Shloka 10
Śālva Attacks Dvārakā; Pradyumna Leads the Defense
Saubha-vimāna and Māyā-yuddha
निरुध्य सेनया शाल्वो महत्या भरतर्षभ । पुरीं बभञ्जोपवनानुद्यानानि च सर्वश: ॥ ९ ॥ सगोपुराणि द्वाराणि प्रासादाट्टालतोलिका: । विहारान् स विमानाग्र्यान्निपेतु: शस्त्रवृष्टय: ॥ १० ॥ शिला द्रुमाश्चाशनय: सर्पा आसारशर्करा: । प्रचण्डश्चक्रवातोऽभूद् रजसाच्छादिता दिश: ॥ ११ ॥
nirudhya senayā śālvo mahatyā bharatarṣabha purīṁ babhañjopavanān udyānāni ca sarvaśaḥ
O best of the Bharatas, Śālva besieged the city with a vast army and devastated the groves and gardens all around. Gateways and doors, palaces with their watchtowers, lofty structures and places of recreation were smashed; from his finest airship he rained down weapons—stones, tree trunks, thunderbolts like vajras, serpents, and hail. A fierce whirlwind arose, and dust covered every direction.
FAQs
In this passage, Śukadeva describes how Śālva besieged Dvārakā and devastated its gates, towers, palaces, gardens, and even aerial structures with a terrifying shower of weapons and natural-like calamities such as dust storms.
Śukadeva calls Parīkṣit “O best of the Bharatas” as an honorific, emphasizing his noble lineage and fitness to hear the Lord’s pastimes, even when they involve intense warfare and danger.
The verse highlights how overwhelming external chaos can arise suddenly; a devotee learns steadiness and reliance on the Lord’s protection, rather than losing faith when circumstances appear destructive or uncontrollable.