Shloka 19
Ūṣā-Haraṇa, Bāṇāsura’s Pride, and Aniruddha’s Capture
Prelude to Hari–Śaṅkara Conflict
मनुजेषु च सा वृष्णीन् शूरमानकदुन्दुभिम् । व्यलिखद् रामकृष्णौ च प्रद्युम्नं वीक्ष्य लज्जिता ॥ १८ ॥ अनिरुद्धं विलिखितं वीक्ष्योषावाङ्मुखी ह्रिया । सोऽसावसाविति प्राह स्मयमाना महीपते ॥ १९ ॥
manujeṣu ca sā vṛṣnīn śūram ānakadundubhim vyalikhad rāma-kṛṣṇau ca pradyumnaṁ vīkṣya lajjitā
Ô roi, Citralekhā dessina parmi les hommes les portraits des Vṛṣṇi : Śūra, Ānakadundubhi, Balarāma et Śrī Kṛṣṇa. En voyant l’image de Pradyumna, Ūṣā rougit; et lorsqu’elle vit celle d’Aniruddha, elle baissa la tête de pudeur, puis, souriante, s’écria : «C’est lui, c’est bien lui !»
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī gives this further insight: When Ūṣā saw the picture of Pradyumna, she became bashful because she thought, “This is my father-in-law.” Then she saw the picture of her lover, Aniruddha, and cried out in joy.
FAQs
It expresses Ūṣā’s certain recognition—on seeing Aniruddha’s drawn likeness, she shyly affirms, “That is he, the very one I saw (and desired).”
Because her inner attraction became openly confirmed; modesty (hrī) made her lower her face even as she smiled and admitted her recognition.
Strong feelings reveal themselves naturally—yet dignity and humility can coexist with joy; the verse highlights sincerity of the heart tempered by modest self-restraint.