Shreemad Bhagavat Mahapuran- Canto: 10: Chapters: 63-65
Banasur bound Aniruddha with the Nagapash and kept him imprisoned in Shonitpur. Meanwhile, four months passed, and there was still no news of Aniruddha. His family members became deeply anxious and grief-stricken. At that very time, Naradji arrived and informed them that Aniruddha was in Shonitpur. He had single-handedly defeated Banasur’s army, but in the end, Banasur had captured him with the Nagapash.
The moment Bhagwan Krishna, Balaramji, Pradyumna, Satyaki, Samb, Gad and the other Yadu heroes heard this news, they marched toward Shonitpur with twelve Akshauhini armies and surrounded the city from all sides. When Banasur saw the Yadu army destroying his gardens, forts, and gateways, he too came out in fury, his mighty forces prepared for war.
To protect Banasur, Bhagwan Shiva Himself arrived upon Nandi, accompanied by His son Kartikeya and the hosts of Shiva-Ganas. A fierce and astonishing battle began. Bhagwan Krishna fought against Shivaji, Pradyumna against Kartikeya, Balaramji against Kumbhand and Kupakarna, Samb against Banasur’s son, and Satyaki against Banasur himself. Brahmaji, Devas, sages, Gandharvas and Apsaras gathered in Vimanas to witness this extraordinary war.
Bhagwan Krishna drove away Shivaji’s attendants, Bhutas, Pretas, Pishachas, Vetalas, Dakinis and Brahma-Rakshasas, with the sharp arrows of His Sharnga bow. Shivaji released many divine weapons upon Bhagwan Krishna, but Krishna effortlessly countered each one. He answered the Brahmastra with another Brahmastra, the Vayavyastra with the Parvatastra, the Agneyastra with the Parjanyastra, and the Pashupatastra with the Narayanastra.
Then Krishna released the Jrimbhanastra, forcing Shivaji into repeated yawning, causing Him to withdraw from battle for some time. Taking that opportunity, Shree Krishna began destroying Banasur’s army. Pradyumna wounded Kartikeya with his arrows, forcing him to retreat from the battlefield. Balaramji also severely injured Kumbhand and Kupakarna. Seeing their greatest warriors defeated, Banasur’s army fled in fear.
Enraged, Banasur lifted five hundred bows at once with his thousand arms and prepared to shower Bhagwan Krishna with arrows. But Bhagwan Krishna instantly cut apart all his bows, destroyed his chariot, horses and charioteer, and then blew His victorious conch.
At that moment, Kotara Devi, Banasur’s foster mother, appeared before Bhagwan Krishna in a naked state with dishevelled hair to save Banasur. Observing proper decorum, Bhagwan Krishna turned His gaze away. Seizing that chance, Banasur escaped back into the city.
Meanwhile, after Shivaji’s attendants had fled, the terrible Maheshwar-jwar (the personification of fever energy), blazing like fire with three heads and three legs, rushed toward Bhagwan Krishna. In response, Bhagwan Krishna manifested His own Vaishnav-jwar.
The two divine jwaras clashed violently. In the end, the Maheshwar-jwar became terrified and tormented by the Vaishnav-jwar's overwhelming brilliance. Finding no shelter anywhere, it finally surrendered at Bhagwan Krishna’s feet and prayed for protection. Bhagwan Krishna granted fearlessness to the three-headed being, who then bowed to Him and departed.
Soon after, Banasur returned once again upon a chariot, raging with fury and attacking Bhagwan Krishna with countless weapons from his thousand arms. Bhagwan Krishna then began severing his arms with the Sudarshan Chakra, just as a man cuts branches from a tree.
When Shivaji saw Banasur’s arms being cut away, He approached Bhagwan Krishna and prayed for mercy, saying that Banasur was His beloved devotee and servant.
Bhagwan Krishna accepted Shivaji’s request and declared that He would not kill Banasur, because he was the son of the great king Bali and descended from Prahlad’s lineage. Bhagwan explained that He had only destroyed Banasur’s pride and reduced the earth's burden by cutting off his extra arms. Four arms would remain, and Banasur would henceforth live fearlessly as a companion of Shivaji.
Receiving this blessing, Banasur bowed before Bhagwan Krishna and respectfully brought Aniruddha together with his daughter Usha before Him. Thereafter, taking Shivaji’s permission, Bhagwan Krishna returned to Dwarka with Usha and Aniruddha.
The Story of the King Nriga Receiving the Body of a Lizard
One day, Samb, Pradyumna, Gad and other Yadu princes were enjoying themselves in a garden. While playing, they became thirsty and went searching for water. There they came upon a dry well, inside which they saw an enormous, strange lizard, as huge as a mountain.
The princes felt compassion for the creature and tried hard to pull it out with ropes, but they could not succeed. Finally, they went to Shree Krishna and told Him about the astonishing sight.
Krishna personally came to the well and effortlessly lifted the giant lizard out with His left hand alone. The moment Krishna touched him, the lizard form vanished, and in its place appeared a radiant celestial being, glowing like gold and adorned with divine garments and ornaments.
Although Shree Krishna already knew everything, for educating the world, He asked the celestial person who he was and by what Karma he had fallen into the body of a lizard.
The celestial being replied, “Prabhu, I am King Nriga, son of Maharaj Ikshvaku. I donated as many cows as there are dust particles on the earth, stars in the sky, and raindrops. Those cows were gentle, beautiful, rich in milk and full of excellent qualities. They had all been purchased honestly. Each one was decorated with cloth, garlands and ornaments. Their horns were plated with gold and their hooves with silver.
“One day, a cow belonging to a Brahmin accidentally wandered into my own herd. Without knowing this, I unknowingly donated that same cow to another Brahmin. Later, when the second Brahmin was taking the cow away, the original owner saw it and cried out, ‘That cow belongs to me!’ But the second Brahmin replied, ‘No, it belongs to me. King Nriga gave it to me in charity.’
“Both Brahmins came to me arguing. One insisted, ‘The king gave this cow to me,’ while the other said, ‘Then you have taken my cow.’ Hearing their dispute, I fell into a terrible dilemma of Dharma.
“I pleaded with them again and again, saying, ‘I will give one hundred thousand excellent cows in exchange. Please return this cow to me. I am your servant. This mistake happened unknowingly. Please save me from this sin and from hell.’
“But the original owner replied, ‘O King, I will accept nothing in exchange.’ He walked away. The second Brahmin also declared, ‘Even if you offer me ten lakh cows, I still will not give it up,’ and he too departed.
“After some time, my lifespan ended, and the servants of Yamraj took me to Yamlok. There, Yamraj asked me, ‘O King, do you wish to experience the results of your sins first or your pious deeds? Because of your immense charity and Dharma, great heavenly worlds await you.’
“I replied, ‘First, I wish to experience the result of my sin.’ The moment I said this, Yamraj ordered, ‘Then fall!’ Instantly, I fell, and as I fell, I saw myself transformed into a lizard.
“O Prabhu, though I was charitable, devoted to Brahmins and Your Bhakt, I always cherished one desire in my heart, somehow, may I attain Your Darshan. By Your grace, I retained memory of my previous birth.”
After glorifying Bhagwan Krishna, King Nriga circumambulated Him, offered Pranam at His lotus feet, and, with Bhagwan’s permission, ascended before everyone into a divine aeroplane and departed for the heavenly realms.
Afterwards, Bhagwan Krishna instructed everyone that taking away the wealth of saintly persons is an extremely grievous sin. He explained that ordinary poison may have a remedy, but the sin of stealing from Sadhus destroys entire families.
Balaramji’s Visit to Braj and the Yamuna Karshan Leela
Shukadevji says that once Balaramji developed an intense longing to see the Brajwasis again. He travelled from Dwarka to Braj, and the moment Nandbaba, Yashoda maiya, the Gopas, Gopis and cowherd boys saw Him, they overflowed with love. They embraced Him warmly, blessed Him and eagerly asked about His and Bhagwan Krishna’s welfare.
Balaramji lovingly met everyone and inquired about their well-being. The cowherd men asked whether Krishna, after living in Dwarka, ever remembered Braj and His old friends and relatives.
Seeing Balaramji, the Gopis became overwhelmed with emotion. In voices trembling with separation, they asked whether Bhagwan Krishna ever remembered them and whether He would ever return to Braj.
One Gopi, filled with longing and gentle reproach, said, “We were simple village girls, so we became enchanted by Krishna’s sweet words. But perhaps the clever city women do not fall into His charming tricks so easily.”
Another said, “Krishna’s sweet speech, smile and loving glances are so captivating that even the city women must become enchanted and offer Him their hearts completely.”
A third Gopi spoke with sorrowful detachment, “Leave aside talk of Krishna now. If He can live without us, then somehow we too must pass our days, even if we have to suffer in separation.”
Hearing their words, Balaramji became deeply moved with compassion and affection. He consoled the Gopis by delivering Bhagwan Krishna’s loving messages and tried to soothe the fire of their separation.
Balaramji spent the months of Chaitra and Vaishakh in Braj. During that time, He comforted the residents of Braj, especially the Gopis, by sharing Krishna’s messages. He spent time lovingly with them and wandered through the groves along the Yamuna’s banks. The fragrance of spring, the moonlit nights and the beauty of the Yamuna made the atmosphere enchanting beyond words.
One day, drawn by the sweet fragrance of Varuni, the daughter of Varundev, Balaramji entered the forest in bliss while the Gopis sang His glories around Him.
After some time, Balaramji called Yamunaji to come near Him for water pastimes, but Yamunaji ignored His command. Becoming angry, Balaramji hooked His plough into her banks and began dragging Yamunaji toward Himself.
Terrified, Yamunaji immediately appeared and fell at His feet, begging forgiveness and glorifying His divine form. Balaramji forgave her, and afterwards Lakshmiji offered Him divine garments and ornaments.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Shreemad Bhagavat Katha [Hindi]- 25.05.2026
