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CHAPTER EIGHT
Kidnaping of Uşā (75–84) And now there was a son, named Aniruddha, of Pradyumna by his wife Vaidarbhi and he attained youth. At that time there was a Khecara-lord in the city Subhanivāsa, Bāņa by name, with cruel power. He had a daughter, Uşā. From a desire for a suitable husband she, beautiful, propitiated the magic art, Gaurī, with a very strong determination. She (Gauri), satisfied, said to her, “ Aniruddha, the grandson of Sārngin Kșşņa, will be your husband, resembling Indra.” The god Sankara, the husband of the magic art Gauri, propitiated by Bāņa, gave him invincibility on the battle-field. Gauri said to him: “ The boon which gave invincibility in all cases is not suitable. For, indeed, I have given a boon to Uşā.” Sankara said to Bāņa, “ You will be invincible except in women's business," and Bāņa was pleased with that.
By what Khecaras and what mortals was Ușā not asked from Bāņa because of her beauty? But he, not being pleased, did not give her. Uşā, being in love, sent a Vidyādhari Citralekhā and had Aniruddha brought to her house as well as her heart. He took her and married her with a gāndharvamarriage. He set out with the announcement, “I, Aniruddha, am going, having abducted Uşā.”
Killing of Bāņa (85-95) Then, angered, the Khecara-lord, Bāņa, armed with a bow, surrounded Aniruddha with arrows, like a hunter a boar with dogs. At that time Uşā gave her husband the magic art Pāthasiddha and he, his strength increased by her, fought with Bāņa for a long time. Pradyumna's son was bound like a young elephant with magic nooses by Bāņa. Prajñapti told Sārngapāņi this.
Hari went there with Sirin, Śāmba, and Pradyumna and the serpent-nooses fled at the sight of the garuda-banner. Bāņa, very proud of his own strength by Sankara's boon, intoxicated by pride, said to Kșşņa: “Do you not know my
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