Shloka 14

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

Devanagari script

तं च षोडशभिर्विद्ध्वा बाणै: सौभं च खे भ्रमत् । अविध्यच्छरसन्दोहै: खं सूर्य इव रश्मिभि: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ ca ṣoḍaśabhir viddhvā bānaiḥ saubhaṁ ca khe bhramat avidhyac chara-sandohaiḥ khaṁ sūrya iva raśmibhiḥ

Translation

Lord Kṛṣṇa then pierced Śālva with sixteen arrows and struck the Saubha airship with a deluge of arrows as it darted about the sky. Firing His arrows, the Lord appeared like the sun flooding the heavens with its rays.

Synonyms

• तम्: him/that (object)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप

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

• षोडशभिः: with sixteen
• षोडशभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• विद्ध्वा: having pierced
• विद्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्/विध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया; ‘having pierced/struck’

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• सौभम्: Saubha (the aerial city/vehicle)
• सौभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (शाल्वस्य विमान/नगरम्)

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

• खे: in the sky
• खे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• भ्रमत्: moving/whirling
• भ्रमत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सौभम्)

• अविध्यत्: pierced, struck
• अविध्यत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्/विध् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• शर-सन्दोहैः: with masses/volleys of arrows
• शर-सन्दोहैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्दोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शराणां सन्दोहाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• खम्: the sky
• खम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सूर्यः: the sun
• सूर्यः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय

• रश्मिभिः: with rays
• रश्मिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Śālva
• Saubha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna defeating Shalva and the Saubha airship?

In this verse, Śukadeva describes how Lord Kṛṣṇa pierces Śālva with sixteen arrows and strikes the whirling Saubha airship, covering the sky with volleys of arrows like sunlight filling the heavens.

Why did Krishna attack the Saubha flying city in Canto 10 Chapter 77?

Because Śālva used the Saubha airship to terrorize Dvārakā and assault the Lord’s devotees; Kṛṣṇa counters both the attacker and his supernatural weapon to protect His city and devotees.

Practical application of Krishna’s protection in modern life?

The verse inspires faith that when threats feel overwhelming or “unreachable,” sincere devotion and reliance on the Lord’s guidance give clarity, courage, and protection to face adversity.