Shloka 10

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

Devanagari script

रथं प्रापय मे सूत शाल्वस्यान्तिकमाशु वै । सम्भ्रमस्ते न कर्तव्यो मायावी सौभराडयम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

rathaṁ prāpaya me sūta śālvasyāntikam āśu vai sambhramas te na kartavyo māyāvī saubha-rāḍ ayam

Translation

O charioteer, quickly bring My chariot near Śālva. This lord of Saubha is a mighty wielder of illusion; do not become bewildered.

Synonyms

• रथम्: the chariot
• रथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रापय: bring/drive (it)
• प्रापय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• मे: for me / to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन (enclitic)

• सूत: O charioteer
• सूत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• शाल्वस्य: of Śālva
• शाल्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अन्तिकम्: near (the vicinity)
• अन्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (स्थानवाचक) ‘near (to)’

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• सम्भ्रमः: confusion, agitation
• सम्भ्रमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्भ्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन (enclitic)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• कर्तव्यः: to be done (should be)
• कर्तव्यः: Vidhi (विधि/निषेध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be done’

• मायावी: the magician/illusionist
• मायावी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायाविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सौभ-राट्: the ruler of Saubha
• सौभ-राट्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभ (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन्/राट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: सौभराट् = सौभस्य राट् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Dāruka
• Śālva
• Saubha (flying city)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about illusion (māyā) in Krishna’s battles?

This verse shows that opponents may use māyā (deceptive displays), but Kṛṣṇa urges steadiness and discernment rather than panic when confronted by illusion.

Why did Krishna tell His charioteer not to be agitated?

Because Śālva was a māyāvī, creating confusing appearances in battle; Kṛṣṇa reassures Dāruka to remain composed while approaching the enemy.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

When faced with misinformation, emotional manipulation, or sudden crises, stay calm, verify reality, and act steadily—without being thrown off by appearances.