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
Wahai Raja, ketika Śālva si pendosa telah roboh dan Saubha dihancurkan oleh gada, genderang surgawi berdentum di langit, dipukul oleh para dewa. Lalu Dantavakra, hendak membalas kematian sahabat-sahabatnya, menyerang Acyuta dengan murka.
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.