Shloka 27

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

Devanagari script

एवं निर्भर्त्स्य मायावी खड्‍गेनानकदुन्दुभे: । उत्कृत्य शिर आदाय खस्थं सौभं समाविशत् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ nirbhartsya māyāvī khaḍgenānakadundubheḥ utkṛtya śira ādāya kha-sthaṁ saubhaṁ samāviśat

Translation

After he had mocked the Lord in this way, the magician Śālva appeared to cut off Vasudeva’s head with his sword. Taking the head with him, he entered the Saubha vehicle, which was hovering in the sky.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• nirbhartsya: having rebuked
• nirbhartsya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-bharts (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त) from √भर्त्स् with उपसर्ग निर्-

• māyāvī: the magician/illusionist
• māyāvī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyāvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• khaḍgena: with a sword
• khaḍgena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• ānakadundubheḥ: of Ānakadundubhi (Vasudeva)
• ānakadundubheḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānaka-dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular; epithet of Vasudeva; karmadhāraya/lexical compound

• utkṛtya: having cut off
• utkṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-kṛt (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त) from √कृत् 'to cut' with उपसर्ग उत्-

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त) from √दा 'to take' with उपसर्ग आ-

• kha-stham: sky-borne
• kha-stham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kha (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'khe stham' = 'situated in the sky'; agrees with सौभम्

• saubham: the Saubha (flying city)
• saubham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• samāviśat: entered
• samāviśat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-viś (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Śālva
• Anakadundubhi (Vasudeva)
• Saubha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about maya and illusion in Krishna’s battles?

This verse shows how the māyāvī Śālva uses deceptive illusion—apparently killing Vasudeva—illustrating that demoniac power often relies on maya rather than truth, and that Krishna later exposes and defeats such illusion.

Why did Śālva ‘kill’ Anakadundubhi (Vasudeva) in the story of Saubha?

Śālva’s act is part of his psychological warfare against Krishna—using a shocking illusion to disturb Krishna’s mind and weaken his resolve in battle.

Practical application: how should one respond when faced with frightening or confusing situations?

The verse highlights that appearances can be manipulated by illusion; a devotee should pause, seek clarity, and remain steady in dharma and devotion rather than reacting impulsively to fear-based perceptions.