Shloka 18
The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha
यत्त्वया मूढ न: सख्युर्भ्रातुर्भार्या हृतेक्षताम् । प्रमत्त: स सभामध्ये त्वया व्यापादित: सखा ॥ १७ ॥ तं त्वाद्य निशितैर्बाणैरपराजितमानिनम् । नयाम्यपुनरावृत्तिं यदि तिष्ठेर्ममाग्रत: ॥ १८ ॥
yat tvayā mūḍha naḥ sakhyur bhrātur bhāryā hṛtekṣatām pramattaḥ sa sabhā-madhye tvayā vyāpāditaḥ sakhā
[Śālva berkata:] Kamu bodoh! Kerana di hadapan kami Kamu menculik pengantin rakan kami Śiśupāla, sepupu Kamu sendiri, dan kerana Kamu kemudian membunuhnya di perhimpunan suci semasa dia leka, hari ini dengan panah tajamku aku akan menghantar Kamu ke negeri tanpa jalan kembali! Walaupun Kamu menganggap diri Kamu tidak dapat dikalahkan, aku akan membunuh Kamu sekarang jika Kamu berani berdiri di hadapanku.
FAQs
Śālva taunts Kṛṣṇa by accusing Him of killing Pradyumna—described as the beloved of Kṛṣṇa’s brother’s wife (Rukmiṇī)—while he was off-guard in an assembly.
Śālva uses deception and harsh words to shake Kṛṣṇa emotionally during battle, trying to weaken His resolve by presenting a false narrative of Pradyumna’s death.
It highlights how opponents may weaponize false accusations and emotionally charged claims; a devotee learns steadiness, discernment, and refusal to be driven by provocation.