Mahabharata (Gita Press) 3.21.1 - Vana Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 1
Dvārakā’s Distress and the Saubha Engagement (द्वारकाव्यग्रता तथा सौभयुद्धम्)
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत वनपर्वके अन्तर्गत अ्जुनाभिगमनपर्वमें सौभवधोपाख्यानविषयक बीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ २० ॥। हि मय ० (0) है 7 एकविशो< ध्याय: श्रीकृष्णका शाल्वकी ला मोहित होकर पुन: सजग ना वायुदेव उवाच एवं स पुरुषव्यात्र शाल्वराजो महारिपु: । युध्यमानो मया संख्ये वियदभ्यगमत् पुनः
vāyudeva uvāca | evaṃ sa puruṣavyāghra śālvārājo mahāripuḥ | yudhyamāno mayā saṅkhye viyad abhyagamat punaḥ ||
Vāyudeva disse: “Assim, ó tigre entre os homens, o rei Śālva — meu grande inimigo —, embora lutasse comigo no auge do combate, ergueu-se mais uma vez e retirou-se para o céu.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a powerful adversary may avoid direct confrontation when pressed; the verse highlights the shifting nature of conflict—valor must be paired with vigilance, since an enemy can disengage and return under more favorable conditions.
Vāyudeva narrates that King Śālva, though fighting with him in battle, again ascends into the sky—indicating a tactical withdrawal or escape into the aerial realm.
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