Credible Theories
India · Mahabharata, Vana Parva (Ganguli 15–22)

Saubha, the flying city

ReferenceMahabharata, Vana Parva (Ganguli 15–22)
Writtenc. 400 BCE–400 CE
SetThe age of Krishna
King Salva attacks Dwaraka from Saubha, a flying city that can go anywhere, vanish, and rain weapons. Krishna fights it for days as it appears in the sky, on the ground, and under water, and finally splits it with his discus.

Summary by the editors. Translation: Summary (Ganguli 1883–96 is the public-domain translation) · About the translator

Read it literally

An air, land and sea craft with cloaking. The single most 'sci-fi' battle in ancient literature.

What scholars say

The world's longest poem, added to over centuries.

Looks like technology From the sky
People and places hereDwarakaKing Salva (Shalva)

Quick answers about Mahabharata, Vana Parva

Where is Mahabharata, Vana Parva found?

Mahabharata, Vana Parva (Ganguli 15–22) (India). Translation quoted: Kisari Mohan Ganguli, The Mahabharata (1883–96).

When was Mahabharata, Vana Parva written?

c. 400 BCE–400 CE.

What do scholars say about Mahabharata, Vana Parva?

The world's longest poem, added to over centuries.

Rabbit holes in this passage

ObjectSaubha, the flying cityA flying fortress-city in the Mahabharata that could go anywhere, vanish, and rain weapons, until Krishna split it with his discus.

Sources

  1. Kisari Mohan Ganguli, The Mahabharata (1883–96)Primary text
  2. The Mahabharata, trans. Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883–1896)Primary text

Scholarly dates are rounded. The wording follows the named public-domain translation.

Updated