Mahabharata 3.21.13 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 13
Dvārakā’s Distress and the Saubha Engagement (द्वारकाव्यग्रता तथा सौभयुद्धम्)
उपायायाद्य शाल्वेन द्वारकां वृष्णिनन्दन । विषक्ते त्वयि दुर्धर्ष हतः शूरसुतो बलात्
upāyādyāś śālvena dvārakāṁ vṛṣṇinandana | viṣakte tvayi durdharṣa hataḥ śūrasuto balāt ||
ವಾಯು ಹೇಳಿದನು— “ದುರ್ಧರ್ಷ ವೃಷ್ಣಿನಂದನನೇ! ನೀನು ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ತಲ್ಲೀನನಾಗಿದ್ದಾಗಲೇ ಶಾಲ್ವನು ಈಗ ದ್ವಾರಕಾಪುರಿಗೆ ಬಂದು ಬಲಪ್ರಯೋಗದಿಂದ ಶೂರಪುತ್ರ (ವಸುದೇವ)ನನ್ನು ಹತಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾನೆ.”
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.
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