Previous Verse

Shloka 37

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

तस्मिन् निपतिते पापे सौभे च गदया हते । नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो राजन् दिवि देवगणेरिता: । सखीनामपचितिं कुर्वन्दन्तवक्रो रुषाभ्यगात् ॥ ३७ ॥

tasmin nipatite pāpe saubhe ca gadayā hate nedur dundubhayo rājan divi deva-gaṇeritāḥ sakhīnām apacitiṁ kurvan dantavakro ruṣābhyagāt

ఓ రాజా, పాపి శాల్వుడు పడిపోవడంతో, గదాతో సౌభం నశించడంతో, దేవగణాలు మ్రోగించిన దుందుభులు ఆకాశంలో గర్జించాయి. ఆపై స్నేహితుల మరణానికి ప్రతీకారం తీర్చుకోవాలని దంతవక్రుడు కోపంతో అచ్యుతునిపై దాడి చేశాడు.

tasminwhen/therein (in that situation)
tasmin:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular
nipatitehaving fallen
nipatite:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeVerb
Rootni-√pat (धातु) / nipatita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Locative (7th), Masculine/Neuter, Singular; locative absolute with tasmin: ‘when (he/it) had fallen’
pāpesinful (one)
pāpe:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; qualifying (Śālva) in locative absolute
saubhe(in) Saubha
saubhe:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootsaubha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Locative (7th), Singular; ‘in/with Saubha’ (locative absolute coordination)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चय-बोधक)
gadayāby the mace
gadayā:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootgadā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular
hateslain/struck down
hate:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeVerb
Root√han (धातु) / hata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Locative (7th), Masculine/Neuter, Singular; in locative absolute: ‘when (he/it) was struck/slain’
neduḥresounded
neduḥ:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√nad (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural; ‘resounded’
dundubhayaḥkettledrums
dundubhayaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdundubhi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st), Plural
rājanO king
rājan:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootrājan (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular
diviin heaven
divi:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootdiv (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Locative (7th), Singular
deva-gaṇa-īritāḥset in motion by the gods’ hosts
deva-gaṇa-īritāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootdeva (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + īrita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; qualifying dundubhayaḥ; तत्पुरुष ‘impelled by the hosts of gods’ (deva-gaṇaiḥ īritāḥ)
sakhīnāmof (his) friends/allies
sakhīnām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootsakhī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive (6th), Plural
apacitimrequital/compensation
apacitim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootapaciti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular
kurvanseeking to render
kurvan:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Root√kṛ (धातु)
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘doing/bringing about’
dantavakraḥDantavakra
dantavakraḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdanta (प्रातिपदिक) + vakra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st), Singular (proper name); कर्मधारय ‘crooked-toothed’
ruṣāin anger
ruṣā:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootruṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; ‘with anger’
abhyagātcame/advanced
abhyagāt:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootabhi-√gam (धातु)
FormAorist/लुङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; ‘approached/came’

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Seventy-seventh Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Lord Kṛṣṇa Slays the Demon Śālva.”

Ś
Śālva
S
Saubha
D
Dantavakra
D
Demigods
K
King Parīkṣit

FAQs

This verse states that Śālva fell and his Saubha airship was destroyed by the mace, after which the demigods celebrated in heaven by sounding kettledrums.

Because he sought apaciti—retaliation or vengeance—for his friends, and thus he advanced toward the Lord in anger.

It highlights that adharmic aggression ultimately collapses, while resentment and revenge only deepen bondage—devotees should choose dharma, restraint, and surrender over retaliation.