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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.77.34

Who is speaking and story frame

तत् कृष्णहस्तेरितया विचूर्णितं

पपात तोये गदया सहस्रधा ।

विसृज्य तद् भूतलमास्थितो गदा-

मुद्यम्य शाल्वोऽच्युतमभ्यगाद्‌द्रुतम् ॥ ३४ ॥

tat kṛṣṇa-hasteritayā vicūrṇitaṁ

papāta toye gadayā sahasradhā

visṛjya tad bhū-talam āsthito gadām

udyamya śālvo ’cyutam abhyagād drutam

Translation

Shattered into thousands of pieces by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s club, the Saubha airship plummeted into the water. Śālva abandoned it, stationed himself on the ground, took up his club and rushed toward Lord Acyuta.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Saubha Falls, but Śālva Still Attacks

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa’s club shattered the Saubha airship into thousands of pieces. The broken airship fell into the water.

  2. 2

    Śālva abandoned the airship and stationed himself on the ground. His destroyed vehicle could no longer support his attack.

  3. 3

    Śālva took up his club and rushed toward Lord Acyuta. Even after losing Saubha, he continued fighting the Lord.

How it feels

War and pride → Justice and protection. The public expression of divine power comes to the foreground.

Chapters 70–79 of Canto 10: Kingship, Jarāsandha and royal challenges. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 77: Lord Kṛṣṇa Slays the Demon Śālva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Śālva descended from his airplane and rushed toward Lord Kṛṣṇa to attack Him, but the Lord took up His Sudarśana disc and severed Śālva’s head from his body. With the killing of Śālva, the demigods in the sky played kettledrums in jubilation.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.77
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatthat (Saubha)
  2. kṛṣṇa-hastaby Lord Kṛṣṇa’s hand
  3. īritayāwielded
  4. vicūrṇitamshattered
  5. papātait fell
  6. toyeinto the water
  7. gadayāby the club
  8. sahasradhāinto thousands of pieces
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What stands out to you about Śālva’s response to the destruction of his airship?

Practice

Spend a minute recalling the contrast between Kṛṣṇa’s power and Śālva’s continued opposition, then express your wish to serve the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySaubha Falls, but Śālva Still AttacksThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.77.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.