The Union of Usha and Aniruddha

King Parikshit bowed his head and asked with deep curiosity, “Acharyadev, how many wives did Lord Shri Krishna have? And how many children were born to them?”

Shukadeva Goswami replied, “King, Krishna had more than sixteen thousand wives. Among them, eight were the chief queens. Each of these sixteen thousand wives gave birth to ten sons.”

Parikshit listened with wonder. Then he said, “Among Krishna’s children, I know only a little about Pradyumna. Please tell me the stories of all of them, O great sage.”

The sage said, “All those sons were handsome and virtuous like Krishna. They were skilled in scripture, warfare, and all noble arts. Krishna loved all his sons very dearly. But among them, there was no one more beautiful and charming than Pradyumna.”

Parikshit nodded and said, “You had already told me about Pradyumna and his wife Mayavati Rati, O sage.”

“Yes, King,” Shukadeva said. “But besides Mayavati Rati, Pradyumna had another wife also.”

Parikshit at once asked, “Another wife? Who was she, O sage?”

“She was Rukmavati,” Shukadeva answered, “the daughter of King Rukmi of Bhojakata city. Rukmi was Queen Rukmini’s elder brother and therefore Pradyumna’s maternal uncle.”

“Then Pradyumna married his own uncle’s daughter?” asked Parikshit.

“Yes, King,” said the sage. “Pradyumna married Rukmavati.”

Parikshit was puzzled. “Acharyadev, after Krishna carried away Rukmini, Rukmi was defeated and deeply insulted by Krishna in battle. Even after that, he gave his daughter in marriage to his enemy’s son. How could that happen? Please tell me in detail, Lord.”

Shukadeva smiled gently and said, “Parikshit, Pradyumna was Kamadeva himself. In beauty and virtue, he was beyond compare. So when Rukmavati saw Pradyumna in her swayamvara hall, she became enchanted by his beauty and qualities and placed the marriage garland around his neck.”

Parikshit quickly asked, “Did no one stop Pradyumna, Acharyadev?”

“Of course they did,” said Shukadeva. “Pradyumna had gone alone to that swayamvara hall. No one was with him. He was taking Rukmavati away by himself. But the other kings present there joined together to stop him, and a battle began. Krishna’s son defeated them all alone and finally carried Rukmavati away before their very eyes.”

“And King Rukmi himself?” Parikshit asked. “Had his anger toward Krishna lessened? Did he accept Pradyumna?”

“Rukmi never forgot his defeat at Krishna’s hands, Parikshit,” Shukadeva said. “His heart remained completely filled with hatred for Krishna. But he loved his sister very much. So, to make her happy, he gave his daughter to Pradyumna.”

“What happened after that, Acharyadev?”

“Rukmini welcomed the new bride with great joy,” said the sage. “Then a son was born to Pradyumna and Rukmavati. His name was Aniruddha.”

Parikshit then asked, “Acharyadev, now I have heard about Krishna’s sons. But did he have any daughter?”

“Yes, King,” Shukadeva replied. “Krishna and Rukmini had a daughter named Charumati. She was married to Bali, the son of Kritavarma.”

“Please tell me about Aniruddha too, Acharyadev.”

Shukadeva said, “King, Aniruddha was the son of Kamadeva’s son. Therefore he was very handsome and even more powerful. It was to this Aniruddha that Rukmi gave his granddaughter Rochana in marriage.”

Parikshit looked surprised. “Who was she, Acharyadev? Again Rukmi formed a marriage bond with the enemy side?”

“Parikshit,” said the sage, “the quarrel between Rukmi and Krishna was very old. But to please his sister, Rukmi arranged this marriage. He even knew that such a marriage was not approved by dharma. Still, he did it. And that arrangement became the cause of his death.”

Parikshit leaned forward. “Why did it become the cause of his death, Acharyadev? Please tell me that event in detail.”

“Yes, King,” Shukadeva said. “Listen carefully. On the occasion of Aniruddha’s marriage, Krishna, Balarama, Rukmini, Pradyumna, Samba, and all the important members of the Yadu family came to Bhojakata city. The wedding festival ended peacefully. After that, the King of Kalinga and some other friendly kings gave advice to Rukmi.”

They said, “The marriage has taken place peacefully. Come, King Rukmi, now let us arrange some entertainment.”

Rukmi asked, “Entertainment? What kind of enjoyment do you wish for, King of Kalinga? Tell me in detail.”

The King of Kalinga replied, “Arrange a game of dice, King, and invite Shri Balarama to play. Then these Yadus can be properly trapped. And your insult can also be avenged.”

Rukmi said, “How will I avenge my insult by playing dice with Balarama, King of Kalinga?”

The King of Kalinga answered, “King, Balarama is very eager to play dice, but he is very weak in this game. He will never be able to defeat you. Instead, he will lose very easily. Then, using his defeat as an excuse, you can insult him properly.”

Rukmi agreed at once. “Very well, let it be so. Let Balarama be invited in my name to play dice.”

Parikshit then asked, “O sage, could Balarama really not play dice well?”

“No, King,” said Shukadeva. “He could not play dice well at all. But his interest and excitement in the game were worth seeing. So when Rukmi sent an invitation to Balarama at the urging of those kings, Balarama said, ‘Since Rukmi himself has invited me to play dice, I will surely honor that invitation.’”

The game began.

Rukmi said, “Then, Balarama, how much do you want to stake for this round?”

Balarama replied, “I stake these one hundred gold coins. Let the game begin, King.”

In this way, Balarama slowly lost after staking one thousand and then one hundred thousand gold coins. As Rukmi kept winning, the King of Kalinga and the other friendly kings became delighted and began to mock Balarama.

“Ah, it seems Shri Balarama cannot play dice at all. I think herding cows is much more suitable work for him.”

“It seems even my little son plays dice much better than this.”

“Ah, Rukmi, at least you should have chosen your opponent wisely. Not everything can be done by strength of arms. In some cases, brain power is needed too, is it not?”

“So Balarama, will you still continue the game, or will you at last give up now?”

Balarama replied, “It is not the duty of a kshatriya to stop a battle or a game halfway. Let the game continue.”

Parikshit said in surprise, “Even after being insulted like this, Balarama said to continue the game, Acharyadev?”

Shukadeva answered, “King, though Balarama was very displeased, if he had left the game at that moment, he would have become an even greater object of ridicule to those kings. Thinking this, he kept playing.”

Rukmi said, “Very well, let the game continue. This time I stake one lakh gold coins. Balarama, your turn.”

But this time Balarama won.

Yet cunning Rukmi at once said, “What kind of round was that? No, no, Balarama, not you. I have won this round. You played wrongly. So the victory is mine.”

Balarama replied, “King Rukmi, look properly. The victory is truly mine. You have lost this round.”

Rukmi said mockingly, “You do not really understand dice very well anyway. So it is better not to argue about something you do not understand, Balarama. Accept that I have won this time.”

At this behavior of Rukmi, Balarama became extremely angry. He burned inside with rage, but he still said nothing aloud.

Then he said, “Very well, let there be another round. Let us see who wins this one. I stake ten crore gold coins. Make sure you play this round with full attention.”

According to the rules of the game, Balarama won again.

But once more Rukmi began his cheating. He said, “No, no, this cannot be. There is some mistake in the game. Not Balarama. In truth, I have won.”

Balarama replied, “Not at all, O King. This time too I have won. Why do you keep speaking falsely? If one loses, accepting defeat is also the duty of a true kshatriya. You must not leave your dharma.”

Rukmi said, “Dharma? What dharma? I do not accept this result. Then let someone skilled in dice judge this game.”

Saying this, Rukmi requested the King of Kalinga to judge the result.

At that very moment, a voice came from the sky: “According to dharma and the rules of the dice game, Shri Balarama has won this game. King Rukmi’s claim is not correct.”

Balarama said, “Rukmi, a heavenly voice cannot be false. Your doubt has now been cleared.”

But Rukmi, blinded by pride, answered, “Oh, forget that heavenly voice. You roam around the fields grazing cows. What do you know of dice? Dice and such things are games of kings, not of cowherds. The mistake was mine. I should not have invited you to this game for no reason.”

King Rukmi did not understand that death had come near his head. Encouraged by the King of Kalinga and the other kings, he kept mocking Balarama again and again.

This time Balarama could no longer remain calm.

He lifted his iron club and struck Rukmi with it. In that very festive assembly, he killed him.

Parikshit asked, “And what happened to those who were encouraging Rukmi, Acharyadev?”

Shukadeva said, “When the King of Kalinga understood the danger and tried to run away, Balarama caught him and knocked out all his teeth. By Balarama’s hand, one king’s arm was broken, another’s leg was broken, and the rest were left in a terrible state.”

Then the sage added gravely, “Punishing the wicked is the eternal play of the Lord. He gives chances to become good, but we living beings again and again fail to use that chance well.”

Parikshit bowed and said, “O sage, please tell me more about Krishna.”

Shukadeva continued, “King, after this, Aniruddha married Usha, the daughter of Banasura. At that time, a terrible war took place between Krishna and Lord Shankara.”

Parikshit’s eyes widened. “This story is completely unknown to me, Acharyadev. Please tell me in detail. Who was this Banasura?”

“Listen, Parikshit,” said the sage. “You have surely heard of the demon king, the noble Bali, who gave the whole earth to the Lord in the form of Vamana. That Bali had one hundred sons, and the eldest among them was Banasura. He was very generous and wise, loved truth, and was firm in his vows. Because of these qualities, he was praised everywhere.”

“Of which kingdom was this Banasura the king, Acharyadev?”

“Banasura was the king of Sonitapura,” Shukadeva said. “That kingdom was very beautiful and pleasing. This demon king was a great devotee of Mahashiva, and from Shiva he received a boon of one thousand arms.”

“One day, when Lord Shankara was performing the tandava dance, Banasura pleased him by playing many kinds of instruments with his thousand arms. You know, King, Lord Shankara is very loving toward his devotees. Pleased by Banasura’s music, he said, ‘My child Banasura, I am greatly pleased by your music. So I wish to grant you a boon. Ask for it.’”

Parikshit asked, “Acharyadev, he had already received a thousand arms from Lord Shankara as a boon. What boon did Banasura ask for after that?”

Shukadeva said, “Filled with pride in his own strength and power, Banasura asked that Lord Shankara himself become the protector of his city.”

Parikshit said, “What kind of thing is that, Acharyadev? I have never heard such words.”

When Lord Shankara asked the pride-filled Banasura to ask for a boon, Banasura touched the Lord’s feet and said, “O Lord of gods, you are the teacher and Lord of the whole universe. I bow to your feet millions of times, O Lord. By your blessing I now have a thousand arms, but they have become like a burden to me.”

Shankara asked, “Why, my child? Tell me openly what troubles you.”

Banasura replied, “Lord, these arms become restless for battle when they remain without work for too long. But by your boon there is no warrior in the three worlds equal to me except you. So I find no way to calm them. Once, to satisfy them, I rushed toward mighty emperors, but they fled in fear.”

Then Lord Shankara warned him and said, “O fool, the day your banner falls and breaks, on that day you will have to fight a hero equal to me. In that battle your pride will be shattered.”

But Banasura, still drunk with pride, answered, “Ah, O Lord of gods, you have blessed me even more. No one in the three worlds can possibly be equal to you. And I am your devotee. I know that you always protect your devotee. I have no more fear.”

Thus, without giving importance to the Lord’s warning, Banasura joyfully returned to his capital, intoxicated by his own pride.

Parikshit asked, “A hero equal to Lord Shankara? Who was he, Acharyadev? How did he break Banasura’s pride?”

“That,” said Shukadeva, “is the story I will now tell you.”

“This Banasura had a daughter named Usha,” the sage said. “While still unmarried, one day she saw in a dream that she was united with Aniruddha, the son of Pradyumna.”

Parikshit asked, “Did Usha know Aniruddha?”

“No, King,” said Shukadeva. “That is the surprising thing. Usha had never seen Aniruddha before, nor had she even heard his name. But in the dream she found him as her beloved. Then, when she could no longer see him, she began to search for him in the dream and cried, ‘O beloved, where are you? Where are you? I cannot see you. Where are you, beloved?’ But at that very moment she woke up.”

When Usha awoke and saw herself lying among her friends, she felt very shy. In truth, her friends had become curious when they heard her speaking in sleep, and so they had gathered around her.

Among those friends was Chitralekha, the daughter of Kumbhanda, a minister in Banasura’s royal court. Usha and Chitralekha were especially close to each other.

Curious and bold, Chitralekha asked, “Princess, you are still unmarried. No one has yet taken your hand in marriage. Then whom were you searching for in your sleep?”

Usha lowered her eyes. “Oh, it is nothing. I was only seeing some dream.”

Chitralekha said, “That does not satisfy us. We all heard clearly. You called someone your beloved and searched for him. What is the matter, friend? Tell us the wish of your heart openly.”

At last Usha softly confessed, “Friend, I... I saw a wonderful young man in my dream.”

“Friend, what did he look like? Tell me.”

Usha said, “That young man... that young man was dark in color, with lotus-like eyes and long arms reaching downward. I have never seen such a handsome youth before, friend. Never before.”

Her friends cried out, “Oh my, friend, what are you saying! What else did you see? Tell us.”

Usha blushed deeply. “What else I saw, I would feel very shy to say.”

“Ah, please say it, Princess. Why be shy with us?”

With great embarrassment Usha said, “I saw... I saw him making me drink the nectar of his lips. But before I could be satisfied, he disappeared somewhere. I... I could not find him again, friend. Since then my mind has been restless. Nothing feels good to me, friend. Nothing feels good.”

Chitralekha at once tried to comfort her. “Princess, do not be so upset. If you can give me his proper description, then I will draw his picture. And if that person exists anywhere in the three worlds, I will surely bring him to you.”

Saying this, Chitralekha quickly drew many pictures—of gods, humans, yakshas, demons, vidyadharas, and others. Among them were the pictures of Vasudeva, Krishna, Balarama, and many more.

When Usha saw the picture of Pradyumna, her face at once turned red with shyness, because Aniruddha looked very much like his father Pradyumna.

Chitralekha smiled and said, “Ah, seeing this picture makes you shy, friend? Then look at this picture once.”

She then showed Usha the picture of Aniruddha.

The moment Usha saw it, she slowly said, “This is he. This is he. He is my beloved. He is my beloved. This is he, friend. This is he.”

Parikshit asked, “What happened after that, Lord? How did they learn who Aniruddha was and where he lived?”

Shukadeva answered, “Yes, King. Chitralekha was a yogini. Through yoga she came to know that Aniruddha was Krishna’s grandson and Pradyumna’s son. After learning this, that very night she set out through the sky for Dvarakapuri.”

Parikshit asked, “Acharyadev, why did Chitralekha go at night?”

“Parikshit,” Shukadeva replied, “at night the guarding of the city is much looser. Aniruddha was asleep on a bed. Chitralekha reached him and, by her yogic power, quietly carried him away to Sonitapura. There she gave her friend Usha the sight of her beloved.”

Parikshit said, “Acharyadev, did no one else in the royal palace see them?”

“The inner chambers of Princess Usha were very well guarded,” replied the sage. “So no other man could possibly cast his eyes there. In this way, day after day, Usha filled Aniruddha with love, care, and service. And Aniruddha stayed there without resistance, without protest.”

Then Shukadeva added, “King, he had been taken there by yoga. So while staying in that inner palace, his true awareness was clouded. He could not even understand how he had come there, or how long he had spent living there.”

Parikshit asked, “Then how did Usha’s love for Aniruddha become known to all?”

Shukadeva said, “Parikshit, because she lived with Aniruddha, signs of pregnancy gradually became clear in her body. At that time the male guards of the palace noticed it and understood that Usha must have been meeting some man. They carried that news to Banasura.”

They cried, “Maharaj, Maharaj, from the signs we see in maiden Usha, it seems that the honor of your family can no longer be protected, Maharaj. Princess Usha is clearly receiving the regular company of some man, Maharaj. You... you must quickly do something about this.”

Banasura said in shock, “But how is this possible when all of you are standing guard?”

The guards replied, “Maharaj, that is why we have come to appeal to you. As long as we are on guard, no outside man should be able to see your daughter. Yet how this fault in her conduct happened, we are unable to understand, Maharaj.”

Banasura said, “This is a matter of great worry. I will go at once to my daughter’s chambers and investigate.”

King Banasura, filled with anxiety, at once went to Usha’s palace chambers. There he saw Aniruddha. The prince was already extremely handsome, and when Banasura saw him, he was sitting there well dressed and playing dice with Usha.

Seeing him, Banasura was greatly astonished.

Parikshit asked, “What was Banasura’s reaction on seeing Aniruddha, Acharyadev?”

Shukadeva replied, “When Banasura went to Usha’s chambers, he had taken with him a group of soldiers armed with many weapons. Seeing them, Aniruddha stood up. In his own hand also was a terrible iron weapon.”

Parikshit asked, “A club? Then did a battle break out between Aniruddha and those soldiers?”

“Yes, King,” the sage said. “At Banasura’s command, those soldiers attacked him. Aniruddha struck them with his iron club just as a chief boar drives back a pack of attacking dogs. Beaten terribly by the blows of the club, those soldiers fled from there to save their lives.”

“And Banasura?” Parikshit asked. “What did Banasura do then? Surely he did not remain quiet.”

“When Banasura saw the miserable state of his soldiers under Aniruddha’s blows,” Shukadeva said, “he became terribly angry and bound Aniruddha with a dreadful serpent noose. Seeing this, Usha wept bitterly in sorrow.”

Parikshit then asked, “Acharyadev, when Aniruddha disappeared from Dvaraka without telling anyone, did no one there search for him?”

“Yes, King,” said Shukadeva. “A shadow of sorrow had fallen there also. From the very day Aniruddha could not be found, people searched for him everywhere. But when even after the four months of the rainy season he still did not return, deep sorrow spread through all of Dvarakapuri.”

“Then did they get any news of Aniruddha?”

“Yes, Parikshit,” Shukadeva answered. “One day Narada Muni went to Dvaraka. He sat before Krishna and told them the whole event in detail. From Chitralekha carrying Aniruddha to Sonitapura by yoga, to his relation with Usha, Banasura’s attack, his single-handed defeat of the soldiers, and finally his being bound by the serpent noose—Narada told everyone everything.”

Parikshit asked, “What did Krishna do after hearing all this?”

“Hearing of the condition of his dear grandson Aniruddha,” said Shukadeva, “Krishna became very restless. Then he, along with Balarama, Pradyumna, Satyaki, Gada, and other Yadava heroes, and with twelve akshauhini armies, formed a battle formation and surrounded Banasura’s capital from every side.”

Parikshit said, “So then Krishna’s battle with Banasura began?”

“Yes, King,” Shukadeva replied. “When Banasura saw the Yadava soldiers crushing the city walls, gardens, palaces, and everything else, he too came out of the city with his army.”

But Banasura was not alone.

“Lord Shankara himself came forward to support him in battle,” said the sage, “along with his sons Kartik and Ganesha. Shankara himself, riding on Nandi, engaged Krishna in battle.”

Parikshit said, “Then it was indeed a terrible war, Acharyadev. Who stepped forward to fight heroes like Kartik and Ganesha?”

“Krishna’s son Pradyumna, who was Kamadeva himself, began fighting Kartik and Ganesha,” said Shukadeva. “Balarama fought Kumbhanda and Kupakarna. Krishna himself fitted arrows to his bow and drove away Lord Shankara’s attendants—ghosts, spirits, dakinis, and pishachas.”

Parikshit said anxiously, “If Lord Shankara truly entered battle, then a terrible disaster could happen, Acharyadev. How did Krishna oppose him?”

“King,” Shukadeva said, “seeing Shankara’s fearful form on the battlefield, Krishna used the Jambhik weapon to stop him.”

Parikshit asked, “What kind of weapon is that, O sage? What does it do?”

“Under the effect of that weapon,” replied Shukadeva, “Shankara became bewildered and drowsy. The weapon fell from his hand. Krishna then began destroying Banasura’s soldiers with sword, mace, and showers of arrows.”

“Meanwhile, from Pradyumna’s repeated attacks, blood began to flow from the body of Kartik, the commander of the gods. He mounted his peacock and withdrew from the battlefield. At the same time, Kumbhanda and Kupakarna were struck down and wounded by Balarama. Then Banasura’s army scattered.”

Parikshit asked, “Seeing such a condition of the heroes on his side and his army scattered, what did Banasura do then, Acharyadev?”

Shukadeva said, “Seeing the condition of his army, Banasura rushed furiously toward Krishna. With his thousand hands he held five hundred bows, fixed two arrows on each, and prepared to shoot them at Krishna.”

Parikshit asked, “How did Krishna save himself from such an attack, Acharyadev?”

“King,” said the sage, “to the Lord, a thousand arrows from five hundred bows were nothing. With his divine weapon, he broke all those bows and arrows at once. He also brought down Banasura’s charioteer, chariot, and horses together. Then he blew his Panchajanya conch.”

Parikshit said, “Then there was no one left to fight Krishna on Banasura’s side, Acharyadev. What did he do then?”

“Listen, King,” said Shukadeva. “There was a goddess named Kotara, who was like Banasura’s mother by dharma. Seeing Banasura in this life-threatening condition, she came into the battlefield with loose hair and no clothes. Though Kotara tried to draw Krishna’s attention, he turned his face away and looked elsewhere. Taking this chance, Banasura left his chariot and bow behind and fled into the city.”

Parikshit asked, “Did the battle stop after that?”

“No, King,” said Shukadeva. “After that, Lord Shankara sent Rudrajvara, a fierce being with three heads and three legs, toward Krishna. Seeing him come forward, Krishna sent his own Vishnujvara. A fierce battle took place between Rudrajvara and Vishnujvara. At last, defeated by the power of Vishnujvara, Rudrajvara took shelter at Krishna’s feet. When Krishna granted him safety, he went away.”

Parikshit asked, “What happened then, Acharyadev? Was anyone still left to fight?”

“King,” said Shukadeva, “after that Banasura again came out of the city on a new chariot. This time his thousand hands held a thousand weapons. As he moved forward, showering arrows toward Krishna, Krishna began cutting off his arms one by one with his weapon.”

As Banasura’s thousand arms fell to the ground, Lord Shankara came to Krishna and praised him.

He said, “O Lord, you are the supreme light and the master of all virtues. You are everywhere, and yet unattached. The sky is your navel and fire is your mouth. The moon is your mind. The sun is your eyes. And I, Shiva, am your ego. Brahma is your intelligence, and dharma is your heart. O Supreme Soul, the unbroken form of light, you have taken birth here only to protect dharma. I, Brahma, and all the sages have taken shelter in you. You are my worshipful Lord. But O Lord, please protect one request of mine.”

Krishna said, “What request, O Lord of gods? Tell me.”

Shankara replied, “This Banasura is my faithful devotee and very dear to me. Please show him mercy, just as you showed mercy to his great forefather Prahlada. I had given him the boon of fearlessness.”

Krishna said, “O Lord of gods, I accept your command upon my head, and according to your wish I grant him fearlessness. But following your earlier decree, I have cut off his arms.”

Then Shukadeva explained, “Krishna knew that Banasura was the son of the demon king Bali and a descendant of Prahlada. He had once granted Prahlada a boon that he would not kill any demon born in his line. Reminding Shankara of this, he said, ‘Because Banasura is a descendant of Prahlada, I will not kill him. But I have cut off his arms only to crush his pride. And his huge army had become a burden on the earth, so I destroyed it. Still, he has four arms left even now. By my blessing they will remain strong and lasting. And Banasura will become your great attendant. I have granted him safety. Now please permit me. I will take Aniruddha and Usha and set out on the road to Dvaraka.’”

Shankara replied, “So be it.”

After that, with great joy and celebration, Krishna returned to Dvaraka with one akshauhini army and with Aniruddha and Usha.

There, with great festivity, their marriage was performed according to the scriptures.