As the battle raged around Krishna’s city, a torrent of calamities descended: stones and trees crashed down, thunderbolts flashed, serpents slithered, and showers of gravel fell from the sky. A fierce whirlwind swept through, blanketing all directions in dust. The city, under relentless attack from Saubha, found no peace—much as the earth once trembled under the assault of Tripura. Witnessing the suffering of his people, Pradyumna, glorious and heroic son of Rukmini, mounted his chariot. He called out with confidence, “Do not fear!” Joining him were mighty warriors: Satyaki, Charudeshna, Samba, Akrura and his brother, Hardikya, Bhanuvinda, Gada, Shuka, Sarana, and many others—great archers and commanders. They advanced, fully armed and protected, their chariots, elephants, horses, and infantry arrayed for battle. Soon, a tumultuous and hair-raising conflict erupted between the Shalvas and the Yadus, rivaling the legendary wars between gods and demons. Pradyumna, armed with divine weapons, shattered all the magical illusions conjured by the lord of Saubha in an instant, just as the sun dispels the darkness of night. With twenty-five arrows—golden-shafted, iron-tipped, and expertly crafted—he pierced the commander of Shalva’s army. He struck Shalva himself with a hundred arrows, his soldiers with single shots, their leaders with ten arrows each, and their vehicles with three. The spectacle of Pradyumna’s prowess amazed everyone, friend and foe alike, who honored his mighty deeds. Yet the city of Saubha, a creation of Maya, appeared in many forms and in one, sometimes visible, sometimes hidden, baffling the enemy. At times it darted across the ground, soared in the sky, perched atop mountain peaks, or plunged into water—spinning wildly like a wheel of firebrands in its dire straits. Wherever Shalva and his Saubha city, along with their army, were spotted, the chiefs of the Sātvatas unleashed volleys of arrows. Shalva’s forces, struck by missiles blazing like fire and the sun, deadly as venomous serpents, became bewildered and scattered. Despite being tormented by torrents of weapons from Shalva’s army, the heroic Vṛṣṇis stood firm, determined to conquer both worlds. Suddenly, Dyumān, a minister of Shalva who had previously bested Pradyumna, charged forward with a heavy mace. He struck Pradyumna and roared triumphantly. Pradyumna, his chest shattered, was carried away from the battlefield by his charioteer, the righteous son of Dāruka. Regaining consciousness after a moment, Pradyumna protested, “Ah, how improper it is, O charioteer, that you have withdrawn me from the battle! Never has it been heard that one born in the Yadu dynasty has left the battlefield—except for a charioteer whose mind is unmanly and who has incurred sin. What shall I say when I approach my fathers, Rāma and Keśava, having retreated from battle? When questioned there, what answer will be fitting for me? Surely, my brothers’ wives will laugh and say, ‘How, how did your cowardice, O hero, become known in battle?’” The charioteer replied with humility, “O lord, knowing righteousness, I did this; a charioteer should protect a warrior in distress, and a warrior his charioteer. Knowing this, my lord, I withdrew you, for you had fallen unconscious, struck by the enemy’s mace.” Thus concludes the seventy-sixth chapter, “The Battle with Śālva,” in the tenth book, second half, of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa, the scripture for the paramahaṃsas. The story continues: Śuka said, “Then, purified and bow in hand, Pradyumna spoke to his charioteer: ‘Take me to the side of Dyumān, the hero.’” Smiling, Rukmiṇī’s son struck down Dyumān, who was attacking his troops, with eight iron arrows. He struck Dyumān’s four horses with four arrows, his charioteer with one, his bow and banner with two, and his head with another. Meanwhile, Gada, Sātyaki, Sāmba, and others slew the forces of the lord of Saubha; the warriors, their necks severed, fell into the sea. The battle between the Yadus and Śālvas was fierce and tumultuous, lasting twenty-seven days and nights. During this time, Krishna had been invited to Indraprastha by the son of Dharma. After the Rajasuya sacrifice was completed and Shishupala was slain, Krishna took leave of the elders of the Kuru dynasty, the sages, and Pritha with her sons. Observing ominous signs, he returned to Dvaraka. He declared, “I have come here, joined by noble friends; the kings allied with the Chedi are surely about to attack my city.” Seeing the slaughter of his own people and arranging for the city’s defense, Keshava spoke to Daruka about Saubha and King Shalva: “Charioteer, bring my chariot quickly to Shalva’s presence; do not be alarmed, for this king of Saubha is a master of illusion.” Thus instructed, Daruka mounted the chariot and drove forth; all, both friend and foe, saw Arjuna’s younger brother entering the fray. Shalva, his forces nearly destroyed, saw Krishna and hurled a spear with a terrible roar at Krishna’s charioteer. The weapon blazed through the sky like a great meteor, illuminating the quarters, but Shauri’s arrows shattered it into a hundred pieces. Krishna then pierced Shalva with sixteen arrows and struck Saubha as it moved in the sky, showering the aerial city with arrows as the sun showers rays. Shalva retaliated, striking Krishna’s left arm and breaking the Sharnga bow from his hand—a wondrous sight. A great outcry arose among the onlookers. The king of Saubha, roaring loudly, addressed Janardana with fierce words.