Shloka 17
The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha
यत्त्वया मूढ न: सख्युर्भ्रातुर्भार्या हृतेक्षताम् । प्रमत्त: स सभामध्ये त्वया व्यापादित: सखा ॥ १७ ॥ तं त्वाद्य निशितैर्बाणैरपराजितमानिनम् । नयाम्यपुनरावृत्तिं यदि तिष्ठेर्ममाग्रत: ॥ १८ ॥
yat tvayā mūḍha naḥ sakhyur bhrātur bhāryā hṛtekṣatām pramattaḥ sa sabhā-madhye tvayā vyāpāditaḥ sakhā
[قال شالفا:] أيها الأحمق! لأنك خطفت عروس صديقنا شيشوبالا، ابن عمك، في وجودنا، ولأنك قتلته لاحقًا في المجلس المقدس وهو غافل، سأرسلك اليوم بسهامي الحادة إلى أرض اللاعودة! ورغم أنك تظن نفسك لا تُقهر، سأقتلك الآن إن تجرأت ووقفت أمامي.
FAQs
Śālva, driven by hostility, taunts Kṛṣṇa by recalling the killing of Śiśupāla and frames it as an unjust act done when the opponent was off guard.
It refers to Śiśupāla as the one dear to Rukmiṇī (the wife of their ‘brother’ Kṛṣṇa), since Śālva twists the relationship to insult Kṛṣṇa.
It shows how envy distorts perception—an offender tries to portray the Lord’s righteous actions as blameworthy—so one should guard against resentment and cultivate humble, truthful speech.