Ūṣā-Haraṇa, Bāṇāsura’s Pride, and Aniruddha’s Capture
Prelude to Hari–Śaṅkara Conflict
तस्योषा नाम दुहिता स्वप्ने प्राद्युम्निना रतिम् । कन्यालभत कान्तेन प्रागदृष्टश्रुतेन सा ॥ १० ॥
tasyoṣā nāma duhitā svapne prādyumninā ratim kanyālabhata kāntena prāg adṛṣṭa-śrutena sā
Ang anak na babae ni Bāṇa na si Ūṣā ay nakaranas sa panaginip ng pag-iibigan kasama ang anak ni Pradyumna, kahit hindi pa niya kailanman nakita o narinig ang tungkol sa minamahal niya.
The incidents now described will lead up to the fight predicted by Lord Śiva. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura quotes the following verses from the Viṣṇu Purāṇa, which explain Ūṣā’s dream:
Ūṣā is the daughter of Bāṇāsura; in this verse she is described as dreaming of Pradyumna’s son Aniruddha and experiencing love for a beloved she had never met.
Aniruddha is the son of Pradyumna, and Pradyumna is a son of Lord Kṛṣṇa—thus Aniruddha is Kṛṣṇa’s grandson.
The verse highlights the powerful influence of inner impressions and longing; it encourages mindfulness about what we dwell upon internally, since subtle desires can shape our actions and future choices.