Shloka 9

Kṛṣṇa Kills Dantavakra; Balarāma’s Pilgrimage and the Slaying of Romaharṣaṇa

Devanagari script

गदानिर्भिन्नहृदय उद्वमन् रुधिरं मुखात् । प्रसार्य केशबाह्वङ्‍‍घ्रीन् धरण्यां न्यपतद् व्यसु: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

gadā-nirbhinna-hṛdaya udvaman rudhiraṁ mukhāt prasārya keśa-bāhv-aṅghrīn dharaṇyāṁ nyapatad vyasuḥ

Translation

His heart shattered by the club’s blow, Dantavakra vomited blood and fell lifeless to the ground, his hair disheveled and his arms and legs sprawling.

Synonyms

• गदा-निर्भिन्न-हृदयः: whose heart was pierced by the mace
• गदा-निर्भिन्न-हृदयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गदा + निर्भिन्न (नि: + भिद् धातु, क्त) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: यस्य हृदयम् गदया निर्भिन्नम् सः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• उद्वमन्: vomiting forth
• उद्वमन्: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-वम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• रुधिरम्: blood
• रुधिरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• मुखात्: from (his) mouth
• मुखात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-एकवचन (Ablative singular)

• प्रसार्य: having extended
• प्रसार्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-सर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive): 'having stretched out'

• केश-बाहु-अङ्घ्रीन्: hair, arms, and feet (limbs)
• केश-बाहु-अङ्घ्रीन्: कर्म (Karma/Object of प्रसार्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश + बाहु + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व): केशाश्च बाहवश्च अङ्घ्रयश्च; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचन (Accusative plural)

• धरण्याम्: on the ground
• धरण्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचन (Locative singular)

• न्यपतत्: fell down
• न्यपतत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्यसुः: lifeless; dead
• व्यसुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + असु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; नञ्-तुल्य-भाव: विगत-असुः (bahuvrīhi sense, but lexicalized)

Characters & Entities

• Śālva
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

How did Śālva die in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 78?

This verse states that Śālva’s heart was shattered by a mace-blow, after which he vomited blood and fell to the earth dead.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Śālva’s death in such vivid detail?

In the narrative, the vivid description underscores the certainty of divine justice: when adharma confronts Bhagavān, its defeat is decisive and unmistakable.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

It reminds a seeker that arrogance and violence rooted in adharma lead to ruin, while aligning one’s actions with dharma and devotion brings protection and clarity.