Shloka 8

Devanagari script

तदापतन्तं संदृश्य बलं शाल्वपतेस्तदा । निर्याय योधयामासु: कुमारा वृष्णिनन्दना:,शाल्वराजकी उस सेनाको आती देख उस समय वृष्णिकुलको आनन्दित करनेवाले कुमार नगरसे बाहर निकलकर युद्ध करने लगे

Transliteration

tadāpatantaṃ saṃdṛśya balaṃ śālvapates tadā | niryāya yodhayāmāsuḥ kumārā vṛṣṇinandanaḥ ||

Translation

Vāyu said: Seeing at that time the army of Śālva’s lord advancing upon them, the youthful princes—delighting the Vṛṣṇi clan—went out from the city and began to engage the enemy in battle. The scene underscores the kṣatriya duty of meeting aggression directly, protecting the community without delay.

Word by Word

तदाthen, at that time

आपतन्तम्falling upon/advancing (towards)

संदृश्यhaving seen

बलम्army, force

शाल्वपतेःof the lord/king of the Śālvas

तदाthen

निर्यायhaving gone out, having sallied forth

योधयामासुःthey fought / they engaged in battle

कुमाराःthe princes, youths

वृष्णिनन्दनाःdelighters/sons of the Vṛṣṇis (Vṛṣṇi heroes)

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyu (Vāyudeva)

Śālva (king/lord of Śālva)

Śālva’s army (bala)

Vṛṣṇi clan (Vṛṣṇayaḥ)

Kumāras (princes/young warriors)

City (implicit: the city from which they go out)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When aggression approaches, those charged with protection—especially kṣatriya leaders—should respond promptly and courageously. The verse highlights readiness to defend society as an aspect of dharma, not mere love of conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śālva’s forces are seen advancing. In response, the young Vṛṣṇi princes leave the city and begin fighting, meeting the threat outside rather than waiting for the enemy to enter.