Shloka 42
Kṛṣṇa Defeats Bāṇāsura and Receives Śiva’s Prayers
The Śoṇitapura Battle and the Jvara Episode
यस्त्वां विसृजते मर्त्य आत्मानं प्रियमीश्वरम् । विपर्ययेन्द्रियार्थार्थं विषमत्त्यमृतं त्यजन् ॥ ४२ ॥
yas tvāṁ visṛjate martya ātmānaṁ priyam īśvaram viparyayendriyārthārthaṁ viṣam atty amṛtaṁ tyajan
നിന്നെ—തന്റെ സത്യാത്മാവും ഏറ്റവും പ്രിയ സുഹൃത്തും ഈശ്വരനും—ഇന്ദ്രിയവിഷയങ്ങൾക്കായി ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുന്ന മർത്ത്യൻ അമൃതം തള്ളിവെച്ച് വിഷം കുടിക്കുന്നവനാണ്।
The person described above is pitiable because he rejects that which is actually dear, the Lord, and accepts that which is not dear and is ungodly: temporary sense gratification, which leads to suffering and bewilderment.
FAQs
This verse states that turning away from Kṛṣṇa to pursue sense-objects is a ‘viparyaya’ (reversal of true interest): one gives up amṛta (nectar) and consumes viṣa (poison), meaning the soul chooses suffering over spiritual life.
In the context of the Bāṇāsura episode, Śiva offers prayers to Kṛṣṇa, acknowledging Him as the dearmost Self and Supreme Lord, and emphasizing that rejecting Kṛṣṇa for worldly desires is self-destructive.
Treat devotion and remembrance of God as the primary goal, and keep sense pursuits subordinate—choose habits that nourish the soul (bhakti, prayer, satsanga) rather than compulsions that increase anxiety and bondage.