Shloka 28

साम्ब-हरणम्, बलदेवस्य रोषः, हस्तिनापुर-आकर्षणम्

Devanagari script

सोमदत्तं शलं भीमम् अर्जुनं सयुधिष्ठिरम् यमजौ कौरवांश् चान्यान् हत्वा साश्वरथद्विपान्

Transliteration

somadattaṃ śalaṃ bhīmam arjunaṃ sayudhiṣṭhiram yamajau kauravāṃś cānyān hatvā sāśvarathadvipān

Translation

Having slain Somadatta, Śala, Bhīma, Arjuna together with Yudhiṣṭhira, the twin sons Nakula and Sahadeva, and other Kauravas as well—along with their horses, chariots, and elephants—he brought the host to utter ruin.

Word by Word

• सोमदत्तम्: Somadatta
• सोमदत्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमदत्त (प्रातिपदिक; सोम + दत्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेष्य-व्यक्ति-नाम

• शलम्: Śala
• शलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्ति-नाम

• भीमम्: Bhīma
• भीमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्ति-नाम

• अर्जुनम्: Arjuna
• अर्जुनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्ति-नाम

• सयुधिष्ठिरम्: (with) Yudhiṣṭhira / Yudhiṣṭhira along with others
• सयुधिष्ठिरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सयुधिष्ठिर (प्रातिपदिक; स + युधिष्ठिर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्ति-नाम

• यमजौ: the twin brothers
• यमजौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘यमौ’ इति यम-जातौ (twins)

• कौरवान्: the Kauravas
• कौरवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (कौरवान् इत्यादीनाम्)

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having slain’

• साश्वरथद्विपान्: (those) with horses, chariots, and elephants
• साश्वरथद्विपान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + अश्व + रथ + द्विप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘स’ उपसर्गार्थे ‘सहित’ (with)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (continuing the historical narration) to Maitreya

Characters & Entities

• Somadatta
• Śala
• Bhīma
• Arjuna
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Nakula
• Sahadeva

FAQs

What is the significance of dynasty narration (vaṃśānucarita) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse exemplifies how the Purāṇa anchors cosmic time in human history by listing key royal figures and war-events, linking lineage, dharma, and the turning of the ages.

How does Sage Parāśara explain historical decline through such battle descriptions?

By compressing major figures and forces (horses, chariots, elephants) into a single sweep of destruction, the narration underscores the fragility of worldly sovereignty and the waning stability of dharma over time.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇa’s historical record is framed within Vishnu’s supreme governance of time (kāla), order (ṛta), and the rise and fall of dynasties under dharma.