Shloka 13
Dvārakā’s Distress and the Saubha Engagement (द्वारकाव्यग्रता तथा सौभयुद्धम्)
उपायायाद्य शाल्वेन द्वारकां वृष्णिनन्दन । विषक्ते त्वयि दुर्धर्ष हतः शूरसुतो बलात्,“दुर्धर्ष वृष्णिनन्दन! आपके युद्धमें आसक्त होनेपर शाल्वने अभी द्वारकापुरीमें आकर शूरनन्दन वसुदेवजीको बलपूर्वक मार डाला है
upāyādyāś śālvena dvārakāṁ vṛṣṇinandana | viṣakte tvayi durdharṣa hataḥ śūrasuto balāt ||
Vāyu said: “O descendant of the Vṛṣṇis, O invincible one—while you were absorbed in battle, Śālva has now come to Dvārakā and, by force, has slain Śūra’s son (Vasudeva).” The message is meant to shake the hero from single-minded martial focus and remind him of his wider dharmic responsibility: protecting one’s people and elders is also a duty, and war without vigilance can invite calamity at home.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that dharma includes vigilance and responsibility beyond the battlefield: a warrior’s absorption in one conflict must not blind him to protecting his people, city, and elders; neglect can allow enemies to strike where one’s duty is also urgent.
Vāyudeva delivers an alarming report to Kṛṣṇa (addressed as Vṛṣṇinandana and durdharṣa): Śālva has arrived at Dvārakā and has forcibly killed Śūra’s son—understood in this context as Vasudeva—while Kṛṣṇa was engrossed in battle.