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Shloka 22

Śālva Attacks Dvārakā; Pradyumna Leads the Defense

Saubha-vimāna and Māyā-yuddha

क्व‍‍चिद्भ‍ूमौ क्व‍‍चिद् व्योम्नि गिरिमूर्ध्‍नि जले क्व‍‍चित् । अलातचक्रवद् भ्राम्यत् सौभं तद् दुरवस्थितम् ॥ २२ ॥

kvacid bhūmau kvacid vyomni giri-mūrdhni jale kvacit alāta-cakra-vad bhrāmyat saubhaṁ tad duravasthitam

Dari saat ke saat, kapal udara Saubha muncul kadang-kadang di bumi, kadang di langit, kadang di puncak gunung, atau kadang di air. Seperti obor berapi yang berpusing, ia tidak pernah tetap di satu tempat.

kvacitsomewhere/at times
kvacit:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkvacit (अव्यय)
FormDeśa-kāla-avyaya (देश/काल-अव्यय, adverb)
bhūmauon the ground
bhūmau:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootbhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
kvacitsomewhere/at times
kvacit:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkvacit (अव्यय)
FormDeśa-kāla-avyaya (देश/काल-अव्यय, adverb)
vyomniin the sky
vyomni:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootvyoman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
giri-mūrdhnion the mountain peak
giri-mūrdhni:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootgiri (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—गिरेः मूर्धनि (on the mountain-top)
jalein water
jale:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootjala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
kvacitsomewhere/at times
kvacit:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkvacit (अव्यय)
FormDeśa-kāla-avyaya (देश/काल-अव्यय, adverb)
alāta-cakra-vatlike a firebrand-circle
alāta-cakra-vat:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootalāta (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
FormUpamā-avyaya (उपमा-अव्यय); -vat (वत्) ‘like’; alāta-cakra = तत्पुरुषः (अलातस्य चक्रम्)
bhrāmyatwhirled/was moving about
bhrāmyat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhram (धातु)
FormLaṭ (लट्, Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); (poetic form for bhrāmyati)
saubhamSaubha (the flying city)
saubham:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsaubha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); proper noun (the aerial city Saubha)
tatthat
tat:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
duravasthitamhard to fix/track
duravasthitam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdur (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + avasthita (कृदन्त; √sthā धातु)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); भूतकृदन्त (past participle) avasthita; ‘hard to be located/steadied’
S
Saubha

FAQs

This verse describes Saubha as shifting between earth, sky, mountain tops, and water—spinning like a whirled firebrand—making it extremely difficult to pin down.

The comparison highlights its deceptive, rapidly moving nature—an illusion-like motion that prevents ordinary warriors from accurately targeting it.

Like Saubha’s restless motion, distractions can keep the mind “unlocatable”; steadiness in practice and devotion helps one remain fixed rather than spinning in confusion.