Shloka 32

Saubha-ākhyāna: Śālva’s Approach and the Fortification of Dvārakā (सौभाख्यानम्—द्वारकायाः सुरक्षाविधानम्)

Devanagari script

आश्वसथध्व॑ न भी: कार्या सौभराडटद्य नश्यति । मयाभिपन्नो दुष्टात्मा ससौभो विनशिष्यति,“आप धैर्य धारण करें, भयभीत न हों, सौभराज अभी नष्ट हो रहा है। दुष्टात्मा शाल्व मेरा सामना होते ही सौभ विमानसहित नष्ट हो जायगा”

Transliteration

āśvasadhvaṁ na bhīḥ kāryā saubharāḍ adya naśyati | mayābhipanno duṣṭātmā saśaubho vinaśiṣyati ||

Translation

Vāyu nói: “Hãy vững lòng, chớ để sợ hãi lấn át. Hôm nay chúa tể Saubha đang bị tiêu diệt. Tên Śālva lòng dạ ác độc ấy, một khi đối diện ta, sẽ chết cùng với thành bay Saubha.”

Word by Word

आश्वसथbe comforted / take heart

ध्वम्you (all)

नnot

भीःfear

कार्याto be done / to be made (i.e., to be entertained)

सौभराट्the lord of Saubha (Śālva)

अद्यtoday / now

नश्यतिperishes / is being destroyed

मयाby me

अभिपन्नःattacked / confronted

दुष्टात्माthe wicked-souled one

ससौभःtogether with Saubha (the aerial city/vehicle)

विनशिष्यतिwill perish / will be destroyed

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyu (Vāyudeva)

Śālva

Saubha (Saubha-vimāna / aerial city)

Saubharāṭ (lord of Saubha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Do not succumb to fear when righteousness is protected by higher support; steadiness and courage are appropriate when destructive, wicked forces are being checked and brought to an end.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu reassures the listeners that Śālva—the ruler of the Saubha aerial city—has come under divine opposition; as a result, Śālva will be destroyed along with Saubha, so there is no need for panic.