Shloka 10
Kṛṣṇasya asāṃnidhya-kāraṇaṃ — Śālva–Soubha-vṛttāntaḥ
Why Kṛṣṇa was absent; the Śālva and Saubha account
पुरुषै: कुरुशार्टूल समर्थ: प्रतिवारणे । अतिख्यातकुलै वीरिवदृष्टवीर्यश्व संयुगे,भरतकुलभूषण! शास्त्रोक्त विधिसे द्वारकापुरीको रक्षाके सभी उत्तम उपायोंसे सम्पन्न किया गया था। कुरुश्रेष्ठ! शत्रुओंका सामना करनेमें समर्थ गद, साम्ब और उद्धव आदि अनेक वीर पुरुष नाना प्रकारके बहुसंख्यक रथोंद्वारा पुरीकी रक्षामें दत्तचित थे। जो अत्यन्त विख्यात कुलोंमें उत्पन्न थे तथा युद्धके अवसरोंपर जिनके बल-वीर्यका परिचय मिल चुका था, ऐसे वीर रक्षक मध्यम गुल्म (नगरके मध्यवर्ती दुर्ग)-में स्थित हो पुरीकी पूर्णतः रक्षा कर रहे थे। सबको प्रमादसे बचानेवाले उग्रसेन और उद्धव आदिने शत्रुओंके गुल्मोंको नष्ट करनेकी शक्ति रखनेवाले घुड़सवारोंके हाथमें झंडे देकर समूचे नगरमें यह घोषणा करा दी थी कि किसीको भी मद्यपान नहीं करना चाहिये
puruṣaiḥ kuruśārṭūla samarthaḥ prativāraṇe | atikhyātakulair vīrair iva dṛṣṭavīryaśva saṃyuge bharatakula-bhūṣaṇa | śāstroktavidhinā dvārakāpurī ko rakṣakaiḥ sarvottamopāyaiḥ sampannīkṛtā āsīt | kuruśreṣṭha śatrūṇāṃ samāgamaṃ prati samarthā gadāḥ sāmba uddhava-ādayo 'nekā vīrā nānāprakārair bahusaṅkhyair rathaiḥ purīrakṣaṇe dattacittāḥ | ye 'tyantavikhyātakuleṣu jātāḥ tathā yuddhakāleṣu yeṣāṃ bala-vīrya-paricayo labdhaḥ te vīrarakṣakā madhyamagulme sthitvā purīṃ samantataḥ parirakṣanti | sarvān apramādārthaṃ ugrasenoddhavādayaḥ śatrugulmavināśaśaktān aśvārūḍhān dhvajahastān kṛtvā nagare sarvatra ghoṣayām āsuḥ—na kaścid api madyaṃ pibet iti ||
Vāyu said: “O tiger among the Kurus, ornament of Bharata’s line! Dvārakā had been secured according to the prescriptions of polity and sacred law, furnished with every excellent means of defense. Many heroes—Gadā, Sāmba, Uddhava and others—fully capable of meeting the enemy, kept their minds fixed on guarding the city with numerous chariots of diverse kinds. Born in renowned families and already proven in strength and valor on the battlefield, these defenders took position in the central fortification and protected the city on all sides. And to keep everyone free from negligence, Ugrasena, Uddhava and the rest had mounted horsemen—able to shatter enemy formations—carry banners through the whole city, proclaiming that no one should drink intoxicating liquor.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective protection of a community requires śāstra-guided planning, proven leadership, and strict discipline. The ban on intoxicants highlights apramāda (vigilance): moral self-control is treated as a strategic necessity, not merely a private virtue.
Vāyu describes how Dvārakā was organized for defense: elite, battle-tested warriors (including Gadā, Sāmba, and Uddhava) guard the city with chariot forces from key fortified positions, while Ugrasena and Uddhava enforce readiness by publicly announcing a prohibition on drinking.