Shloka 6
Kṛṣṇa Defeats Bāṇāsura and Receives Śiva’s Prayers
The Śoṇitapura Battle and the Jvara Episode
बाणार्थे भगवान् रुद्र: ससुत: प्रमथैर्वृत: । आरुह्य नन्दिवृषभं युयुधे रामकृष्णयो: ॥ ६ ॥
bāṇārthe bhagavān rudraḥ sa-sutaḥ pramathair vṛtaḥ āruhya nandi-vṛṣabhaṁ yuyudhe rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ
ബാണന്റെ പക്ഷത്തിനായി ഭഗവാൻ രുദ്രൻ തന്റെ പുത്രൻ കാർത്തികേയനോടും പ്രമഥഗണങ്ങളോടും കൂടി നന്ദിവൃഷഭത്തെ കയറി രാമകൃഷ്ണന്മാരോടു യുദ്ധം ചെയ്തു।
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī states that the word bhagavān is used here to indicate that Lord Śiva is by nature all-knowing and thus well aware of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s greatness. Still, although Śiva knew Lord Kṛṣṇa would defeat him, he joined the battle against Him to demonstrate the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura states that Lord Śiva entered the battle for two reasons: first, to increase Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure and enthusiasm; and second, to demonstrate that the Lord’s incarnation as Kṛṣṇa, although enacting humanlike pastimes, is superior to other avatāras, such as Lord Rāmacandra. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī further states in this regard that Yoga-māyā, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s internal potency, bewildered Lord Śiva just as she had bewildered Brahmā. In support of this statement, the ācārya cites the phrase brahma-rudrādi-mohanam from Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. Of course, Yoga-māyā’s job is to make fine arrangements for the Lord’s pastimes, and thus Śiva became enthusiastic to battle the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa.
FAQs
In this verse, Śiva fights “for the sake of Bāṇa,” acting as Bāṇāsura’s protector due to his bond with the devotee and the situation, even while Kṛṣṇa remains the supreme controller of the entire līlā.
The Pramathas are Rudra’s attendant beings who accompany Śiva; here they surround him as he mounts Nandī and enters battle.
Even exalted personalities may take opposing roles due to duty and relationships; a devotee learns to see divine arrangement behind conflict and remain steady in devotion to Kṛṣṇa.