Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.62.2
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesBāṇa’s Qualities and Service to Śiva
“Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Bāṇa was the oldest of the hundred sons fathered by the great saint Bali Mahārāja, who gave the whole earth in charity to Lord Hari when He appeared as Vāmanadeva. Bāṇāsura, born from Bali’s semen, became a great devotee of Lord Śiva. His behavior was always respectable, and he was generous, intelligent, truthful and firm in his vows. The beautiful city of Śoṇitapura was under his dominion. Because Lord Śiva had favored him, the very demigods waited on Bāṇāsura like menial servants. Once, when Śiva was dancing his tāṇḍava-nṛtya, Bāṇa especially satisfied the lord by playing a musical accompaniment with his one thousand arms.”
What the purport teaches
- Bāṇa was the oldest of Bali Mahārāja’s hundred sons. Bali had given the whole earth to Lord Hari when He appeared as Vāmanadeva.
- Bāṇāsura was generous, intelligent, truthful and firm in his vows. He ruled beautiful Śoṇitapura and was a great devotee of Lord Śiva.
- Lord Śiva’s favor made even the demigods serve Bāṇāsura. Bāṇa pleased Śiva by accompanying his tāṇḍava-nṛtya with music played by his thousand arms.
Try this today
Keep one promise today with particular care.
Ask yourself
Which of the good qualities described here can I practice more carefully?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.