Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 28
Kṛṣṇa Defeats Bāṇāsura and Receives Śiva’s Prayers
The Śoṇitapura Battle and the Jvara Episode
तप्तोऽहं ते तेजसा दु:सहेन शान्तोग्रेणात्युल्बणेन ज्वरेण । तावत्तापो देहिनां तेऽङ्घ्रिमूलं नो सेवेरन् यावदाशानुबद्धा: ॥ २८ ॥
tapto ’ham te tejasā duḥsahena śāntogreṇāty-ulbaṇena jvareṇa tāvat tāpo dehināṁ te ’nghri-mūlaṁ no severan yāvad āśānubaddhāḥ
我正被你那难以承受的热病武器之威力所折磨——它冰冷却又灼烧。凡有形之众生，只要仍被物质欲望所缚、因而不愿侍奉你足下，便必受此苦热。
In the previous verse, the Śiva-jvara stated that those who live by violence will suffer similar violence at the hands of the Lord. But here he further states that those who do not surrender to the Supreme Lord are especially liable to punishment. Although the Śiva-jvara himself had acted violently up till now, since he has surrendered to the Lord and rectified himself, he hopes to receive the Lord’s mercy. In other words, he has now become the Lord’s devotee.
FAQs
This verse states that as long as living beings are bound by hopes and desires, they do not take shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, and their burning misery continues.
After being overwhelmed by Kṛṣṇa’s superior potency and pacified, the personified fever (Śiva-jvara) admits defeat and explains that bondage to desire keeps souls from serving Kṛṣṇa’s feet.
Reduce attachment to endless hopes and cravings, and consciously take shelter of Kṛṣṇa—through remembrance, prayer, and devotional service—so the inner ‘fever’ of agitation subsides.