Shloka 25
बाणयुद्धम्, हरिहरसंवादः, ज्वरप्रकरणम्, अनिरुद्धमोचनम्
Bāṇa’s War, the Jvara Episode, Hari–Hara Dialogue, and Aniruddha’s Release
जृम्भाभिभूतस् तु हरो रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् न शशाक तदा योद्धुं कृष्णेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा
jṛmbhābhibhūtas tu haro rathopastha upāviśat na śaśāka tadā yoddhuṃ kṛṣṇenākliṣṭakarmaṇā
Overcome by yawning and stupor, Hara (Śiva) sat down upon the seat of his chariot; and at that time he could not continue the combat against Kṛṣṇa, whose deeds are ever effortless and unwearied.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Kṛṣṇa neutralizes Śiva’s capacity to fight, ensuring the victory that protects his people and completes the checking of Bāṇa’s rebellion.
Leela: Yuddha
Dharma Restored: Rightful subordination of all divine agencies to Bhagavān’s will; safeguarding devotees from deva-backed obstruction
Concept: Bhagavān’s līlā is ‘akliṣṭa-karma’—His acts do not exhaust Him—whereas all other powers are limited and can be checked.
Vedantic Theme: Brahman
Application: Practice devotion with confidence that the Lord’s help is not constrained by fatigue or circumstance; avoid absolutizing worldly or even celestial authorities.
Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s unsurpassed, effortless agency (svābhāvika-śakti) distinguishes Him as the supreme Person while other gods remain real but dependent.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
FAQs
It signals a divinely induced incapacity—an episode device used to show that even great deities can be restrained within Vishnu’s sovereign will during Krishna’s avatara-lila.
By describing Krishna as akliṣṭa-karman—one whose deeds are effortless—Parāśara frames the event as an expression of transcendent mastery rather than mere physical prowess.
The verse underscores Vishnu’s supremacy manifested through Krishna: divine action remains unimpeded, establishing universal order even when interacting with other major divine powers.