Mahabharata 3.21.29 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 29
Dvārakā’s Distress and the Saubha Engagement (द्वारकाव्यग्रता तथा सौभयुद्धम्)
ततो मुहूर्तात् प्रतिलभ्य संज्ञा- महं तदा वीर महाविमर्दे | न तत्र सौभं न रिपुं च शाल्वं पश्यामि वृद्ध पितरं न चापि
tato muhūrtāt pratilabhya saṃjñām ahaṃ tadā vīra mahāvimarde | na tatra saubhaṃ na ripuṃ ca śālvaṃ paśyāmi vṛddha pitaraṃ na cāpi ||
Kemudian, setelah seketika, aku sedar semula di tengah pertempuran yang dahsyat itu, wahai wira. Aku memandang sekeliling, namun di sana aku tidak melihat kota udara Saubha, tidak juga melihat musuhku Śālva, dan ayahku yang tua pun tidak kelihatan.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the sobering return of awareness after conflict: battle does not guarantee clarity or closure. When consciousness returns, one may face absence and uncertainty—prompting reflection on the human cost of violence and the fragility of worldly power (even wondrous weapons or aerial fortresses).
Vāyudeva narrates that after being rendered unconscious in a fierce battle, he regains consciousness and looks around. He finds that the Saubha (aerial city/fortress), his foe Śālva, and even his aged father are no longer visible, indicating a sudden shift in the battlefield situation and setting up the next development in the story.
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