Shloka 20

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा भगवाञ्छाल्वं गदया भीमवेगया । तताड जत्रौ संरब्ध: स चकम्पे वमन्नसृक् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

ity uktvā bhagavāñ chālvaṁ gadayā bhīma-vegayā tatāḍa jatrau saṁrabdhaḥ sa cakampe vamann asṛk

Translation

Having said this, the furious Lord swung His club with terrifying speed and force and struck Śālva on the collarbone. Śālva trembled and vomited blood.

Synonyms

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha (वाक्यार्थ-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-अव्यय)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vac (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा) → uktvā (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable; ‘having said’

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śālvam: Śālva
• śālvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• gadayā: with a mace
• gadayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• bhīma-vegayā: of fearsome speed
• bhīma-vegayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agrees with gadayā; कर्मधारय: ‘of terrible speed’

• tatāḍa: struck
• tatāḍa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: taḍ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• jatrau: on the collarbones
• jatrau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jatrū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual; ‘on the collarbones/neck-joints’

• saṁrabdhaḥ: enraged
• saṁrabdhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṁ-rabh (धातु) + kta (क्त) → saṁrabdha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘enraged’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• cakampe: trembled
• cakampe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kamp (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), 3rd person, Singular; Ātmanepada

• vaman: vomiting
• vaman: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vam (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ) → vaman (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with saḥ

• asṛk: blood
• asṛk: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asṛj/asṛk (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of vaman

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Śālva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna defeating Śālva?

In this verse, Śukadeva describes Lord Kṛṣṇa striking Śālva powerfully with His mace, causing him to tremble and vomit blood—showing the Lord’s decisive protection of righteousness.

Why did Krishna strike Śālva with His mace in Canto 10 Chapter 77?

Śālva had attacked Dvārakā and opposed the Lord; after speaking to him, Kṛṣṇa, angered by Śālva’s aggression, struck him to subdue the threat and uphold dharma.

What is the practical lesson from Krishna’s battle with Śālva?

The verse teaches that arrogance and aggression against dharma lead to downfall, while divine protection ultimately removes obstacles that endanger devotees and righteous life.