Shloka 12

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

Devanagari script

शाल्वश्च कृष्णमालोक्य हतप्रायबलेश्वर: । प्राहरत् कृष्णसूताय शक्तिं भीमरवां मृधे ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

śālvaś ca kṛṣṇam ālokya hata-prāya-baleśvaraḥ prāharat kṛṣṇa-sūtaya śaktiṁ bhīma-ravāṁ mṛdhe

Translation

Seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa approach, Śālva, master of an army nearly destroyed, hurled a spear at Kṛṣṇa’s charioteer; it roared terribly as it flew in battle.

Synonyms

• शाल्वः: Śālva
• शाल्वः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कृष्णम्: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having looked at/seen’

• हत-प्राय-बल-ईश्वरः: whose power and lordship were almost destroyed
• हत-प्राय-बल-ईश्वरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (हन् धातु + क्त) + प्राय (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: हतप्रायबलेश्वर (बहुव्रीहि) = यस्य बलम् ईश्वरत्वं च हतप्रायम्; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्राहरत्: struck/shot (at)
• प्राहरत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कृष्ण-सूताय: at Kṛṣṇa’s charioteer
• कृष्ण-सूताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/लक्ष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कृष्णसूत = कृष्णस्य सूतः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• शक्तिम्: a spear/weapon
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भीम-रवाम्: terrible-sounding
• भीम-रवाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक) + रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: भीमरवा = भीमः रवः यस्याः (कर्मधारय); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (शक्तिम् इति विशेषण)

• मृधे: in battle
• मृधे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृध्/मृध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śālva
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Śālva’s attack on Krishna in Canto 10?

This verse describes how Śālva, nearly defeated, still tried to strike by hurling a terrifying javelin—specifically targeting Kṛṣṇa’s charioteer during the battle.

Why did Śālva aim his weapon at Krishna’s charioteer?

In the flow of the battle narrative, Śālva—his strength failing—attempted a desperate tactic by attacking Kṛṣṇa’s support (the charioteer), hoping to destabilize Kṛṣṇa’s position in combat.

Practical application of Krishna’s protection theme in modern life?

Even when threats target our “supports” (health, relationships, stability), the Bhagavatam’s battle scenes remind devotees to keep faith in Kṛṣṇa’s shelter and remain steady in dharma rather than panic in adversity.