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Shloka 14

Dvārakā’s Distress and the Saubha Engagement (द्वारकाव्यग्रता तथा सौभयुद्धम्)

तदलं साधु युद्धेन निवर्तस्व जनार्दन | द्वारकामेव रक्षस्व कार्यमेतन्महत्‌ तव,“जनार्दन! अब युद्ध करके क्या लेना है? लौट आओ। द्वारकाकी ही रक्षा करो। तुम्हारे लिये यही सबसे महान्‌ कार्य है”

tad alaṃ sādhu yuddhena nivartasva janārdana | dvārakām eva rakṣasva kāryam etan mahat tava ||

Vāyu said: “Enough, O Janārdana—what is to be gained by fighting now? Turn back. Protect Dvārakā alone; for you, this is the greatest duty at present.”

तत्that (thing)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
अलम्enough; stop; no need
अलम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअलम्
साधुwell; good; rightly
साधु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसाधु
युद्धेनby/with war; by fighting
युद्धेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
निवर्तस्वturn back; desist; return
निवर्तस्व:
TypeVerb
Rootनि-वृत्
FormLot (imperative), Atmanepada, Second, Singular
जनार्दनO Janardana (Krishna)
जनार्दन:
TypeNoun (proper epithet)
Rootजनार्दन
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
द्वारकाम्Dvaraka
द्वारकाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun (proper place-name)
Rootद्वारका
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
एवindeed; just; only
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
रक्षस्वprotect; guard
रक्षस्व:
TypeVerb
Rootरक्ष्
FormLot (imperative), Atmanepada, Second, Singular
कार्यम्duty; task; what is to be done
कार्यम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकार्य
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
एतत्this
एतत्:
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
महत्great; important
महत्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
तवof you; for you
तव:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular

वायुदेव उवाच

वायुदेव (Vāyudeva)
जनार्दन (Janārdana/Kṛṣṇa)
द्वारका (Dvārakā)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches contextual dharma: even for a warrior, fighting is not always the highest good. When a greater responsibility—protecting one’s people and homeland—demands attention, restraint and return can be the more righteous course.

Vāyudeva addresses Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa), urging him to stop pursuing battle and instead return to safeguard Dvārakā, presenting the protection of the city as Kṛṣṇa’s paramount task at that moment.