It is not only a devotee who takes all the pains to prove his devotion, but it is also the Almighty who takes up many challenges to prove his affection towards his devotees. These challenges are not simple, but it takes the Supreme Being to sometimes fight with his own friends and family for the same. One such devotee who made Bhagwan Shiv fight with his very own friend Shri Krishna was Banasur.
The king of the demons Banasur, with thousand arms was a great devotee of Bhagwan Shiv. Pleased with his devotion, Bhagwan Shiv granted Banasur his protection all times. But, instead of being humble gaining such a great boon, Banasur started believing that there was none who could defeat him and the entire world was his as Bhagwan Shiv was his protector.
However, destiny had a different game to play. Banasur’s daughter Usha was a beautiful maiden. Once, she dreamt of a handsome young prince in her dreams and fell in love with him. With the help of her close confidant Chitralekha, she comes to know that the young prince was Aniruddh, the grandson of Shri Krishna, but she fears that her father wouldn’t approve of her love. Seeing Usha’s plight, Chitraleksha with her magical powers brings Aniruddh to Usha’s palace. Although Aniruddh is furious at what Chitralekha did, he realises the true love of Usha on him and both start spending their time in the palace of Usha in secret so that Banasur would not know about these happenings.
But, after few days, Banasur comes to know about the secret love affair and in anger holds Aniruddh captive. Meanwhile in Dwaraka, Shri Krishna comes to know about the happenings, sets out to battle Banasur and release Aniruddh to unite him with Usha.
Initially Bansur mocks ShrI Krishna that he belonged to a cowherd race and is no match for his thousand arms. But when the battle starts, it turns out to be the opposite where Bansur with all his power is no match for Shri Krishna. In desperation, Banasur calls for Bhagwan Shiv’s help. Bhagwan Shiv remembering his promise to protect Banasur rushes to war and counters Shri Krishna.
The entire world is surprised that how can two good friends fight against each other. But Shri Krishna fights for his Dharma of protecting his grandson, and Bhagwan Shiv fights to protect for his word given to his devotee. Both stand for their Dharma and a great fight ensues. As a result of their fight, the world starts trembling. Realising this, Shri Krishna aims the Jambukastr at Bhagwan Shiv and his army which makes them all paralysed.
Brahma Ji intervenes at this point, and asks both of them to stop fighting and save the world. Abiding to his word, Shri Krishna takes back his Astr, and Bhagwan Shiv calls of his armies. Bhagwan Shiv then requests to spare his devotee lest his boon goes wrong. Shri Krishna agrees, but mentions that as a lesson to Bansur’s ego, he would leave him with only two arms, cutting off the rest. Bhagwan Shiv agrees to this, as that would put an end to Banasur’s pride.
With his arms gone, Bansur’s arrogance too leaves him. He bows to the two divinities for making him understand the value of his boon and Dharma. Giving Usha in marriage to Aniruddh, Banasur leaves for Kailash to spend his life in the service of Bhagwan Shiv with a new life as a true devotee.