*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 62-63.*
Bana, the eldest son of Bali, had one thousand hands. He was a votary of
Siva. Siva asked him to name a boon and he prayed to Siva to be the
keeper of his place. Once he told Siva that there was too much
fighting-inclination in his hands, but he found no match for him except
Siva himself. Even the elephants of space ran away in fear. Siva said
angrily: -- "Fool that thou art, thou shalt fight with one equal to
myself. Thy eminence shall then be lowered." The Asura chief gladly
waited for the day.
Bana had a daughter named Usha. She met Aniruddha in a dream. On getting
up, she exclaimed, "Friend where art thou?" Her attendant Chitra-lekha,
daughter of the minister, named Kumbhanda, enquired whom she was looking
for. Usha described the figure she had seen in her dream. Chitra-lekha
pointed out to her Devas, Gandhavas, and men, one after another. At
last, when she pointed to the figure of Aniruddha, the princess
indicated him as her lover. Chitra-lekha by her Yogic powers went to
Dvaraka and carried away Aniruddha, while he was asleep. The prince and
the princess passed their days together in the privacy of Usha's
apartment. The men of the guard found some significant change in Usha.
They informed the King. Bana came in unexpectedly and he found his
daughter playing with a young man. The armed attendants of Bana attacked
Aniruddha but he killed many of them with his club and they ran away.
Bana then tied the prince with serpents' twinings.
Narada gave the news to Krishna. Rama and Krishna, with their followers
and a large army, attacked Sonita-pura, the seat of Bana. Siva engaged
in fight with Krishna, Kartikeya with Pradyumna, Bana with Satyaki,
Kumbhanda and Kupakarna with Balarama and Bana's son with Samba. Krishna
worsted Siva and Pradyumna worsted Kartikeya. Bana then attacked
Krishna. After some fighting the king fled away. The Fever with three
heads and three feet, known as Siva's Fever, joined the battle. To meet
him, Krishna created the Fever known as Vishnu's Fever. The two fevers
fought with each other. Worsted in the fight, the Fever of Siva sought
the protection of Krishna. He got assurances that he need have no fear
from Vishnu's Fever.
Bana returned to the charge. Krishna began to cut off his hands with the
Chakra. Siva appeared at the time and asked Krishna to forgive Bana as
he had forgiven his father Bali. Krishna replied: -- "O Lord, I cannot
kill this son of Bali. I promised Prahlada that I would not kill any of
his line. His many hands caused grief to Earth and I have lopped them
off. Now four hands shall only remain. With these hands, Bana shall be
thy constant companion, without fear of death or infirmity." Bana bowed
down his head. He made over his daughter and Aniruddha to Krishna.