Shloka 13

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

Devanagari script

तामापतन्तीं नभसि महोल्कामिव रंहसा । भासयन्तीं दिश: शौरि: सायकै: शतधाच्छिनत् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

tām āpatantīṁ nabhasi maholkām iva raṁhasā bhāsayantīṁ diśaḥ śauriḥ sāyakaiḥ śatadhācchinat

Translation

Tombak itu melesat di langit bagaikan meteor raksasa, menerangi segala penjuru; namun Śauri meremukkannya menjadi ratusan bagian dengan anak panah-Nya.

Synonyms

• ताम्: her/that (object)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप (fem acc sg)

• आपतन्तीम्: falling down, rushing toward
• आपतन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ√पत् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with ताम्)

• नभसि: in the sky
• नभसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• महोल्काम्: a great meteor/fireball
• महोल्काम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + उल्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इव: like, as
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• रंहसा: with speed, swiftly
• रंहसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रंहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; साधन-भावे

• भासयन्तीम्: illuminating
• भासयन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भास् (प्रातिपदिक/धात्वर्थ) + णिच् (causative) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ) causative; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ताम्)

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शौरिः: Śauri (Krishna)
• शौरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• सायकैः: with arrows
• सायकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• शतधा: into a hundred pieces
• शतधा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतधा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• अच्छिनत्: cut, severed
• अच्छिनत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śauri (Lord Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna destroying powerful weapons?

This verse describes how Lord Kṛṣṇa, called Śauri, effortlessly breaks a blazing, meteor-like weapon in midair with His arrows, showing His supreme protective power.

Why is Krishna called Śauri in this verse?

Śauri indicates Kṛṣṇa’s lineage as a descendant of Śūra and is also used as a reverential epithet while narrating His heroic deeds in battle.

Practical application of Krishna’s protection in modern life?

The verse inspires faith that divine shelter can neutralize even overwhelming dangers—encouraging devotees to respond to fear with remembrance, prayer, and steady dharma.