Lord Krishna Slays the Demon Shalva

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.77.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच स उपस्पृश्य सलिलं दंशितो धृतकार्मुकः । नय मां द्युमतः पार्श्वं वीरस्येत्याह सारथिम् ॥ 77.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca sa upaspṛśya salilaṁ daṁśito dhṛta-kārmukaḥ naya māṁ dyumataḥ pārśvaṁ vīrasyety āha sārathim

Shri Shukadeva said: Having sipped water in purification, donned His armor and taken up His bow, Pradyumna said to His charioteer, "Take Me to where that hero Dyuman stands."

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.77.2)

विधमन्तं स्वसैन्यानि द्युमन्तं रुक्मिणीसुतः । प्रतिहत्य प्रत्यविध्यान्नाराचैरष्टभिः स्मयन् ॥ 77.2 ॥

vidhamantaṁ sva-sainyāni dyumantaṁ rukmiṇī-sutaḥ pratihatya pratyavidhyān nārācair aṣṭabhiḥ smayan

Dyuman was at that moment scattering Pradyumna's army; Rukmini's son met him and, smiling, pierced him with eight naracha arrows.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.77.3)

चतुर्भिश्चतुरो वाहान् सूतमेकेन चाहनत् । द्वाभ्यं धनुश्च केतुं च शरेणान्येन वै शिरः ॥ 77.3 ॥

caturbhiś caturo vāhān sūtam ekena cāhanat dvābhyaṁ dhanuś ca ketuṁ ca śareṇānyena vai śiraḥ

With four arrows He struck his four horses, with one his charioteer, with two more his bow and banner, and with yet another arrow, his head.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.77.4)

गदसात्यकिसाम्बाद्या जघ्नुः सौभपतेर्बलम् । पेतुः समुद्रे सौभेयाः सर्वे सञ्छिन्नकन्धराः ॥ 77.4 ॥

gada-sātyaki-sāmbādyā jaghnuḥ saubha-pater balam petuḥ samudre saubheyāḥ sarve sañchinna-kandharāḥ

Gada, Satyaki, Samba and the others began cutting down the lord of Saubha's army; the warriors of Saubha, their necks severed, fell one by one into the sea.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.77.5)

एवं यदूनां शाल्वानां निघ्नतामितरेतरम् । युद्धं त्रिनवरात्रं तदभूत्तुमुलमुल्बणम् ॥ 77.5 ॥

evaṁ yadūnāṁ śālvānāṁ nighnatām itaretaram yuddhaṁ tri-nava-rātraṁ tad abhūt tumulam ulbaṇam

Thus, as the Yadus and Shalva's forces slaughtered one another, that violent and terrible battle raged on for twenty-seven nights.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.77.6)

इन्द्रप्रस्थं गतः कृष्ण आहूतो धर्मसूनुना । राजसूयेऽथ निवृत्ते शिशुपाले च संस्थिते ॥ 77.6 ॥

indraprasthaṁ gataḥ kṛṣṇa āhūto dharma-sūnunā rājasūye ’tha nivṛtte śiśupāle ca saṁsthite

Krishna had gone to Indraprastha at the invitation of Dharma's son, Yudhishthira. After the Rajasuya sacrifice concluded and Shishupala lay slain, seeing extremely ominous portents, He resolved to return to Dvaraka.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.77.7)

कुरुवृद्धाननुज्ञाप्य मुनींश्च ससुतां पृथाम् । निमित्तान्यतिघोराणि पश्यन् द्वारवतीं ययौ ॥ 77.7 ॥

kuru-vṛddhān anujñāpya munīṁś ca sa-sutāṁ pṛthām nimittāny ati-ghorāṇi paśyan dvāravatīṁ yayau

So He took leave of the Kuru elders, the sages, and Pritha with her sons, and set out for Dvaraka.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.77.8)

आह चाहमिहायात आर्यमिश्राभिसङ्गतः । राजन्याश्चैद्यपक्षीया नूनं हन्युः पुरीं मम ॥ 77.8 ॥

āha cāham ihāyāta ārya-miśrābhisaṅgataḥ rājanyāś caidya-pakṣīyā nūnaṁ hanyuḥ purīṁ mama

He thought to Himself: "I have come here in the company of My elder brother; surely the kings partial to Shishupala must now be attacking My city."

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.77.9)

वीक्ष्य तत् कदनं स्वानां निरूप्य पुररक्षणम् । सौभं च शाल्वराजं च दारुकं प्राह केशवः ॥ 77.9 ॥

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

Seeing this destruction of His own people, and having arranged for the city's defense, Lord Keshava, beholding the Saubha and King Shalva, spoke to Daruka.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.77.10)

रथं प्रापय मे सूत शाल्वस्यान्तिकमाशु वै । सम्भ्रमस्ते न कर्तव्यो मायावी सौभराडयम् ॥ 77.10 ॥

rathaṁ prāpaya me sūta śālvasyāntikam āśu vai sambhramas te na kartavyo māyāvī saubha-rāḍ ayam

"O charioteer, drive My chariot quickly to Shalva's side; do not let yourself be shaken — this lord of Saubha is a great illusionist."

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.77.11)

इत्युक्तश्चोदयामास रथमास्थाय दारुकः । विशन्तं ददृशुः सर्वे स्वे परे चारुणानुजम् ॥ 77.11 ॥

ity uktaś codayām āsa ratham āsthāya dārukaḥ viśantaṁ dadṛśuḥ sarve sve pare cāruṇānujam

So commanded, Daruka mounted the chariot and drove it forth. As it entered the field, all — friend and foe alike — recognized the banner of Aruna's younger brother, Garuda.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.77.12)

शाल्वश्च कृष्णमालोक्य हतप्रायबलेश्वरः । प्राहरत् कृष्णसूताय शक्तिं भीमरवां मृधे ॥ 77.12 ॥

śālvaś ca kṛṣṇam ālokya hata-prāya-baleśvaraḥ prāharat kṛṣṇa-sūtaya śaktiṁ bhīma-ravāṁ mṛdhe

Shalva, lord of a nearly annihilated army, saw Krishna approaching and hurled at His charioteer a spear that roared terrifyingly across the field.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.77.13)

तामापतन्तीं नभसि महोल्कामिव रंहसा । भासयन्तीं दिशः शौरिः सायकैः शतधाच्छिनत् ॥ 77.13 ॥

tām āpatantīṁ nabhasi maholkām iva raṁhasā bhāsayantīṁ diśaḥ śauriḥ sāyakaiḥ śatadhācchinat

As it fell through the sky with the speed of a great meteor, lighting up every quarter, Lord Shauri cut it into a hundred pieces with His arrows.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.77.14)

तं च षोडशभिर्विद्ध्वा बाणैः सौभं च खे भ्रमत् । अविध्यच्छरसन्दोहैः खं सूर्य इव रश्मिभिः ॥ 77.14 ॥

taṁ ca ṣoḍaśabhir viddhvā bānaiḥ saubhaṁ ca khe bhramat avidhyac chara-sandohaiḥ khaṁ sūrya iva raśmibhiḥ

Then He pierced Shalva with sixteen arrows and, as it wheeled through the sky, flooded the Saubha with a deluge of shafts, just as the sun floods the heavens with its rays.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.77.15)

शाल्वः शौरेस्तु दोः सव्यं सशार्ङ्गं शार्ङ्गधन्वनः । बिभेद न्यपतद्धस्ताच्छार्ङ्गमासीत्तदद्भुतम् ॥ 77.15 ॥

śālvaḥ śaures tu doḥ savyaṁ sa-śārṅgaṁ śārṅga-dhanvanaḥ bibheda nyapatad dhastāc chārṅgam āsīt tad adbhutam

Shalva then struck the left arm of Shauri, wielder of the Sharnga bow, along with the bow it held — and astonishingly, the Sharnga fell from His hand.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.77.16)

हाहाकारो महानासीद् भूतानां तत्र पश्यताम् । निनद्य सौभराडुच्चैरिदमाह जनार्दनम् ॥ 77.16 ॥

hāhā-kāro mahān āsīd bhūtānāṁ tatra paśyatām ninadya saubha-rāḍ uccair idam āha janārdanam

A great cry of dismay went up from all who witnessed this. Then the lord of Saubha, roaring loudly, spoke these words to Lord Janardana.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.77.17)

यत्त्वया मूढ नः सख्युर्भ्रातुर्भार्या हृतेक्षताम् । प्रमत्तः स सभामध्ये त्वया व्यापादितः सखा ॥ 77.17 ॥

yat tvayā mūḍha naḥ sakhyur bhrātur bhāryā hṛtekṣatām pramattaḥ sa sabhā-madhye tvayā vyāpāditaḥ sakhā

"O fool! Before our very eyes You carried off the wife of our friend and kinsman Shishupala, and later, while he stood unwary, You slew him in the very midst of the assembly.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.77.18)

तं त्वाद्य निशितैर्बाणैरपराजितमानिनम् । नयाम्यपुनरावृत्तिं यदि तिष्ठेर्ममाग्रतः ॥ 77.18 ॥

taṁ tvādya niśitair bāṇair aparājita-māninam nayāmy apunar-āvṛttiṁ yadi tiṣṭher mamāgrataḥ

Today, with my sharpened arrows, I shall send You who fancy Yourself invincible to that realm from which none return — if only You dare stand before me!"

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.77.19)

श्रीभगवानुवाच वृथा त्वं कत्थसे मन्द न पश्यस्यन्तिकेऽन्तकम् । पौरुषं दर्शयन्ति स्म शूरा न बहुभाषिणः ॥ 77.19 ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca vṛthā tvaṁ katthase manda na paśyasy antike ’ntakam paurusaṁ darśayanti sma śūrā na bahu-bhāṣiṇaḥ

The Lord said: O fool, You boast in vain — You do not even see that death stands beside you. True heroes prove their courage through deeds, not through much talk.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.77.20)

इत्युक्त्वा भगवाञ्छाल्वं गदया भीमवेगया । तताड जत्रौ संरब्धः स चकम्पे वमन्नसृक् ॥ 77.20 ॥

ity uktvā bhagavāñ chālvaṁ gadayā bhīma-vegayā tatāḍa jatrau saṁrabdhaḥ sa cakampe vamann asṛk

Having said this, the Lord, now enraged, struck Shalva on the collarbone with His mace moving at terrifying speed, so that he trembled and vomited blood.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.77.21)

गदायां सन्निवृत्तायां शाल्वस्त्वन्तरधीयत । ततो मुहूर्त आगत्य पुरुषः शिरसाच्युतम् । देवक्या प्रहितोऽस्मीति नत्वा प्राह वचो रुदन् ॥ 77.21 ॥

gadāyāṁ sannivṛttāyāṁ śālvas tv antaradhīyata tato muhūrta āgatya puruṣaḥ śirasācyutam devakyā prahito ’smīti natvā prāha vaco rudan

The instant the mace was withdrawn, Shalva vanished from sight. A moment later a man appeared, bowed his head to Lord Achyuta, and, weeping, said: "I am sent by Devaki."

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.77.22)

कृष्ण कृष्ण महाबाहो पिता ते पितृवत्सल । बद्ध्वापनीतः शाल्वेन सौनिकेन यथा पशुः ॥ 77.22 ॥

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahā-bāho pitā te pitṛ-vatsala baddhvāpanītaḥ śālvena saunikena yathā paśuḥ

"O Krishna, Krishna, mighty-armed one, so devoted to Your parents — Shalva has bound Your father and carried him off, as a butcher leads away his animal."

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.77.23)

निशम्य विप्रियं कृष्णो मानुषीं प्रकृतिं गतः । विमनस्को घृणी स्नेहाद् बभाषे प्राकृतो यथा ॥ 77.23 ॥

niśamya vipriyaṁ kṛṣṇo mānusīṁ prakṛtiṁ gataḥ vimanasko ghṛṇī snehād babhāṣe prākṛto yathā

Hearing this unwelcome news, Krishna, in His assumed human role, grew despondent and full of pity, and out of affection spoke as an ordinary man might.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.77.24)

कथं राममसम्भ्रान्तं जित्वाजेयं सुरासुरैः । शाल्वेनाल्पीयसा नीतः पिता मे बलवान् विधिः ॥ 77.24 ॥

kathaṁ rāmam asambhrāntaṁ jitvājeyaṁ surāsuraiḥ śālvenālpīyasā nītaḥ pitā me balavān vidhiḥ

"How could this insignificant Shalva overcome Balarama — ever unshaken, unconquerable even by gods and demons — and carry off My father? Truly, fate is all-powerful."

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.77.25)

इति ब्रुवाणे गोविन्दे सौभराट् प्रत्युपस्थितः । वसुदेवमिवानीय कृष्णं चेदमुवाच सः ॥ 77.25 ॥

iti bruvāṇe govinde saubha-rāṭ pratyupasthitaḥ vasudevam ivānīya kṛṣṇaṁ cedam uvāca saḥ

Even as Govinda spoke these words, the lord of Saubha appeared again, seemingly bringing Vasudeva along with him, and said this to Krishna.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.77.26)

एष ते जनिता तातो यदर्थमिह जीवसि । वधिष्ये वीक्षतस्तेऽमुमीशश्चेत् पाहि बालिश ॥ 77.26 ॥

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

"Here is Your begetter, the father for whose sake You live in this world. I shall kill him before Your very eyes — save him if You can, You fool!"

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.77.27)

एवं निर्भर्त्स्य मायावी खड्गेनानकदुन्दुभेः । उत्कृत्य शिर आदाय खस्थं सौभं समाविशत् ॥ 77.27 ॥

evaṁ nirbhartsya māyāvī khaḍgenānakadundubheḥ utkṛtya śira ādāya kha-sthaṁ saubhaṁ samāviśat

Having thus mocked the Lord, the illusionist cut off Anakadundubhi's (Vasudeva's) head with his sword, and, taking it with him, entered the Saubha vehicle hovering in the sky.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.77.28)

ततो मुहूर्तं प्रकृतावुपप्लुतः स्वबोध आस्ते स्वजनानुषङ्गतः । महानुभावस्तदबुध्यदासुरीं मायां स शाल्वप्रसृतां मयोदिताम् ॥ 77.28 ॥

tato muhūrtaṁ prakṛtāv upaplutaḥ sva-bodha āste sva-janānuṣaṅgataḥ mahānubhāvas tad abudhyad āsurīṁ māyāṁ sa śālva-prasṛtāṁ mayoditām

Though ever established in His own nature and full in knowledge, the Lord, out of love for His own people, was for a moment immersed in a purely human mood. But that great Being quickly recognized this to be nothing but a demoniac illusion, conjured by Maya and set loose by Shalva.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.77.29)

न तत्र दूतं न पितुः कलेवरं प्रबुद्ध आजौ समपश्यदच्युतः । स्वाप्नं यथा चाम्बरचारिणं रिपुं सौभस्थमालोक्य निहन्तुमुद्यतः ॥ 77.29 ॥

na tatra dūtaṁ na pituḥ kalevaraṁ prabuddha ājau samapaśyad acyutaḥ svāpnaṁ yathā cāmbara-cāriṇaṁ ripuṁ saubha-stham ālokya nihantum udyataḥ

Now fully alert, Achyuta saw on the battlefield neither the messenger nor His father's body — it was as though it had all been a dream. Then, seeing His enemy stationed upon the sky-borne Saubha, He readied Himself to destroy him.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.77.30)

एवं वदन्ति राजर्षे ऋषयः के च नान्विताः । यत् स्ववाचो विरुध्येत नूनं ते न स्मरन्त्युत ॥ 77.30 ॥

evaṁ vadanti rājarṣe ṛṣayaḥ ke ca nānvitāḥ yat sva-vāco virudhyeta nūnaṁ te na smaranty uta

O royal sage, thus do some sages narrate it, but those who speak so as to contradict their own earlier statement speak inconsistently — clearly they do not recall what they themselves had said.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.77.31)

क्व शोकमोहौ स्नेहो वा भयं वा येऽज्ञसम्भवाः । क्व चाखण्डितविज्ञानज्ञानैश्वर्यस्त्वखण्डितः ॥ 77.31 ॥

kva śoka-mohau sneho vā bhayaṁ vā ye ’jña-sambhavāḥ kva cākhaṇḍita-vijñāna- jñānaiśvaryas tv akhaṇḍitaḥ

Where, on one hand, are grief, delusion, attachment or fear — all born of ignorance — and where, on the other, is that undivided Being whose perception, knowledge and majesty know no division?

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.77.32)

यत्पादसेवोर्जितयात्मविद्यया हिन्वन्त्यनाद्यात्मविपर्ययग्रहम् । लभन्त आत्मीयमनन्तमैश्वरं कुतो नु मोहः परमस्य सद्गतेः ॥ 77.32 ॥

yat-pāda-sevorjitayātma-vidyayā hinvanty anādyātma-viparyaya-graham labhanta ātmīyam anantam aiśvaraṁ kuto nu mohaḥ paramasya sad-gateḥ

By the self-knowledge strengthened through service at His feet, devotees banish the beginningless delusion of bodily identification and attain His own boundless, glorious company. How, then, could delusion ever touch that Supreme Being who is the true goal of all saints?

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.77.33)

तं शस्त्रपूगैः प्रहरन्तमोजसा शाल्वं शरैः शौरिरमोघविक्रमः । विद्ध्वाच्छिनद् वर्म धनुः शिरोमणिं सौभं च शत्रोर्गदया रुरोज ह ॥ 77.33 ॥

taṁ śastra-pūgaiḥ praharantam ojasā śālvaṁ śaraiḥ śaurir amogha-vikramaḥ viddhvācchinad varma dhanuḥ śiro-maṇiṁ saubhaṁ ca śatror gadayā ruroja ha

As Shalva struck at Him with volley after volley of weapons, unfailingly potent Shauri showered him with arrows, piercing him, shattering his armor, bow and crest jewel, and then with His mace smashed His enemy's Saubha to pieces.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.77.34)

तत् कृष्णहस्तेरितया विचूर्णितं पपात तोये गदया सहस्रधा । विसृज्य तद् भूतलमास्थितो गदा- मुद्यम्य शाल्वोऽच्युतमभ्यगाद्द्रुतम् ॥ 77.34 ॥

tat kṛṣṇa-hasteritayā vicūrṇitaṁ papāta toye gadayā sahasradhā visṛjya tad bhū-talam āsthito gadām udyamya śālvo ’cyutam abhyagād drutam

Pulverized into a thousand fragments by the mace hurled from Krishna's hand, the airship crashed into the water. Abandoning it, Shalva planted himself on the ground, raised his mace, and rushed swiftly at Achyuta.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.77.35)

आधावतः सगदं तस्य बाहुं भल्लेन छित्त्वाथ रथाङ्गमद्भुतम् । वधाय शाल्वस्य लयार्कसन्निभं बिभ्रद् बभौ सार्क इवोदयाचलः ॥ 77.35 ॥

ādhāvataḥ sa-gadaṁ tasya bāhuṁ bhallena chittvātha rathāṅgam adbhutam vadhāya śālvasya layārka-sannibhaṁ bibhrad babhau sārka ivodayācalaḥ

Cutting off with a bhalla-arrow the mace-bearing arm of Shalva as he rushed forward, the Lord then took up, for Shalva's slaying, the wondrous Sudarshana disc blazing like the sun of universal dissolution, and shone forth like the eastern mountain crowned with the rising sun.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.77.36)

जहार तेनैव शिरः सकुण्डलं किरीटयुक्तं पुरुमायिनो हरिः । वज्रेण वृत्रस्य यथा पुरन्दरो बभूव हाहेति वचस्तदा नृणाम् ॥ 77.36 ॥

jahāra tenaiva śiraḥ sa-kuṇḍalaṁ kirīṭa-yuktaṁ puru-māyino hariḥ vajreṇa vṛtrasya yathā purandaro babhūva hāheti vacas tadā nṛṇām

With that very disc, Lord Hari severed the great magician's head, crown, earrings and all, just as Purandara had once severed Vritra's head with his thunderbolt. At this, cries of "Alas! Alas!" arose from every mouth.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.77.37)

तस्मिन् निपतिते पापे सौभे च गदया हते । नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो राजन् दिवि देवगणेरिताः । सखीनामपचितिं कुर्वन्दन्तवक्रो रुषाभ्यगात् ॥ 77.37 ॥

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

With that sinner fallen and the Saubha shattered by the mace, O King, kettledrums resounded in heaven, struck by throngs of gods. Then, moved to avenge his friends, Dantavakra advanced in fury.