Shloka 16

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

Devanagari script

हाहाकारो महानासीद् भूतानां तत्र पश्यताम् । निनद्य सौभराडुच्चैरिदमाह जनार्दनम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

hāhā-kāro mahān āsīd bhūtānāṁ tatra paśyatām ninadya saubha-rāḍ uccair idam āha janārdanam

Translation

Those who witnessed this all cried out in dismay. Then the master of Saubha roared loudly and addressed Lord Janārdana.

Synonyms

• हाहाकारः: a cry of ‘hā hā’, loud lament
• हाहाकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हाहा (अव्यय-ध्वनि) + कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (ध्वनि-विशेषः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महान्: great
• महान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (हाहाकारः)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• पश्यताम्: of those watching
• पश्यताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृश्/पश् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ) ‘पश्यत्’; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; जनानां विशेषण-रूपे ‘while (they) were watching’

• निनद्य: having roared
• निनद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + √नद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund): ‘having roared/sounded’

• सौभराट्: the king of Saubha (Śālva)
• सौभराट्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभ (प्रातिपदिक) + राज्/राट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सौभस्य राट्/राजा); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उच्चैः: loudly
• उच्चैः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उच्चैः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वाक्य-वस्तु (object of speech)

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धात्वर्थ ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• जनार्दनम्: to Janārdana (Krishna)
• जनार्दनम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śālva
• Janārdana (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the battle of Dvārakā with Śālva?

This verse sets the scene of public alarm during Śālva’s assault, as he roars and addresses Lord Kṛṣṇa, leading into Kṛṣṇa’s response and eventual defeat of Śālva.

Why did Śālva speak loudly to Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa) in Canto 10 Chapter 77?

Śālva sought to intimidate and challenge Kṛṣṇa amid the chaos witnessed by all, projecting power before confronting the Lord in battle.

Practical application of Krishna’s protection in modern life?

Even when circumstances create fear and public panic, a devotee remembers that the Lord remains steady and victorious—encouraging courage, prayer, and dharmic action under pressure.