Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 22

Śālva Attacks Dvārakā; Pradyumna Leads the Defense

Saubha-vimāna and Māyā-yuddha

क्व‍‍चिद्भ‍ूमौ क्व‍‍चिद् व्योम्नि गिरिमूर्ध्‍नि जले क्व‍‍चित् । अलातचक्रवद् भ्राम्यत् सौभं तद् दुरवस्थितम् ॥ २२ ॥

kvacid bhūmau kvacid vyomni giri-mūrdhni jale kvacit alāta-cakra-vad bhrāmyat saubhaṁ tad duravasthitam

Von einem Augenblick zum nächsten erschien das Luftschiff Saubha bald auf der Erde, bald am Himmel, bald auf einem Berggipfel oder bald im Wasser. Wie ein wirbelnder, flammender Brandstab blieb es nie an einem Ort.

kvacitsomewhere/at times
kvacit:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkvacit (अव्यय)
FormDeśa-kāla-avyaya (देश/काल-अव्यय, adverb)
bhūmauon the ground
bhūmau:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootbhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
kvacitsomewhere/at times
kvacit:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkvacit (अव्यय)
FormDeśa-kāla-avyaya (देश/काल-अव्यय, adverb)
vyomniin the sky
vyomni:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootvyoman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
giri-mūrdhnion the mountain peak
giri-mūrdhni:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootgiri (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—गिरेः मूर्धनि (on the mountain-top)
jalein water
jale:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootjala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
kvacitsomewhere/at times
kvacit:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkvacit (अव्यय)
FormDeśa-kāla-avyaya (देश/काल-अव्यय, adverb)
alāta-cakra-vatlike a firebrand-circle
alāta-cakra-vat:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootalāta (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
FormUpamā-avyaya (उपमा-अव्यय); -vat (वत्) ‘like’; alāta-cakra = तत्पुरुषः (अलातस्य चक्रम्)
bhrāmyatwhirled/was moving about
bhrāmyat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhram (धातु)
FormLaṭ (लट्, Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); (poetic form for bhrāmyati)
saubhamSaubha (the flying city)
saubham:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsaubha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); proper noun (the aerial city Saubha)
tatthat
tat:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
duravasthitamhard to fix/track
duravasthitam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdur (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + avasthita (कृदन्त; √sthā धातु)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); भूतकृदन्त (past participle) avasthita; ‘hard to be located/steadied’
S
Saubha

FAQs

This verse describes Saubha as shifting between earth, sky, mountain tops, and water—spinning like a whirled firebrand—making it extremely difficult to pin down.

The comparison highlights its deceptive, rapidly moving nature—an illusion-like motion that prevents ordinary warriors from accurately targeting it.

Like Saubha’s restless motion, distractions can keep the mind “unlocatable”; steadiness in practice and devotion helps one remain fixed rather than spinning in confusion.