Shloka 9

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

Devanagari script

वीक्ष्य तत् कदनं स्वानां निरूप्य पुररक्षणम् । सौभं च शाल्वराजं च दारुकं प्राह केशव: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

vīkṣya tat kadanaṁ svānāṁ nirūpya pura-rakṣaṇam saubhaṁ ca śālva-rājaṁ ca dārukaṁ prāha keśavaḥ

Translation

Đến Dvārakā, thấy dân mình bị đe dọa diệt vong, Ngài sắp đặt việc phòng thủ thành; rồi nhìn thấy Śālva và phi thuyền Saubha, Đức Keśava liền bảo Dāruka.

Synonyms

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having seen’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कदनम्: slaughter, destruction
• कदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्वानाम्: of his own (people)
• स्वानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (स्वजन), षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• निरूप्य: having arranged/assigned
• निरूप्य: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-रूप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having arranged/assigned/considered’

• पुर-रक्षणम्: the protection of the city
• पुर-रक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: पुररक्षण = पुरस्य रक्षणम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सौभम्: Saubha (the aerial city)
• सौभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शाल्व-राजम्: King Śālva
• शाल्व-राजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्व (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: शाल्वराज = शाल्वः राजा (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दारुकम्: Dāruka
• दारुकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• केशवः: Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)
• केशवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa placed Śrī Balarāma in a strategic position to guard the city, and He also appointed a special guard for Śrī Rukmiṇī and the other queens inside the palaces. According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, by a secret route special soldiers conveyed the queens to safety inside Dvārakā.

Characters & Entities

• Keśava (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Dāruka
• Śālva
• Saubha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna protecting Dvaraka?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa first ensuring the city’s protection before directing His charioteer about confronting Śālva and his Saubha fortress—modeling responsible protection alongside divine action.

Why did Krishna speak to Daruka about Saubha and King Shalva?

Because Dāruka was Kṛṣṇa’s charioteer and immediate assistant in battle; after arranging Dvārakā’s defense, Kṛṣṇa gave instructions related to engaging Śālva and the Saubha craft.

Practical application of Krishna’s leadership in modern life?

Prioritize safeguarding those under your care, organize protection and stability first, and then address the external challenge with clarity and decisive guidance.