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Shloka 35

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

आधावत: सगदं तस्य बाहुं भल्ल‍ेन छित्त्वाथ रथाङ्गमद्भ‍ुतम् । वधाय शाल्वस्य लयार्कसन्निभं बिभ्रद् बभौ सार्क इवोदयाचल: ॥ ३५ ॥

ādhāvataḥ sa-gadaṁ tasya bāhuṁ bhallena chittvātha rathāṅgam adbhutam vadhāya śālvasya layārka-sannibhaṁ bibhrad babhau sārka ivodayācalaḥ

As Śālva charged with his club, the Lord loosed a bhalla dart and severed the arm that held it. Resolving to slay Śālva, Kṛṣṇa then raised His Sudarśana disc, blazing like the sun at cosmic dissolution; He shone like the eastern mountain bearing the rising sun.

ādhāvataḥof (him) rushing
ādhāvataḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeVerb
Rootā-√dhāv (धातु)
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular, Masculine/Neuter; ‘of (him) rushing/charging’
sa-gadamwith (his) mace
sa-gadam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootsa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; अव्ययीभाव ‘together with a mace’ (gadam saha)
tasyaof him
tasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
bāhumarm
bāhum:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular
bhallenawith a bhalla-arrow
bhallena:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootbhalla (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; ‘with a bhalla-arrow’
chittvāhaving cut off
chittvā:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√chid (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having cut’
athathen
atha:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatha (अव्यय)
FormParticle/conjunction (अनन्तर-बोधक अव्यय) ‘then’
rathāṅgamthe discus (rathāṅga)
rathāṅgam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootratha (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुष ‘wheel/Discus (ratha-wheel)’
adbhutamwonderful
adbhutam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootadbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying rathāṅgam
vadhāyafor the slaying
vadhāya:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
TypeNoun
Rootvadha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose ‘for killing’
śālvasyaof Śālva
śālvasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootśālva (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th), Singular
laya-arka-sannibhamlike the sun at cosmic dissolution
laya-arka-sannibham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootlaya (प्रातिपदिक) + arka (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुष ‘like the sun at dissolution’ (laye arkaḥ iva)
bibhratbearing
bibhrat:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Root√bhṛ (धातु)
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘bearing’
babhaushone
babhau:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√bhā (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; ‘shone/appeared’
sa-arkaḥwith the sun
sa-arkaḥ:
Upamana (उपमान)
TypeAdjective
Rootsa (अव्यय/सह) + arka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; अव्ययीभाव ‘with the sun’
ivalike
iva:
Upama (उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (अव्यय)
FormComparative particle (उपमा-वाचक अव्यय)
udayācalaḥthe eastern mountain
udayācalaḥ:
Upamana (उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootudaya (प्रातिपदिक) + acala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; तत्पुरुष ‘the mountain of sunrise (eastern mountain)’
Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa
Ś
Śālva
S
Sudarśana Cakra

FAQs

In this verse, Kṛṣṇa raises His wondrous Sudarśana disc—described as blazing like the pralaya-sun—showing it as His decisive divine weapon to destroy Śālva and protect dharma.

Śālva charged at Kṛṣṇa with a mace; Kṛṣṇa neutralized the immediate threat by severing his arm with a sharp arrow, then prepared to finish the battle with the Sudarśana Chakra.

The verse highlights swift, decisive removal of danger: devotees can cultivate faith that the Lord protects, while also acting intelligently and firmly to cut off harmful influences that threaten one’s dharma and devotion.