Shloka 21

Ūṣā-Haraṇa, Bāṇāsura’s Pride, and Aniruddha’s Capture

Prelude to Hari–Śaṅkara Conflict

Devanagari script

तत्र सुप्तं सुपर्यङ्के प्राद्युम्निं योगमास्थिता । गृहीत्वा शोणितपुरं सख्यै प्रियमदर्शयत् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

tatra suptaṁ su-paryaṅke prādyumniṁ yogam āsthitā gṛhītvā śoṇita-puraṁ sakhyai priyam adarśayat

Translation

ที่นั่นนางพบอนิรุทธ โอรสของพระประทยุมน์ หลับอยู่บนแท่นบรรทมอันงดงาม ด้วยอำนาจโยคะนางอุ้มเขาไปยังโศณิตปุระ แล้วนำไปให้สหายคืออูษาได้พบคนรักของนาง

Synonyms

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• सुप्तम्: sleeping
• सुप्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्वप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• सुपर्यङ्के: on a fine bed
• सुपर्यङ्के: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + पर्यङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय—सु-पर्यङ्कः (excellent bed)

• प्राद्युम्निम्: (the son of Pradyumna) Aniruddha
• प्राद्युम्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राद्युम्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; (प्रद्युम्न-पुत्रः)

• योगम्: yogic power
• योगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आस्थिता: having resorted to
• आस्थिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + स्था (धातु) → आस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past active participle, ‘having resorted to’)

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय-भाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seized/taken)

• शोणितपुरम्: to Śoṇitapura
• शोणितपुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोणित (प्रातिपदिक) + पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—शोणितस्य पुरम् (Śoṇitapura)

• सख्यै: to (her) friend
• सख्यै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• प्रियम्: the beloved
• प्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अदर्शयत्: showed
• अदर्शयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative: caused to see/showed)

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments as follows on this verse: “It is stated here that Citralekhā resorted to mystic power ( yogam āsthitā ). As explained in the Hari-vaṁśa and other literatures, she needed to employ her powers because when she arrived at Dvārakā she found herself unable to enter Lord Kṛṣṇa’s city. At that time Śrī Nārada Muni instructed her in the mystic art of entering. Some authorities also say that Citralekhā is herself an expansion of Yoga-māyā.”

Characters & Entities

• Aniruddha
• Pradyumna
• Ūṣā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Ūṣā using mystic power to bring Aniruddha to Śoṇitapura?

This verse states that Ūṣā, by resorting to yogic (mystic) power, took Aniruddha while he slept and brought him to Śoṇitapura, then showed him to her close friend—highlighting the extraordinary, plot-driving use of siddhis within the narrative.

Why did Ūṣā take Aniruddha while he was sleeping?

Within the story of Canto 10, Chapter 62, Ūṣā is overwhelmed by love for the person she had envisioned, and she acts impulsively—using mystic power to bring Aniruddha to her city—setting the stage for the ensuing conflict and divine intervention.

Practical application: what is the modern-life takeaway from this shloka?

Strong attraction and power can push one toward rash choices; the Bhāgavatam’s narrative encourages aligning desire with dharma and seeking divine guidance rather than acting merely on impulse.