Shloka 24

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

Devanagari script

कथं राममसम्भ्रान्तं जित्वाजेयं सुरासुरै: । शाल्वेनाल्पीयसा नीत: पिता मे बलवान् विधि: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

kathaṁ rāmam asambhrāntaṁ jitvājeyaṁ surāsuraiḥ śālvenālpīyasā nītaḥ pitā me balavān vidhiḥ

Translation

[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] Balarāma is ever vigilant, and no demigod or demon can defeat Him. So how could this insignificant Śālva defeat Him and abduct My father? Indeed, fate is all-powerful!

Synonyms

• katham: how?
• katham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative indeclinable/adverb (प्रश्नाव्यय)

• rāmam: Rama (Balarama)
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• asambhrāntam: unconfused, unperturbed
• asambhrāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-sambhrānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with रामम्

• jitvā: having conquered
• jitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ji (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त) from √जि 'to conquer'

• ajeyam: unconquerable
• ajeyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-jeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; predicate/object complement to रामम् (i.e., 'unconquerable')

• sura-asuraiḥ: by gods and demons
• sura-asuraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); द्वन्द्व समास

• śālvena: by Shalva
• śālvena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• alpīyasā: with a small/lesser (force)
• alpīyasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpīyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (or Masculine) Instrumental (3rd), Singular; comparative adjective used adverbially = 'with a lesser (means)'

• nītaḥ: was led away
• nītaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) from √नी; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; passive sense 'was led' (subject implied: 'he')

• pitā: father
• pitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; enclitic pronoun

• balavān: powerful
• balavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifies विधिः

• vidhiḥ: fate, destiny
• vidhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Characters & Entities

• Balarāma
• Śālva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about destiny (vidhi) in Krishna’s pastimes?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa acknowledging that even when the Lord’s associates appear to face defeat, it is due to a higher divine arrangement (vidhi) within the Lord’s līlā, not because the Lord is actually overpowered.

Why did Krishna say that Śālva was insignificant yet seemed to defeat Balarāma?

Kṛṣṇa highlights the apparent contradiction to emphasize that Śālva could not truly overpower Balarāma; the situation is part of the unfolding Dvārakā līlā, where providence arranges events for a larger purpose.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

When setbacks occur, a devotee can remember that appearances are not final—maintain steadiness, avoid panic, and continue one’s dharma and devotion, trusting the higher arrangement.