Shloka 1
Balarāma Humbles the Kurus and Rescues Sāmba
श्रीशुक उवाच दुर्योधनसुतां राजन् लक्ष्मणां समितिंजय: । स्वयंवरस्थामहरत् साम्बो जाम्बवतीसुत: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca duryodhana-sutāṁ rājan lakṣmaṇāṁ samitiṁ-jayaḥ svayaṁvara-sthām aharat sāmbo jāmbavatī-sutaḥ
ಶ್ರೀಶುಕನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಓ ರಾಜನೇ! ಸಮರದಲ್ಲಿ ಸದಾ ವಿಜಯಿಯಾದ ಜಾಂಬವತೀಪುತ್ರ ಸಾಂಬನು, ಸ್ವಯಂವರದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದ ದುರ್ಯೋಧನನ ಮಗಳು ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣೆಯನ್ನು ಅಪಹರಿಸಿದನು।
In Kṛṣṇa, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains this event as follows: “Duryodhana, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, had a marriageable daughter by the name of Lakṣmaṇā. She was a very highly qualified girl of the Kuru dynasty, and many princes wanted to marry her. In such cases the svayaṁvara ceremony is held so that the girl may select her husband according to her own choice. In Lakṣmaṇā’s svayaṁvara assembly, when the girl was to select her husband, Sāmba appeared. He was the son of Kṛṣṇa by Jāmbavatī, one of the chief wives of Lord Kṛṣṇa. This son Sāmba is so named because, being a very bad child, he always lived close to his mother. The name Sāmba indicates that this son was very much his mother’s pet. Ambā means “mother,” and sa means “with.” So this special name was given to him because he always remained with his mother. He was also known as Jāmbavatī-suta for the same reason. As previously explained, all the sons of Kṛṣṇa were as qualified as their great father, Lord Kṛṣṇa. Sāmba wanted the daughter of Duryodhana, Lakṣmaṇā, although she was not inclined to have him. Therefore Sāmba kidnapped Lakṣmaṇā by force from the svayaṁvara ceremony.”
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva states that Sāmba, son of Jāmbavatī, carried away Lakṣmaṇā—Duryodhana’s daughter—from the svayaṁvara assembly.
The verse presents it as a kṣatriya-style act of valor—Sāmba, described as a conqueror in battle, seized Lakṣmaṇā at the svayaṁvara, setting the stage for conflict with her relatives.
It highlights how powerful actions create consequences—choices made publicly and boldly can trigger opposition, so one should act with responsibility, awareness of duty, and readiness to face outcomes.