Chapter summary
शीतवातपुरमाहात्म्यम् Śītavāta Pura Māhātmyam
The Glory of Śītavātapura
Śrī Sadguru speaks: Bāṇāsura, a mighty hero and foremost among Śiva's devotees, was the one who perpetually played the *mṛdaṅga* drum during Śiva's cosmic Tāṇḍava dance. Having obtained a boon of a thousand arms, he grew arrogant. The enraged Lord Śiva, whose banner bears the bull, then addressed him, saying, "O fool, a battle with Viṣṇu Himself shall be the destroyer of your pride, for with your thousand arms, you, being exceedingly arrogant, bring harm to the worlds." (v.1-3)
Meanwhile, Bāṇa's daughter, Uṣā, a beautiful maiden endowed with many virtues, worshipped Bhavānī [Pārvatī] to obtain a worthy husband. One day, in a dream, she beheld a handsome groom, charming and dark-complexioned, sporting with her. Deeply distressed, meditating on this beloved groom seen in her dream, she described him repeatedly to her female friend. (v.4-6)
Her friend, Citralekhā, then began to draw pictures of various princes, affectionately showing them to Uṣā day after day. Finally, she presented the heroes of the Yadu dynasty to her friend, showing Saṅkarṣaṇa, Vāsudeva, the mighty Pradyumna, and the great hero Aniruddha. Upon seeing Aniruddha, Uṣā, afflicted by the arrow of Kāma [the god of love], exclaimed with great excitement, "This is he! This is he!" (v.7-9)
Citralekhā, a yoginī [a female practitioner of yoga], then journeyed through the sky to Dvārakā and brought back Aniruddha, who was asleep on his couch. Sporting with that very Aniruddha day after day, the innocent Uṣā lived happily, surrounded by her friends. (v.10-11)
A certain royal guard, learning of this disgrace to the princess's family, approached the demon king in private and informed him. Bāṇāsura, enraged, came to the princess's inner chambers, and upon seeing Aniruddha, struck him with a mace. Aniruddha, in turn, struck Bāṇa back with a mace, and a great battle ensued between Bāṇa and the Yādava hero. (v.12-14)
The great *asura* [demon] thus bound Aniruddha, making him captive. Nārada then related this story to the Lord of Dvārakā. Vāsudeva, the wielder of the Śārṅga bow, along with the Yādava army, came to Bāṇa's city to free Aniruddha. The chief of the Yadus told Bāṇa, "Release that innocent hero who was taken away in his sleep." (v.15-17)
But Bāṇāsura, enraged and impelled by fate, fought with his thousand arms against Viṣṇu Himself, the wielder of the *cakra* [discus]. The Yadu heroes destroyed all of Bāṇāsura's army. Bāṇa quickly fled and took refuge in Śaṅkara. (v.18-19)
Rudra [Śiva], too, out of affection for his devotee, sportively fought with Kṛṣṇa, having arrived mounted on his bull and brandishing his trident. Govinda, with effortless sport, defeated Gaṇeśa, Kārtikeya, Bhairava, Caṇḍanāyaka, and Nandikeśa. (v.20-21)
They fled quickly from the all-powerful Viṣṇu. The Lord of the universe [Viṣṇu] then cut off Bāṇa's thousand arms. The one who bears the crescent moon [Śiva] quickly pacified Viṣṇu, who immediately spared Bāṇa, leaving him with four arms. Then Lord Viṣṇu, His excellent face adorned with a gentle smile, spoke sweet words to Śaṅkara, the one crowned with the moon. (v.22-24)
The Supreme Lord speaks: "O bearer of the crescent moon, there is not even a trace of difference between us. You are indeed I, and I am you. I am indeed in your heart. As the Lord of the universe, I perform creation in the form of Brahmā, destruction in your form, and maintenance in my own form." (v.25-26)
"My devotee who hates Śaṅkara, and your devotee who hates me—both of them go to hell for as long as the moon and sun exist. Your devotee is indeed my devotee, and my devotee is likewise yours. O Śiva, I protect your devotees with respect and compassion." (v.27-28)
"O Śaṅkara, it was only to make your word come true that Bāṇa's thousand arms were cut off in sport, not out of anger. O Śiva, I remember the boon I gave to Prahlāda long ago, that out of compassion I would not kill the *daityas* [demons] born in his lineage. Therefore, O Śiva, having cut off the thousand arms of this very arrogant one in this battle, I have granted him four arms." (v.29-31)
Śrī Sadguru speaks: Thus addressed by Viṣṇu, Rudra, with a greatly pleased mind, consoled Bāṇa, who stood humbly with folded hands. Then Bāṇa, with a delighted soul, gave his daughter Uṣā to the hero Aniruddha and worshipped Keśava. Vāsudeva, greatly pleased, went back to Dvāravatī quickly, along with Uṣā, Aniruddha, and the army. (v.32-34)
Then Lord Rudra, his anger revealed in vain, now with a pleased heart, spoke to Bāṇa, the chief of the *dānavas* [demons]. (v.35)
Rudra speaks: "You have committed a great sin against Viṣṇu and the Vaiṣṇavas. Therefore, you are not worthy of being my attendant; I forsake you. My devotee who hates Mādhava, and Mādhava's devotee who hates me—both of them go to hell for as long as the moon and sun exist." (v.36-37)
Bāṇa speaks: "O Lord, forgive my offense, committed out of ignorance. I know the glory of Hari, which has been praised by Prahlāda and Bali. O Lord, tell me the remedy for the destruction of this sin, and grant me my position as an attendant. Protect me, O Śaṅkara!" (v.38-39)
Rudra speaks: "There is an auspicious sacred place named Śītavātapura. O chief of *asuras*, the Pāpanāśana Tīrtha [a sacred bathing place that destroys sins] is also there. Go there and worship the Lord of the Universe with faith. Then, O *dānava*, you will regain your position as my attendant." (v.40-41)
Śrī Sadguru speaks: Thus instructed, the king of *asuras* went to Śītavātapura and worshipped Viṣṇu, the father of the worlds, and Śrī [Lakṣmī], the mother of the worlds. He worshipped according to the rules, with faith and devotion. Viṣṇu became well-pleased and bestowed auspiciousness upon him. The great *asura* regained his position as an attendant of Śiva, which is very difficult for gods and *asuras* to obtain, by the grace of Kṛṣṇa alone. (v.42-44)
Those people on earth who serve Viṣṇu in Śītavātapura, they attain a status once lost; there is no doubt. That maiden who worships Lakṣmī, the Pārijāta creeper, and Hari, the father of the universe, obtains an excellent husband. A king who reads this story of Uṣā's marriage and Viṣṇu's victory becomes victorious everywhere. (v.45-47)
Thus, the ninth chapter, titled "The Glory of Śītavātapura," in the Fifth Part of the "Divyadeśavaibhavam," composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
