Shloka 6
Ūṣā-Haraṇa, Bāṇāsura’s Pride, and Aniruddha’s Capture
Prelude to Hari–Śaṅkara Conflict
दो:सहस्रं 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
Diese tausend Arme, die du mir gabst, sind mir nur zu einer schweren Last geworden. Außer dir finde ich in den drei Welten keinen ebenbürtigen Gegner zum Kampf.
According to the ācāryas, Bāṇāsura’s subtle implication here is this: “And so when I have defeated you, Lord Śiva, my world conquest will be complete and my desire for battle satisfied.”
FAQs
This verse shows how pride can make even gifts and power feel burdensome, and how the search for challenge can turn into arrogance—setting the stage for divine correction in Krishna’s pastimes.
Bāṇāsura, empowered and boastful, complained that his large force was useless because he found no worthy opponent in the three worlds, implying only Śiva could match him.
Abilities and resources can become a burden when driven by ego; channel strength into service, discipline, and humility rather than seeking superiority over others.