Shloka 25
The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha
इति ब्रुवाणे गोविन्दे सौभराट् प्रत्युपस्थित: । वसुदेवमिवानीय कृष्णं चेदमुवाच स: ॥ २५ ॥
iti bruvāṇe govinde saubha-rāṭ pratyupasthitaḥ vasudevam ivānīya kṛṣṇaṁ cedam uvāca saḥ
After Govinda spoke these words, the master of Saubha again appeared, apparently leading Vasudeva before the Lord. Śālva then spoke as follows.
FAQs
This verse introduces Śālva’s deceptive act—he presents something that appears to be Vasudeva before Kṛṣṇa, setting up the narrative of māyā used in battle.
Śālva attempted to unsettle Kṛṣṇa emotionally and gain advantage by displaying an illusory captive resembling Vasudeva, using trickery rather than dharmic combat.
Do not make major decisions based on appearances alone; cultivate steady intelligence and devotion so that emotional manipulation and misleading “proofs” do not shake one’s values.