Shloka 3

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

Devanagari script

चतुर्भिश्चतुरो वाहान् सूतमेकेन चाहनत् । द्वाभ्यं धनुश्च केतुं च शरेणान्येन वै शिर: ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

caturbhiś caturo vāhān sūtam ekena cāhanat dvābhyaṁ dhanuś ca ketuṁ ca śareṇānyena vai śiraḥ

Translation

Mit vier Pfeilen traf Er Dyumāns vier Pferde, mit einem Pfeil dessen Wagenlenker, mit zwei weiteren Bogen und Wagenbanner, und mit dem letzten Pfeil Dyumāns Haupt.

Synonyms

• चतुर्भिः: with four (arrows)
• चतुर्भिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• चतुरः: four
• चतुरः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• वाहान्: mounts/vehicles (horses)
• वाहान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• सूतम्: the charioteer
• सूतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• एकेन: with one (arrow)
• एकेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय/संबन्धबोधक)

• अहनत्: struck/killed
• अहनत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• द्वाभ्याम्: with two (arrows)
• द्वाभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय)

• केतुम्: banner/standard
• केतुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय)

• शरेण: with an arrow
• शरेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• अन्येन: with another (arrow)
• अन्येन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक/खलु-अर्थ)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Śālva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna defeating Shalva?

This verse describes Kṛṣṇa’s precise, effortless victory in battle—disabling Śālva’s chariot step by step (horses, charioteer, weapons, banner) and finally severing the head.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the details of the arrows and chariot in this verse?

To show Kṛṣṇa’s supreme mastery and the inevitability of divine justice: the aggressor’s power is systematically dismantled when he opposes the Lord.

Practical application of Krishna’s victory over evil in modern life?

Face problems in a disciplined sequence—remove the “support systems” of a bad habit or harmful influence one by one—while remembering that dharma ultimately prevails under the Lord’s protection.