Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.77.16
हाहाकारो महानासीद् भूतानां तत्र पश्यताम् ।
निनद्य सौभराडुच्चैरिदमाह जनार्दनम् ॥ १६ ॥
hāhā-kāro mahān āsīd
[haahaa-kaaro mahaan aaseed]
bhūtānāṁ tatra paśyatām
[bhootaanaam tatra pashyataam]
ninadya saubha-rāḍ uccair
[ninadya saubha-raad uchchair]
idam āha janārdanam
[idam aaha janaardanam]
Word-for-word
hāhā - kāraḥ
—
a cry of dismay
mahān
—
great
āsīt
—
arose
bhūtānām
—
among the living beings
tatra
—
there
paśyatām
—
who were witnessing
ninadya
—
roaring
saubha - rāṭ
—
the lord of Saubha
uccaiḥ
—
loudly
idam
—
this
āha
—
said
janārdanam
—
to Lord Kṛṣṇa .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
hāhā-kāro mahān āsīd
hāhā - kāraḥ
a cry of dismay
mahān
great
āsīt
arose
bhūtānāṁ tatra paśyatām
bhūtānām
among the living beings
tatra
there
paśyatām
who were witnessing
ninadya saubha-rāḍ uccair
ninadya
roaring
saubha - rāṭ
the lord of Saubha
uccaiḥ
loudly
idam āha janārdanam
idam
this
āha
said
janārdanam
to Lord Kṛṣṇa .
Important Words
-
hāhā-kāraḥ
—
cry of alas
Onomatopoeic — the sound of public lamentation. The same cry returns in verse 36 when Śālva's own followers shout it at his death. Bhāgavatam's careful symmetry: the cry of dismay shifts sides as the līlā advances.
-
saubha-rāṭ
—
the master of Saubha
Repeated epithet (cf. v. 4, 10). Śālva is never named without his vehicle — his identity is welded to the flying machine, a perfect picture of one whose ego cannot stand apart from its conveyance.
-
janārdanam
—
to Janārdana
He who agitates (ardana) the people (jana) — both meaning He whom people approach in distress and He who agitates demons. Śālva addresses the very name that describes what Kṛṣṇa is about to do to him.
Those who witnessed this all cried out in dismay. Then the master of Saubha roared loudly and addressed Lord Janārdana.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Those who witnessed this all cried out in dismay. Then the master of Saubha roared loudly and addressed Lord Janārdana.
Jīva Gosvāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
The Lord was he who destroyed (ardanam) wicked people (jana) like Śālva. He acted in this way as a pastime only. Śālva spoke to him. This shows Śālva’s arrogance and foolishness.
Śrīdhara Svāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
Though the Lord crushes the evil persons (janardanam), Śālva spoke to him. This indicates his boldness and foolishness.
Related values & verses
Related values
Discriminative WisdomAsteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)Dana (Charity / Generosity)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Santosha (Contentment)Yajña (Sacrifice / Spirit of Offering)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva
Personal Guidance
Witnesses cried out in dismay; Śālva roared. Spectators register the drama before the real outcome is known. We can hold our final assessment until the story finishes.
Reflection Questions
- Where am I making final judgments about a story still unfolding?
- What patience could I extend before I conclude?
Analogy
All the witnesses cry out in dismay; the lord of Saubha roars and addresses Janārdana. The crowd around a līlā always reacts a beat too early — they wail at the bow's fall, not yet knowing that the Lord's next breath ends the entire battle.
My note
Source: vedabase.io