120 - Bana presents his daughter to Aniruddha

Narayana said Sri Krishna after consulting Balarama and Uddhava dispatched a messenger to Bana.

He went to the place were Shiva, Ganesha, Parvati, the destroyer of misfortunes, Karttikeya, Bhadrakali, Ugrachanda and Kotari were seated. The messenger bowed in reverence to Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati and all other respectable people there.

The messengers said-” O Shiva, Krishna is inviting Bana for a battle-field or otherwise he should go and take refuge with Krishna together with Aniruddha and Usha. The one who does not face the war when he is invited for the same, he drives his seven generations after death to the hell"

On hearing the words of messengers, Parvati who was seated beside Shiva spoke the? appropriate words.

Parvati said- O virtuous Bana, you give away everything in dowry and take refuge with Sri Krishna together with your son. He happens to be the lord of all, bestower of all the riches, the best of all the protector of all, is all merciful and is graceful on the devotees.

On hearing the words of Parvati, all the gods and the sages present in the assembly termed her words graceful and praised her. They also advised Bana to act accordingly but Bana started burning in anger and he was trembling with his eyes burning red. The demon then suddenly got up and in spite of the objection by all, he adorned himself, with the kavacha, holding a bow in his hand and bowing in reverence to Shiva, the valorous demon moved on with three crores of soldiers of the army. He was followed by Kumbhanda, Kupakarna, Nikumbha, Kumbha and the commander Ishvara wearing the kavachas.

Thereafter Unmattabhairava, Samhara-bhairava, Asitahgabhairava, Rurubhairava, Mahabhairava, Kalabhairava, Prachandabhairava and Krodhabhairava also followed him carrying all the weapons, the lord Kalagni-rudra also followed him with all the Rudras.

Ugrachanda, Prachanda, Chandika, Chandinayika, Chandeshvari, Chamunda, Chandi, Chandakapalika, all the eight of them marched forward holding the skull-cups in their hands. The village deity of Shonitpura named Kotari also moved on mounted on the gem-studded chariot. She had a smiling face and held and skull-cup and a sword in her hand; all the eight goddesses named Indrani, peaceful Vaishnavi, Brahmani, Kaumari, Narasimhi, Varahi, of terrible form, Mahamaya, Maheshvari and Bhairavi of terrific form also followed the army mounted over a chariot delightfully. Bhadrakalika was mounted over a gem-studded chariot, offered her salutation to the lord. She had a red complexion, three eyes and looked terrific because of her protruding tongue. All of them carried the trident, shakti, gada, sword and the skull-cup in their hands.

Thereafter Mahadeva holding a trident in his hand was mounted on Nandi and marched on. Karttikeya holding a terrific weapon in his hand moved on mounted on the peacock. Thus, all the gods and goddesses except Ganesha and Parvati marched on to the battle-field. Finding Mahadeva and Bhadrakali there, Krishna spoke to them. Bana then blew the conch and bowing at the feet of Shiva, strung his bow and aimed the divine arrow from the bow. Finding Bana getting ready for the war, Satyaki the killer of the enemy moved forward in spite of being dissuaded by other people. O Narada, Bana shot a divine weapon named Anjana on him. The weapon was infallible, issued the lustre like the mid-day sun of the summer season and was quite sharp. Finding the weapon Satyaki himself became quite humble.

As a result of this, he could not be burnt and was flown to the sky. Thereafter Bana shot a fire arrow which was neutralised by Satyaki with Varunastra, extinguishing the flames of the fire which, were rising to the height of a tala tree. Thereafter Bana shot the terrific arrow of the wind.

But Satyaki neutralised the same with the shooting of a Parvatastra. Bana then used Narayanastra in the battle-field.

But Satyaki because of the training he received for Arjuna prostrated before it on the ground. Thereafter Bana who was well-known in the warfare shot the Maheshvara arrow.

Satyaki destroyed it with the use of Vaishnava-astra. Thereafter Bana shot Brahmastra.

Satyaki on the other hand destroyed the same with the use of Brahmastra. Bana, who was well-versed in the warfare shot the Nagastra.

But Satyaki destroyed the same with the shooting of Garudastra in a moment. Thereafter Bana took up the infallible trident of Shiva.

Satyaki than offered prayer to Durga. as a result of this, the trident was turned into the garland of flowers adorning his neck. Bana then placed the Pashupata on the bow.

But Satyaki shot an arrow which plunged Bana into a swoon. Finding Bana getting into sleep, the valorous Karttikeya shot the crescent arrow. But Kamadeva destroyed it playfully. After this, Karttikeya shot a gada having the lustre of the rising sun.

The god of love neutralised it also, Skanda then shot Narayanastra but Pradyumna because of the training he had received from Krishna, prostrated on the ground like a rod. Skanda then shot another arrow named shakti, having the lustre of the fire of dissolution. Kamadeva on his part neutralised the same by issuing the Narayanastra; then Karttikeya took up in anger the Pashupata weapon.

But Kamadeva with the use of Nidrastra made him unconscious who went to sleep. Finding Karttikeya having been over-powered by sleep and yawning, Banasura and Bhadrakali in anger caught hold of Kamadeva. She then carried Kamadeva and Bana in her lap and went to the place where the chaste Parvati was seated. She woke up Karttikeya and Bana also regained consciousness.

In the meantime, kama left the place from the hole of the nose suddenly and somehow terrorising all, reached the battle-field.

At that point of time all the Yadavas finding Kamadeva there, started laughing. The throat of all the ganas of Shiva dried up and they were upset with fear.

Thereafter Bana again mounted on the chariot and started fighting with Karttikeya.

Bana used five arrows in the battle-field which were neutralised by Baladeva with the use of crescent arrow.

Haladhara Balarama then broke the chariot with the use of the plough and with the use of the mortar, he killed the chariot as well as charioteer.

At the time when Bana was about to be killed by Balabhadra, Kalagnirudra prevented him from doing so.

Thereafter Balabhadra broke into pieces the chariot of Kalagnirudra and killed with the use of the plough the horses and broke the chariot. Kalagnirudra then issued the terrific fever, as a result of which all the Yadavas were over-powered with fever except Krishna.

At that point of time Sri Krishna created the Vaishnava fever and made it spread on the army and neutralised the fever of Kalagnirudra. Both the fevers were engaged in the battle-filed for sometime. Ultimately the fever of Rudra was over-powered by Vaishnava fever restless. At regaining consciousness, he prayed to Sri Krishna.

The fever said- O lord of the universe you are the one who takes to the human form to grace your devotees, you are a soul of all and are the complete Purusha, you are adored everywhere.

On hearing the words of the fever, Sri Krishna wound up his fever; thereafter the Maheshvara fever getting terrified fled away from the battle-field.

Bana than again shot thousands of arrows issuing the lustre of the fire of dissolution and were sanctified with the reciting of the mantras. Arjuna on the other hand stopped the flow of all the arrows with his own arrow. Bana then shot the terrific shakti having the lustre of the mid-day sun of the summer season, which was neutralised by Arjuna quite playfully.

Bana then shot a hundred Pashupata arrow having the lustre of hundreds of suns and was quite terrific. It could destroy the entire universe. Finding him so doing Sri Krishna lifted up the Sudarshana-chakra.

The Sudarshana-chakra cut off thousands of heads of Bana who he fell down on the ground like a wild lion.

Thereafter the Pashupata weapon which was infallible and quite terrific like the fire of dissolution, reverted in the hands of Shiva.

A great river was created with the flow of the blood of Bana. He became unconscious and fell on the ground and he lost his senses because of the pain.

In the meantime, Shiva, the teacher of the universe arrived there and holding Bana in his arms, he was infested with illusion. He then started crying.

With the fall of the tears from the eyes of Shiva a lake was created. The all-merciful lord then brought him to senses. He then carried Bana in his arm and went to the place of Krishna. He then placed Bana at the lotus-like feet of Krishna, which were always adored by Lakshmi.

Shiva then started praising Krishna who happens to be the lord of the universe according to the Vedic hymns, in the same way as he was adored by Bali.

Sri Krishna then bestowed on intelligent Be, the sacred knowledge of over-coming the death and placing his hand on his body made him eternal and indestructible.

Thereafter, Bana adored the lord with the stotra recited by Ball with devotion and offered his daughter adorned with all the ornaments to Sri Krishna with devotion. Thereafter, he, bowing in reverence gave away five lakhs of elephants, twenty lakh horses, a thousand slave-girls adorned with all the gem-studded ornaments, a thousand lakhs of emeralds, sapphire, gems and the best of diamonds beside thousands of waters vases made of gold.

At the command of Shiva, Bana presented to Krishna the fine costumes which were sanctified by fire.

O Narada, he also gave away to Krishna thousands of vases filled with betels and honey.

Placing his daughter at the lotus-like feet of Hari, he started crying in land voice. Lord Kari consoled him.

Thereafter bestowing his blessing according to the Vedas and taking permission from Shiva, he left for Dvaraka.

Reaching Dvaraka lord Krishna presented the newly wedded daughter of Bana to Rukmini and Devaki.

After that, the welfare festivities were performed with great enthusiasm and the Brahman as were served with- food and given riches in charity.