Shloka 24

Kṛṣṇa Defeats Bāṇāsura and Receives Śiva’s Prayers

The Śoṇitapura Battle and the Jvara Episode

Devanagari script

माहेश्वर: समाक्रन्दन् वैष्णवेन बलार्दित: । अलब्ध्वाभयमन्यत्र भीतो माहेश्वरो ज्वर: । शरणार्थी हृषीकेशं तुष्टाव प्रयताञ्जलि: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

māheśvaraḥ samākrandan vaiṣṇavena balārditaḥ alabdhvābhayam anyatra bhīto māheśvaro jvaraḥ śaraṇārthī hṛṣīkeśaṁ tuṣṭāva prayatāñjaliḥ

Translation

Śiva-jvara bị sức mạnh của Viṣṇu-jvara áp đảo nên kêu gào đau đớn. Không tìm được nơi nương tựa nào khác, hắn sợ hãi đến cầu quy y nơi Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Hṛṣīkeśa—Chủ tể các giác quan—và chắp tay bắt đầu tán thán Ngài.

Synonyms

• माहेश्वरः: the Māheśvara (Śaiva fever)
• माहेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Śaiva fever (personified)

• समाक्रन्दन्: crying out loudly
• समाक्रन्दन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-क्रन्द् (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• वैष्णवेन: by the Vaiṣṇava (fever)
• वैष्णवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agent/instrument causing affliction

• बल-अर्दितः: overpowered
• बल-अर्दितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्दित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'बलेन अर्दितः' = afflicted by force

• अलब्ध्वा: not obtaining
• अलब्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund with negation (अन् + लब्ध्वा); 'not obtaining'

• अभयम्: fearlessness/safety
• अभयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere
• अन्यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb meaning 'elsewhere'

• भीतः: afraid
• भीतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भी (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'afraid'

• माहेश्वरः: Māheśvara
• माहेश्वरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective qualifying 'ज्वरः'

• ज्वरः: the fever-demon
• ज्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• शरण-अर्थी: seeking shelter
• शरण-अर्थी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'शरणस्य अर्थी' = seeking refuge

• हृषीकेशम्: Hṛṣīkeśa (Krishna)
• हृषीकेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• प्रयत-अञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• प्रयत-अञ्जलिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (प्रातिपदिक) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय: 'प्रयतः अञ्जलिः यस्य' = with reverently joined hands

Purport

As pointed out by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, it is significant that the Śiva-jvara had to leave the side of his master, Lord Śiva, and directly take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Characters & Entities

• Hṛṣīkeśa (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Māheśvara Jvara
• Vaiṣṇava Jvara
• Mahādeva (Śiva)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter of Krishna when afflicted by fear or suffering?

This verse shows that even the powerful Māheśvara Jvara, unable to find fearlessness anywhere, ultimately takes refuge in Hṛṣīkeśa (Kṛṣṇa) and prays with folded hands—teaching that true safety is found in surrender to the Lord.

Why did the Māheśvara Jvara offer prayers to Hṛṣīkeśa (Krishna)?

Overpowered by the Vaiṣṇava Jvara and unable to gain relief elsewhere, the Māheśvara Jvara became frightened and sought protection by surrendering to Kṛṣṇa, the supreme controller of the senses and the ultimate refuge.

How can the teaching of sharaṇāgati (surrender) in this verse be applied in modern life?

When anxiety, illness, or crisis feels overwhelming, this verse encourages turning to sincere prayer and humble surrender—seeking steadiness and guidance in devotion rather than relying only on external supports.