118 - Durga dissuades Bana from the War

Narayana said- After thus speaking to Ganesha, Shiva retired to his inner apartment, he found there Durga the destroyer of the misfortune, Bhairavi, Bhadrakali, Ugrachanda and Kotari seated on the beautiful lion thrones, all of them got up at once and bowed in reverence to the lord.

Thereafter, Ganesha when valorous Karttikeya, Nandi, Sunanda, the minister Mahakala, eight Bhairavas, the siddhas, the yogis and eleven Rudras also arrived there. In the meantime, Manibhadra who guarded the main gate arrived there and spoke to Shiva.

Manibhadra said- The army of Yadavas is innumerable and comprises of Baladeva, Pradyumna, Samba Satyaki, Ugrachanda, Bhima, Arjuna, Akrura, Uddhava, Jayanta, the son of Indra and are seated on the chariot built with the best of gems. Sri Krishna the creator of the creator is also there, seven cowherds are moving the white fly-whisks. He possesses the lustre of cores of gods of love and is adorned with long garland of forest flowers. He is shining like crores of suns and is holding an astonishing chakra. The kaumodaki-gada is placed in the chariot; beside the indestructible trident and Panchajanya conch are also seem there. There are three crores of the wild elephants, three crores of terrific warriors, hundred crores of horses besides four times more the foot soldiers adorned with kavachas seven times more that number or the wielders of the swords and the number of archers as double its number.

All of them have surrounded Shonitpura in the same way as the army of Rama had surrounded Lanka which was thousand talas in height, illumining with the fire flames and had a number of moats and was inaccessible from the demons and the gods. Garuda with the waters of the Svargaganga had destroyed the boundary wall of the city, which was built with the best of gems and was quite high.

Baladeva have destroyed lakhs of the soldiers with his plough and three lakhs of gardens have been uprooted.

Killing the gate-keepers they have entered the main-gate. On hearing this, lord Shiva in the assembly of the gods spoke to Parvati, Bhadrakali, Skanda, Ganapati, eight Bhairavas, Rudras, Virabhadra, Mahakala, Nandi and all the army commanders.

Mahadeva said- Sri Krishna, the lord of Goloka, has arrived who can destroy the entire universe in a moment then what to speak all this land.

All of you should protect Bana with all the means. Bana should move out to the battle-field reciting the name of Ganesha.

Skanda should be on the left of Bana, while Ganesha should move forward and Bhairava should be on right his together with Indra, Nandi, Mahakala and Virabhadra. All other warriors should protect him, the goddess Durga should move in the upper region together with Kotari, Kali and Ugrachanda.

Durga, the destroyer of misfortune should protect Bana. O virtuous one, you happen to be the strength of lord Krishna, that is why you are known as Narayani.

You are illusion of Vishnu, the mother of the universe, bestower of all the welfare's and therefore, you protect Bana with the use of Sudarshana-chakra.

I love Bana the most, much more than Ganesha and Karttikeya, you place your hand on the head of Bana together with the dust from your feet.

On hearing the words of Shiva, Durga, the destroyer of misfortune spoke sweet, meaningful and truthful words which were appropriate to the time.

Parvati said- O Bana, you hand over your daughter Usha to lord Krishna together with Aniruddha and giving in dowry the gems, diamonds, jewels, rubies, sapphire, emeralds and all the ornaments studded with precious gems. Thereafter you rule the country fearlessly, what type of war can you wage against the one who happens to be the soul of all.

With the departure of whom the body becomes lifeless together with all the organs of senses. I happen to be the strength; Brahma is the mind while Shiva is the store of all the knowledge.

With the departure of the soul from the body, it falls and becomes like a dead body. O Bana, who can stand the lustre of Sudarshana-chakra in? the battle-field. Sri Krishna happens to be the supreme soul, the one who takes to human form in order to oblige his devotees who is eternal, truthful and complete Brahman. The soul cannot be wounded with the shooting of an arrow like the sky, then what type of fight could be there with the soul? You are dearer to me much more then Ganesha and Karttikeya.

I like Bana much more than all of me attendants but no one else is dearer to me than Krishna. I happen to be Mahalakshmi in Vaikuntha, Radha in Goloka, Shiva in Shivaloka and Sarasvati in Brahmaloka, In incarnated as Sati in earlier times, the daughter of Daksha for the killing of the demons. Thereafter I ended my life because of your denouncement and was born as the daughter of the mountain. In the battle-field with Raktabija, I came to known as Kali. I happen to be Savitri, the mother of the Vedas, Sita the daughter of Janaka and Rukmini in Dvaraka. Presently I have been born on earth as the daughter of Vrushabhana and the spouse of Krishna in Vrundavana. You happen to be the all knowledgeable and eternal Shiva, what should I speak to you about the appropriate action to be taken at the moment.