Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 26

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

Devanagari script

एष ते जनिता तातो यदर्थमिह जीवसि । वधिष्ये वीक्षतस्तेऽमुमीशश्चेत् पाहि बालिश ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

eṣa te janitā tāto yad-artham iha jīvasi vadhiṣye vīkṣatas te ’mum īśaś cet pāhi bāliśa

Translation

[Sinabi ni Śālva:] Narito ang Iyong mahal na ama, na nagkaanak sa Iyo at kung para kanino Ka nabubuhay sa mundong ito. Papatayin ko siya ngayon sa harap ng Iyong mga mata. Iligtas Mo siya kung kaya Mo, mahina!

Synonyms

• eṣaḥ: this (man)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th), Singular; enclitic pronoun

• janitā: father, begetter
• janitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tātaḥ: dear father
• tātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to जनिता

• yat-artham: for what purpose
• yat-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yat (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative/relative adverbial compound (यदर्थम् = 'for what purpose'); treated as avyaya in usage

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (देशवाचक)

• jīvasi: you live
• jīvasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jīv (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• vadhiṣye: I will kill
• vadhiṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vadh (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• vīkṣataḥ: as (you) watch
• vīkṣataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) from √ईक्ष with उपसर्ग वि-; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; 'while you are watching'

• te: of you
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th), Singular; dependent on vīkṣataḥ

• amum: that one (him)
• amum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• īśaḥ: O lord
• īśaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; vocative-like address in sense 'O lord' though form is nominative

• cet: if
• cet: Nimitta (निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्त/यदि)

• pāhi: protect (him/me)
• pāhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• bāliśa: O fool!
• bāliśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāliśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Śālva
• Vasudeva
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about demonic arrogance challenging God?

This verse shows Śālva’s asuric pride—he mockingly dares the Lord to ‘save’ Vasudeva, revealing the demoniac tendency to insult Bhagavān and deny His supreme power.

Why did Śālva say this to Śrī Kṛṣṇa?

In the battle narrative, Śālva uses deception and taunts to unsettle Kṛṣṇa, claiming he will kill Vasudeva before Kṛṣṇa’s eyes and daring the Lord to intervene.

Practical application of remaining steady when provoked or threatened?

The shloka highlights how intimidation and mockery are used to destabilize us; a devotee learns to stay composed, discern reality from manipulation, and keep faith in dharma and the Lord’s protection.