Shloka 33
Ūṣā-Haraṇa, Bāṇāsura’s Pride, and Aniruddha’s Capture
Prelude to Hari–Śaṅkara Conflict
तं नागपाशैर्बलिनन्दनो बली घ्नन्तं स्वसैन्यं कुपितो बबन्ध ह । ऊषा भृशं शोकविषादविह्वला बद्धं निशम्याश्रुकलाक्ष्यरौत्सीत् ॥ ३३ ॥
taṁ nāga-pāśair bali-nandano balī ghnantaṁ sva-sainyaṁ kupito babandha ha ūṣā bhṛśaṁ śoka-viṣāda-vihvalā baddhaṁ niśamyāśru-kalākṣy arautsīt
Putra Bali yang perkasa, Bāṇa, dengan murka mengikat Śrī Aniruddha—yang sedang menumpas pasukannya—dengan tali mistik nāga-pāśa. Mendengar Aniruddha tertawan, Ūṣā diliputi duka dan muram; matanya penuh air mata dan ia pun menangis.
The ācāryas explain that Bāṇāsura could not actually capture the powerful grandson of Lord Kṛṣṇa. However, the Lord’s līla-śakti, or pastime potency, allowed this to happen so that the events described in the next chapter could take place.
FAQs
Because Aniruddha was defeating Bāṇāsura’s soldiers; in anger, Bāṇāsura restrained him using serpent-nooses (nāga-pāśa) to stop his attack.
Uṣā is Bāṇāsura’s daughter; hearing that Aniruddha—whom she loved—had been bound, she was overcome with sorrow and despair and wept.
Even powerful circumstances can suddenly “bind” a person; the Bhāgavatam narrative encourages taking shelter of Bhagavān and acting with steadiness rather than panic when reversals arise.