्मजं तं भुवनैकसुन्दरं श्यामं पिशङ्गाम्बरमम्बुजेक्षणम् । बृहद्भुजं कुण्डलकुन्तलत्विषा स्मितावलोकेन च मण्डिताननम् ॥ २९ ॥

kāmātmajaṁ taṁ bhuvanaika-sundaraṁ śyāmaṁ piśaṅgāmbaram ambujekṣaṇam bṛhad-bhujaṁ kuṇḍala-kuntala-tviṣā smitāvalokena ca maṇḍitānanam

Bana beheld him — matchlessly beautiful as Cupid's own son, dark-complexioned, clad in yellow, lotus-eyed, mighty-armed, his face adorned by the gleam of earrings and hair and by his smiling glances.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.62.30)

दीव्यन्तमक्षैः प्रिययाभिनृम्णया तदङ्गसङ्गस्तनकुङ्कुमस्रजम् । बाह्वोर्दधानं मधुमल्लिकाश्रितां तस्याग्र आसीनमवेक्ष्य विस्मितः ॥ ३० ॥

dīvyantam akṣaiḥ priyayābhinṛmṇayā tad-aṅga-saṅga-stana-kuṅkuma-srajam bāhvor dadhānaṁ madhu-mallikāśritāṁ tasyāgra āsīnam avekṣya vismitaḥ

He sat there playing dice with his exceedingly lovely beloved, and upon his arms hung a garland of spring jasmine stained with the vermilion of her breasts from their embrace — seeing him thus, Bana was struck with astonishment.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.62.31)

स तं प्रविष्टं वृतमाततायिभि- र्भटैरनीकैरवलोक्य माधवः । उद्यम्य मौर्वं परिघं व्यवस्थितो यथान्तको दण्डधरो जिघांसया ॥ ३१ ॥

sa taṁ praviṣṭaṁ vṛtam ātatāyibhir bhaṭair anīkair avalokya mādhavaḥ udyamya maurvaṁ parighaṁ vyavasthito yathāntako daṇḍa-dharo jighāṁsayā

Seeing Bana enter, surrounded by armed guards bearing weapons, Madhava raised his iron club and stood firm, resembling Death himself holding his rod of punishment, ready to strike.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.62.32)

जिघृक्षया तान् परितः प्रसर्पतः शुनो यथा शूकरयूथपोऽहनत् । ते हन्यमाना भवनाद् विनिर्गता निर्भिन्नमूर्धोरुभुजाः प्रदुद्रुवुः ॥ ३२ ॥

jighṛkṣayā tān paritaḥ prasarpataḥ śuno yathā śūkara-yūthapo ’hanat te hanyamānā bhavanād vinirgatā nirbhinna-mūrdhoru-bhujāḥ pradudruvuḥ

Just as the leader of a herd of boars strikes down dogs closing in upon him, so Aniruddha struck down the soldiers who converged to seize him. Beaten, they fled the palace, their heads, thighs and arms shattered.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.62.33)

तं नागपाशैर्बलिनन्दनो बली घ्नन्तं स्वसैन्यं कुपितो बबन्ध ह । ऊषा भृशं शोकविषादविह्वला बद्धं निशम्याश्रुकलाक्ष्यरौत्सीत् ॥ ३३ ॥

taṁ nāga-pāśair bali-nandano balī ghnantaṁ sva-sainyaṁ kupito babandha ha ūṣā bhṛśaṁ śoka-viṣāda-vihvalā baddhaṁ niśamyāśru-kalākṣy arautsīt

But seeing his army thus struck down, the mighty Bana, grandson of Bali, grew furious and bound Aniruddha with the serpent-noose weapon. Hearing of her beloved's capture, Usha, her eyes filling with tears, wept, overwhelmed with grief and despair.