Verse 1

¹The best of the Yadus married Usa, Bana's daughter, and over that a terrible great battle arose between Hari and Sankara. Great yogin, you are the one to tell me all of this. ²Bana was the eldest of the hundred sons of the great-souled Bali, the Bali by whom the earth was given away to Hari when he came in the form of the dwarf. ³Bana was his own begotten son, and he took his delight always in devotion to Siva. He was a man of standing, open-handed, of good understanding, true to his word and firm in his vows. ⁴Long ago he ruled in a lovely city called Sonita. By Sambhu's favour the immortals waited on him like servants, and with his thousand arms he pleased the gracious one by playing for him while he danced.

⁵The revered lord of all beings, giver of refuge, tender to those devoted to him, offered him a boon; and he chose him to be the guardian of his city.