Shloka 23

Kṛṣṇa Defeats Bāṇāsura and Receives Śiva’s Prayers

The Śoṇitapura Battle and the Jvara Episode

Devanagari script

अथ नारायण: देव: तं द‍ृष्ट्वा व्यसृजज्ज्वरम् । माहेश्वरो वैष्णवश्च युयुधाते ज्वरावुभौ ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

atha nārāyaṇaḥ devaḥ taṁ dṛṣṭvā vyasṛjaj jvaram māheśvaro vaiṣṇavaś ca yuyudhāte jvarāv ubhau

Translation

主那罗延见那具象化的武器逼近，便放出自己的热病武器——毗湿奴热病（毗湿奴-阇伐罗）。于是湿婆-阇伐罗与毗湿奴-阇伐罗相互交战。

Synonyms

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle (अनन्तरार्थक)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• देवः: the Lord
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to 'नारायणः'

• तम्: him/that (fever)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun referring to 'ज्वरः'

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• व्यसृजत्: sent forth/released
• व्यसृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-सृज् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• ज्वरम्: (his) fever (counter-fever)
• ज्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• माहेश्वरः: the Māheśvara (Śaiva)
• माहेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective used substantively: 'Śiva-born/Śaiva' (fever)

• वैष्णवः: the Vaiṣṇava
• वैष्णवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective used substantively: 'Vaiṣṇava' (fever)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• युयुधाते: they two fought
• युयुधाते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन); Ātmanepada

• ज्वरौ: the two fevers
• ज्वरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; adjective qualifying 'ज्वरौ'

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa (Śrī Kṛṣṇa/Viṣṇu)
• Maheśvara (Lord Śiva)
• Māheśvara Jvara
• Vaiṣṇava Jvara

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Vaiṣṇava Jvara and Māheśvara Jvara?

This verse describes two personified fever-weapons—one released by Lord Śiva and one by Lord Nārāyaṇa—engaging in combat, showing the Supreme Lord’s countermeasure and protection.

Why did Lord Nārāyaṇa (Kṛṣṇa) release His own jvara in Canto 10 Chapter 63?

In the battle connected with Bāṇāsura, Śiva’s jvara was deployed; seeing it, the Lord manifested His Vaiṣṇava jvara to neutralize that affliction and safeguard His side.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from this verse about spiritual protection?

When overwhelming troubles arise, the Bhagavatam emphasizes taking shelter of the Supreme Lord, who has the power to counter even formidable forces and restore peace to His devotees.