Shloka 3

Śālva Attacks Dvārakā; Pradyumna Leads the Defense

Saubha-vimāna and Māyā-yuddha

Devanagari script

शाल्व: प्रतिज्ञामकरोच्छृण्वतां सर्वभूभुजाम् । अयादवां क्ष्मां करिष्ये पौरुषं मम पश्यत ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

śālvaḥ pratijñām akaroc chṛṇvatāṁ sarva-bhūbhujām ayādavāṁ kṣmāṁ kariṣye pauruṣaṁ mama paśyata

Translation

Hearing all the kings, Śālva made a vow: “I shall rid the earth of the Yādavas—behold my prowess!”

Synonyms

• शाल्वः: Śālva
• शाल्वः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रतिज्ञाम्: a vow
• प्रतिज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• अकरोत्: made
• अकरोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• शृण्वताम्: of (those) listening
• शृण्वताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/कृत), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); 'of those listening'

• सर्व-भूभुजाम्: of all kings
• सर्व-भूभुजाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूभुज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); compound: सर्वेषां भूभुजाम् (of all kings)

• अ-यादवाम्: not (ruled) by the Yadus
• अ-यादवाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यादव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); negative prefix अ-; agrees with क्ष्माम्

• क्ष्माम्: the earth
• क्ष्माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्ष्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• करिष्ये: I shall make
• करिष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Simple future (लृट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); ātmanepada

• पौरुषम्: manly prowess
• पौरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• मम: of me; my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• पश्यत: behold (you all)
• पश्यत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Śālva
• Yādavas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Śālva’s vow against the Yādavas?

This verse states that Śālva publicly vowed before many kings that he would make the earth “without the Yādavas,” boasting of his own valor.

Why did Śālva make this proclamation in front of other kings?

Śālva’s vow is presented as a public challenge—an announcement of hostility meant to display pride and rally attention, setting the stage for his assault on Kṛṣṇa’s dynasty in Dvārakā.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Public, pride-driven vows to harm others lead to downfall; the Bhagavatam contrasts such arrogance with humility and reliance on dharma and the Lord’s protection.