Shloka 2

Saubha-ākhyāna: Śālva’s Approach and the Fortification of Dvārakā (सौभाख्यानम्—द्वारकायाः सुरक्षाविधानम्)

Devanagari script

समे निविष्टा सा सेना प्रभूतसलिलाशये । चतुरड्रबलोपेता शाल्वराजाभिपालिता,जहाँ अधिक जलसे भरा हुआ जलाशय था, वहीं समतल भूमिमें उसकी सेनाने पड़ाव डाला। उसमें हाथीसवार, घुड़सवार, रथी और पैदल चारों प्रकारके सैनिक थे। स्वयं राजा शाल्व उसका संरक्षक था

Transliteration

same niviṣṭā sā senā prabhūtasalilāśaye | catur-aṅga-balopetā śālvarājābhipālitā ||

Translation

Vāyu said: “There, on level ground beside a reservoir filled with abundant water, that army made its camp. It was a complete fourfold force—elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry—and it was guarded and directed under King Śālva’s command.”

Word by Word

समेon level (ground)

निविष्टाencamped/settled

साthat

सेनाarmy

प्रभूत-सलिल-आशयेin a reservoir/abode with abundant water

चतुर्-अङ्ग-बल-उपेताendowed with fourfold forces (elephants, chariots, cavalry, infantry)

शाल्व-राज-अभिपालिताprotected/guarded by King Shalva

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyudeva

Śālva (King Śālva)

senā (army)

salilāśaya (water-reservoir/lake)

catur-aṅga-bala (fourfold army: elephants, horses, chariots, infantry)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in warfare, rājadharma emphasizes responsible leadership: selecting secure terrain, ensuring access to water, and safeguarding the army through disciplined organization and protection under the king’s oversight.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva describes an army encamping on level ground near a water-rich reservoir. The force is a standard fourfold formation (elephants, cavalry, chariots, infantry) and is under the protection and command of King Śālva.