Shloka 39

बाणयुद्धम्, हरिहरसंवादः, ज्वरप्रकरणम्, अनिरुद्धमोचनम्

Bāṇa’s War, the Jvara Episode, Hari–Hara Dialogue, and Aniruddha’s Release

Devanagari script

छिन्ने बाहुवने तत् तु करस्थं मधुसूदनः मुमुक्षुर् बाणनाशाय विज्ञातस् त्रिपुरद्विषा

Transliteration

chinne bāhuvane tat tu karasthaṃ madhusūdanaḥ mumukṣur bāṇanāśāya vijñātas tripuradviṣā

Translation

When the forest of his arms was hewn away, Madhusūdana held him fast in His grasp—intent on ending Bāṇa’s assault; and this was understood by the Foe of Tripura (Śiva).

Word by Word

• छिन्ने: when (it was) cut
• छिन्ने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्न (√छिद्, धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे/स्त्रीलिङ्गे सप्तमी/प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन-रूपसम्भवम्; अत्र ‘बाहुवने’ इति सप्तमी-एकवचने सति सप्तमी-एकवचनं विशेषणम् (Locative singular agreeing)

• बाहुवने: in the forest of arms (i.e., in the mass of arms)
• बाहुवने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बाहूनां वनम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma/Pratipadya (Object/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• करस्थम्: held in (his) hand
• करस्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (करे स्थितम्)

• मधुसूदनः: Madhusūdana (Vishnu/Krishna)
• मधुसूदनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + सूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मधुं सूदयति इति)

• मुमुक्षुः: wishing to release (him)
• मुमुक्षुः: Karta (Agent qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुमुक्षु (√मुच्, धातु; desiderative/इच्छार्थक)
• Form: कृदन्त; इच्छार्थक-प्रत्ययान्त (मुमुक्षु); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मधुसूदनस्य)

• बाणनाशाय: for the destruction of Bāṇa
• बाणनाशाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण + नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे दत्तिः; तत्पुरुषः (बाणस्य नाशः)

• विज्ञातः: known/recognized
• विज्ञातः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विज्ञात (√ज्ञा, धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘मधुसूदनः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• त्रिपुरद्विषा: by the foe of Tripura (Śiva)
• त्रिपुरद्विषा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुर + द्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (त्रिपुरं द्वेष्टि इति)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Krishna’s deeds in the Bāṇāsura episode and their outcome.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna subdues Bāṇa to protect Aniruddha and uphold dharma while restraining excessive asuric violence.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Protection of the Yādava line and the moral limits of power even among boon-granted beings.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Vyuha Form: Aniruddha

Characters & Entities

• Madhusudana (Sri Krishna/Vishnu)
• Bana (Banasura)
• Tripuradvisa (Shiva)

FAQs

What is the significance of Bāṇa’s ‘forest of arms’ in the Vishnu Purana?

It symbolizes overwhelming power and pride; Krishna’s cutting down of those arms depicts the divine reduction of arrogance to restore dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Shiva’s role in this episode?

Parāśara presents Śiva (Tripuradviṣ) as discerning Krishna’s intention—showing that the gods recognize the supreme ordering will at work rather than acting from rivalry.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu (Krishna) in this context?

Krishna acts as the sovereign protector who restrains destructive force and re-establishes order, while even Śiva perceives and concurs with that higher purpose.