Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 18

Śālva Attacks Dvārakā; Pradyumna Leads the Defense

Saubha-vimāna and Māyā-yuddha

Devanagari script

विव्याध पञ्चविंशत्या स्वर्णपुङ्खैरयोमुखै: । शाल्वस्य ध्वजिनीपालं शरै: सन्नतपर्वभि: ॥ १८ ॥ शतेनाताडयच्छाल्वमेकैकेनास्य सैनिकान् । दशभिर्दशभिर्नेतृन् वाहनानि त्रिभिस्‍त्रिभि: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

vivyādha pañca-viṁśatyā svarṇa-puṅkhair ayo-mukhaiḥ śālvasya dhvajinī-pālaṁ śaraiḥ sannata-parvabhiḥ

Translation

Lord Pradyumna’s arrows all had gold shafts, iron heads and perfectly smooth joints. With twenty-five of them He struck down Śālva’s commander-in-chief [Dyumān], and with one hundred He struck Śālva himself. Then He pierced Śālva’s officers with one arrow each, his chariot drivers with ten arrows each, and his horses and other carriers with three arrows each.

Synonyms

• vivyādha: pierced, struck
• vivyādha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√vyadh (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• pañca-viṁśatyā: with twenty-five
• pañca-viṁśatyā: Karaṇa/Parimāṇa (करण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca + viṁśati (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine; viṁśati), तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), एकवचन (singular); द्विगु-समासः (25)

• svarṇa-puṅkhaiḥ: with golden-feathered (arrows)
• svarṇa-puṅkhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarṇa + puṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine; agreeing with śaraiḥ), तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), बहुवचन (plural); तत्पुरुषः (svarṇasya puṅkhaḥ = having golden feathers/shafts)

• ayo-mukhaiḥ: iron-pointed
• ayo-mukhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ayas + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine; agreeing with śaraiḥ), तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), बहुवचन (plural); तत्पुरुषः (ayasaḥ mukhaṃ = iron-pointed)

• śālvasya: of Śālva
• śālvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (singular)

• dhvajinī-pālam: the commander of the army
• dhvajinī-pālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvajinī + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dhvajinyāḥ pālaḥ = commander/guardian of the army)

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (plural)

• sannata-parvabhiḥ: having well-bent joints (of the arrows)
• sannata-parvabhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sannata + parvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine; agreeing with śaraiḥ), तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), बहुवचन (plural); कर्मधारयः (sannatāni parvāṇi yeṣām = having well-bent joints/knots)

Characters & Entities

• Śālva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the battle with Śālva in Canto 10?

In Canto 10, Chapter 76, Śukadeva describes the intense fight as Śālva’s forces are struck down by expertly aimed arrows, showing the decisive protection of dharma in Kṛṣṇa’s realm.

Why is Śālva’s army commander targeted in this verse?

The narrative shows a strategic turning point in battle: striking the dhvajinī-pāla (army leader) weakens the opposing force and signals the inevitable defeat of Śālva’s aggression against Dvārakā.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Face chaos with steadiness and skill: address the root leadership of a problem (its “commander”) rather than only its symptoms, while staying aligned with dharma.