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.
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.