Shloka 10

Śālva–Pradyumna Yuddha: Sārathya-kauśala, Astra-pratikāra, Daiva-niyati

Chapter 20

Devanagari script

सशाल्वं सौभनगरं हत्वा द्रष्टास्मि व: पुन: । त्रिःसामा हन्यतामेषा दुन्दुभि: शत्रुभीषणा,'शाल्वसहित सौभनगरका नाश कर लेनेपर ही मैं पुन: आपलोगोंका दर्शन करूँगा। अब शत्रुओंको भयभीत करनेवाले इस नगाड़ेको तीन बार बजाइये”

Transliteration

saśālvaṃ saubhanagaraṃ hatvā draṣṭāsmi vaḥ punaḥ | triḥ sāmā hanyatām eṣā dundubhiḥ śatrubhīṣaṇā ||

Translation

Vāsudeva said: “After I have slain Śālva and destroyed the city of Saubha, I shall see you again. Now let this war-drum—terrifying to the enemy—be sounded three times.”

Word by Word

सthat (him)

शाल्वम्Śālva

सौभनगरम्the city of Saubha

हत्वाhaving slain/destroyed

द्रष्टाI will see / I am to see (seer)

अस्मिam

वःof you (all)

पुनःagain

त्रिःthrice

सामाwith a sāman/chant (as a formula); (here) with the 'sāman' call

हन्यताम्let (it) be struck / beaten

एषाthis (one)

दुन्दुभिःkettledrum / war-drum

शत्रुभीषणाterrifying to enemies

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)

Śālva

Saubha (Saubhanagara)

dundubhi (war-drum)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights resolute leadership and accountability: Vāsudeva commits to completing a dangerous duty (defeating Śālva and Saubha) before returning, and uses a clear martial signal (the thrice-sounded drum) to coordinate and strengthen morale.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāsudeva declares that he will meet the others again only after killing Śālva and destroying Saubha, then orders the enemy-terrifying war-drum to be sounded three times as a formal signal of action and readiness.