Aniruddha and Uṣā’s Dream
Aniruddha, the son of Pradyumna and grandson of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, was as valiant as His ancestors. In the city of Śoṇitapura, the daughter of the mighty demon king Bāṇāsura, named Uṣā, had a mysterious dream one night of a handsome youth, and she instantly fell in love.
Upon awakening, she was restless and deeply lovesick. Her friend and confidante Citralekhā, who had mystic powers, painted portraits of various celestial and earthly princes. When Uṣā saw the portrait of Aniruddha, she cried, “That is him!”
Using her siddhis, Citralekhā secretly brought Aniruddha from Dvārakā to Śoṇitapura while he slept. There, Uṣā and Aniruddha lived together in secret, their hearts bound by love.
Bāṇāsura Discovers the Union
Eventually, the palace guards reported a stranger living in the inner chambers. Bāṇāsura, enraged, stormed in with his troops and caught Aniruddha.
Despite fighting valiantly with a club, Aniruddha was overpowered by Bāṇāsura’s māyā and bound with snake-ropes. He was imprisoned in the city dungeon.
Kṛṣṇa and the Yādavas March to War
When the news reached Dvārakā, Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma, and Pradyumna gathered their armies and marched to Śoṇitapura.
The city was protected by Śiva himself, for Bāṇāsura was a devotee of Lord Śiva and had been blessed with 1,000 arms and a boon that he could not be killed by anyone other than the Lord.
A mighty battle broke out—Kṛṣṇa versus Śiva.
The Battle between Kṛṣṇa and Śiva
- Kṛṣṇa fought against Śiva, who rode Nandī, wielding his trident and commanding ghosts and bhūtas.
- Kṛṣṇa used His Sudarśana chakra to destroy the demonic forces.
- Even Kārtikeya, the son of Śiva, was defeated by Kṛṣṇa’s divine weapons.
- Eventually, Śiva acknowledged the supremacy of Kṛṣṇa and withdrew from the battlefield.
The Defeat of Bāṇāsura
Now Kṛṣṇa turned toward Bāṇāsura. Using the Sudarśana chakra, He cut off hundreds of Bāṇāsura’s arms, sparing only four.
When Lord Śiva intervened again, praising Bāṇāsura’s devotion but also acknowledging Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme, Kṛṣṇa, out of compassion, said:
“Because you are dear to Śiva, I shall not kill you. But let this be a lesson in humility.”
Aniruddha and Uṣā Reunited
Aniruddha was released. The marriage of Aniruddha and Uṣā was performed in Śoṇitapura with royal splendor, and the entire Yādava army returned joyfully to Dvārakā.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- True love, when connected to bhakti, is protected and purified by the Lord.
- Even Śiva, the great deva, bows before the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
- Pride in power, like Bāṇāsura’s 1,000 arms, must be humbled before divine grace.
- The Lord protects His devotees, even in distant lands and against cosmic forces.
- The Sudarśana chakra is not merely a weapon, but the symbol of Kṛṣṇa’s supreme authority and divine will.
Origin of the Story: Harivaṁśa Purāṇa – Viṣṇu-parva; Śrīmad Bhāgavatam – Canto 10, Chapters 61–63
