Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.77.21
गदायां सन्निवृत्तायां शाल्वस्त्वन्तरधीयत ।
ततो मुहूर्त आगत्य पुरुष: शिरसाच्युतम् ।
देवक्या प्रहितोऽस्मीति नत्वा प्राह वचो रुदन् ॥ २१ ॥
gadāyāṁ sannivṛttāyāṁ
[gadaayaam sannivrittaayaam]
śālvas tv antaradhīyata
[shaalvas tv antaradheeyata]
tato muhūrta āgatya
[tato muhoorta aagatya]
puruṣaḥ śirasācyutam
[purushah shirasaachyutam]
devakyā prahito ’smīti
[devakyaa prahito ’smeeti]
natvā prāha vaco rudan
[natvaa praaha vacho rudan]
Word-for-word
gadāyām
—
the club
sannivṛttāyām
—
when it was withdrawn
śālvaḥ
—
Śālva
tu
—
but
antaradhīyata
—
disappeared
tataḥ
—
then
muhūrte
—
after a moment
āgatya
—
coming
puruṣaḥ
—
a man
śirasā
—
with his head
acyutam
—
to Lord Kṛṣṇa
devakyā
—
by Mother Devakī
prahitaḥ
—
sent
asmi
—
I am
iti
—
so saying
natvā
—
bowing down
prāha
—
he spoke
vacaḥ
—
these words
rudan
—
crying .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
gadāyāṁ sannivṛttāyāṁ
gadāyām
the club
sannivṛttāyām
when it was withdrawn
śālvas tv antaradhīyata
śālvaḥ
Śālva
tu
but
antaradhīyata
disappeared
tataḥ
then
tato muhūrta āgatya
muhūrte
after a moment
āgatya
coming
puruṣaḥ śirasācyutam
puruṣaḥ
a man
śirasā
with his head
acyutam
to Lord Kṛṣṇa
devakyā prahito ’smīti
devakyā
by Mother Devakī
prahitaḥ
sent
asmi
I am
iti
so saying
natvā prāha vaco rudan
natvā
bowing down
prāha
he spoke
vacaḥ
these words
rudan
crying .
Important Words
-
antaradhīyata
—
he disappeared
Passive of antar-√dhā — to vanish, to place within. Śālva's defining trick: disappearance. Gauḍīyas read this as the signature of asurī-māyā — when struck, it does not face the blow but slips behind a veil of fresh deception.
-
devakyā prahitaḥ
—
sent by Devakī
Instrumental + past participle: "sent by Devakī." The illusion weaponizes the most sacred name available — Kṛṣṇa's mother. Demonic deception always reaches for the names a devotee cannot ignore.
-
rudan
—
weeping
Present participle of √rud — to weep. The fake messenger arrives sobbing, the most efficient theatrical device. Bhāgavatam realism: illusion knows that tears, more than weapons, open the heart's gates.
But as soon as Lord Acyuta withdrew His club, Śālva disappeared from sight, and a moment later a man approached the Lord. Bowing his head down to Him, he announced, “Devakī has sent me,” and, sobbing, spoke the following words.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
But as soon as Lord Acyuta withdrew His club, Śālva disappeared from sight, and a moment later a man approached the Lord. Bowing his head down to Him, he announced, "Devakī has sent me," and, sobbing, spoke the following words.
Commentary
From this verse to verse twenty nine is not the version of Sukadeva.
Jīva Gosvāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
When Kṛṣṇa again took the club in his hand Śālva disappeared. Immediately some person, a famous servant of Vasudeva, appeared. His words have another meaning. “I have not been sent by Devakī.” His words were not at all true.
Śrīdhara Svāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
The Lord took his club in his lotus hand, or simply withdrew it from the blow. In a moment some person appeared, who resembled a famous servant of Vasudeva. Bowing his head, he spoke with affection in a choked voice.
Related values & verses
Related values
Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Discriminative WisdomAbhaya (Fearlessness)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Daya (Compassion / Mercy)
Related verses
Personal Guidance
Śālva disappeared, and a messenger arrived claiming Devakī had sent him with terrible news. Illusion uses our love as its tool; the deeper the affection, the more vulnerable to false reports.
Reflection Questions
- Where might my deepest loves be the gateway for false reports to enter?
- What discernment do I bring to news that lands hardest emotionally?
Analogy
As soon as Kṛṣṇa pulls back His club, Śālva vanishes — and a messenger appears, sobbing, head bowed, claiming: "Devakī has sent me." The māyāvī's strategy shifts mid-fight from spear to theater. When weapons fail, illusion stages a domestic emergency at the devotee's mother's name.
My note
Source: vedabase.io