Shloka 32
Śālva–Pradyumna Yuddha: Sārathya-kauśala, Astra-pratikāra, Daiva-niyati
Chapter 20
जलजं पाज्चजन्यं वै प्राणेनाहमपूरयम् | तान् दृष्टवा पतितांस्तत्र शाल्वः सौभपतिस्तत:,जो गिरते थे, उन्हें समुद्रमें रहनेवाले जीव-जन्तु निगल जाते थे। तत्पश्चात् मैंने गोदुग्ध, कुन्दपुष्प, चन्द्रमा, मृणाल तथा चाँदीकी-सी कान्तिवाले पांचजन्य नामक शंखको बड़े जोरसे फूँका। उन दानवोंको समुद्रमें गिरते देख सौभराज शाल्व महान् मायायुद्धके द्वारा मेरा सामना करने लगा। फिर तो मेरे ऊपर गदा, हल, प्रास, शूल, शक्ति, फरसे, खड्ग, शक्ति, वज्र, पाश, ऋष्टि, कनप, बाण, पट्टिश और भुशुण्डी आदि शश्त्रास्त्रोंकी निरन्तर वर्षा होने लगी
jalajaṁ pāñcajanyaṁ vai prāṇenāham apūrayam | tān dṛṣṭvā patitāṁs tatra śālvaḥ saubhapatis tataḥ ||
Vāsudeva said: “Then, drawing in my breath, I filled and sounded the lotus-born conch Pāñcajanya. Seeing those foes fallen there, Śālva—the lord of Saubha—thereupon advanced to confront me by means of a great, illusory warfare.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts steadfast, rightful strength with deceptive force: Kṛṣṇa’s sounding of Pāñcajanya signals fearless resolve and moral authority, while Śālva’s response is characterized as māyā—power used through illusion rather than straightforward valor—highlighting the ethical tension between dharmic firmness and adharma’s deceit.
Kṛṣṇa blows his conch Pāñcajanya with full breath after enemies have fallen; witnessing this, Śālva, ruler of the flying city Saubha, immediately counters by initiating a major illusory mode of battle against him.