Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.76.9-11
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesŚālva’s Attack Brings Widespread Destruction
“Śālva besieged the city with a large army, O best of the Bharatas, decimating the outlying parks and gardens, the mansions along with their observatories, towering gateways and surrounding walls, and also the public recreational areas. From his excellent airship he threw down a torrent of weapons, including stones, tree trunks, thunderbolts, snakes and hailstones. A fierce whirlwind arose and blanketed all directions with dust.”
What the purport teaches
- Śālva besieged the city with a large army. He devastated parks, gardens, mansions, observatories, gateways, walls and public recreational areas.
- From his airship he sent down a torrent of weapons, including stones, tree trunks, thunderbolts, snakes and hailstones.
- A fierce whirlwind arose and covered all directions with dust. The description shows the widespread violence of the attack.
Try this today
Reread the description slowly and name three places harmed by the attack.
Ask yourself
What do the damaged gardens, buildings and public spaces reveal about the reach of Śālva’s attack?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.