Shloka 41
Adhyāya 22: Śālva’s Weapon-Shower, Dāruka’s Wounding, and the Māyā-Report of Vasudeva’s Father
एवं निहत्य समरे सौभ॑ शाल्व॑ निपात्य च । आनर्तान् पुनरागम्य सुहृदां प्रीतिमावहम्,धर्मराज! इस प्रकार युद्धमें सौभविमान तथा राजा शाल्वको नष्ट करके मैं पुनः आनर्तनगर [द्वारका)-में लौट आया और सुहृदोंका हर्ष बढ़ाया
evaṁ nihatya samare saubhaṁ śālvaṁ nipātya ca | ānartān punar āgamya suhṛdāṁ prītim āvaham dharmarāja |
“Having thus slain in battle the Saubha aerial fortress and having brought down King Śālva as well, I returned again to the land of Ānarta (Dvārakā) and became the cause of joy for my well-wishing friends, O Dharmarāja.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic ideal of using force for protection and restoration: after neutralizing a threat (Śālva and Saubha), the speaker returns to safeguard communal well-being and to restore the joy and security of one’s allies and friends.
Vāyudeva recounts that he destroyed Saubha and defeated King Śālva in battle, then returned to Ānarta/Dvārakā, bringing happiness to his well-wishers, while addressing Yudhiṣṭhira as Dharmarāja.