The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha
तस्मिन् निपतिते पापे सौभे च गदया हते । नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो राजन् दिवि देवगणेरिता: । सखीनामपचितिं कुर्वन्दन्तवक्रो रुषाभ्यगात् ॥ ३७ ॥
tasmin nipatite pāpe saubhe ca gadayā hate nedur dundubhayo rājan divi deva-gaṇeritāḥ sakhīnām apacitiṁ kurvan dantavakro ruṣābhyagāt
Ô roi, lorsque le pécheur Śālva fut abattu et que la nef Saubha eut été détruite par la massue, les cieux retentirent de timbales frappés par les troupes des devas. Alors Dantavakra, voulant venger ses amis, se jeta avec fureur sur le Seigneur.
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Seventy-seventh Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Lord Kṛṣṇa Slays the Demon Śālva.”
This verse states that Śālva fell and his Saubha airship was destroyed by the mace, after which the demigods celebrated in heaven by sounding kettledrums.
Because he sought apaciti—retaliation or vengeance—for his friends, and thus he advanced toward the Lord in anger.
It highlights that adharmic aggression ultimately collapses, while resentment and revenge only deepen bondage—devotees should choose dharma, restraint, and surrender over retaliation.