Banasura Defeated

Chapter 62, 63

Bali Maharaja married Rukmini’s daughter, Charumati, and had a son named Banasura. Banasura was devoted to Siva, and received the benediction that Siva would personally protect his city. With the strength of one thousand arms, his pride swelled and Siva thus predicted his downfall.

Once, Banasura’s daughter, Usa, was having intimate dreams of Aniruddha, the son of Pradyumna. Usa’s maidservant, Chitralekha, identified Aniruddha and brought him there by her mystic power. Usa and Aniruddha united, but when Banasura learned of this he angrily captured that grandson of Krishna. In retaliation, Krishna and Balarama gathered the Yadava armies and attacked Banasura. After an epic duel involving Lord Siva (who had vowed to protect Banasura’s city), all but four of Banasura’s arms were severed and he finally surrendered to Krishna, who spared his life. Usa and Aniruddha were thus brought safely back to Dwaraka.