The battle between the Yadus and Shalva unfolded with great tumult and intensity. Satyaki, Charudeshna, Samba, Akrura and his younger brother, Hardikya, Bhanuvinda, Gada, Shuka, and Sarana—all eminent warriors—joined the fray, accompanied by other great archers and commanders of chariot divisions. They went forth, well-armed and protected, with chariots, elephants, horses, and infantry, ready for combat. Soon, a fierce and hair-raising battle erupted between the Shalvas and the Yadus, reminiscent of the ancient wars between the gods and demons. Pradyumna, the son of Rukmini, wielded divine weapons and, in an instant, dispelled all the magical illusions conjured by the lord of Saubha, much like the sun banishes the darkness of night. With twenty-five arrows, each with golden shafts and iron tips, he pierced the commander of Shalva’s army. He struck Shalva himself with a hundred arrows, his soldiers with single arrows, their leaders with ten arrows each, and their vehicles with three arrows apiece. Witnessing this wondrous and mighty feat of Pradyumna, all the soldiers—both allies and adversaries—honored him. The illusion of Maya, created by Shalva, manifested in countless forms, sometimes visible and sometimes not, bewildering the enemy. The Saubha city, in its dire state, spun about like a wheel of firebrands, appearing at times on the ground, in the sky, atop mountain peaks, and even in the waters. Wherever Shalva and his Saubha, along with their army, were perceived, the chiefs of the Sātvatas unleashed their arrows. Shalva’s forces, struck by missiles blazing like fire and the sun and as deadly as venomous serpents, became confused and driven back. Despite being greatly tormented by torrents of weapons from Shalva’s army, the heroic Vṛṣṇis did not abandon the battle, each determined to conquer both worlds. Dyumān, a minister of Shalva, who had previously overpowered Pradyumna, approached with a heavy mace and struck him, roaring mightily. Pradyumna’s chest was shattered by the blow, and his charioteer—the righteous son of Dāruka—carried him away from the battlefield. After regaining consciousness, Pradyumna reproached his charioteer, saying, “How improper it is that you have withdrawn me from the battle!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, what answer will be fitting for me? Surely, my brothers’ wives will laugh and say, ‘How did your cowardice become known to others in battle?’” The charioteer replied respectfully, “O lord, I acted knowing righteousness. A charioteer should protect a warrior in distress, and a warrior his charioteer. Knowing this, I withdrew you from the battle, for you had fallen unconscious, struck by the enemy’s mace.” Thus concluded the seventy-sixth chapter, “The Battle with Shalva,” in the tenth book, second half, of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa. After purification, Pradyumna, bow in hand, instructed his charioteer, “Take me to the side of Dyumān, the hero.” Smiling, Rukmini’s son struck down Dyumān, who was attacking his own troops, with eight iron arrows. He struck Dyumān’s four horses with four arrows, the charioteer with one, the bow and banner with two, and finally Dyumān’s head with another arrow. Meanwhile, Gada, Satyaki, Samba, and others slew the forces of the lord of Saubha; the Saubha warriors, their necks severed, fell into the sea. The battle between the Yadus and Shalvas raged fiercely for twenty-seven days and nights. During this time, Krishna, having been invited by the son of Dharma, went to Indraprastha. After the completion of the Rajasuya sacrifice and the slaying of Shishupala, Krishna took leave of the elders of the Kuru dynasty, the sages, Pritha and her sons. Observing terrible omens, 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 defense of Dvaraka, 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.” Obeying, Daruka mounted the chariot and drove forth. All, both friend and foe, witnessed Arjuna’s younger brother entering the battlefield. Shalva, his forces nearly destroyed, saw Krishna and hurled a spear with a terrible roar at Krishna’s charioteer. The weapon, blazing through the sky like a great meteor and illuminating the quarters, was shattered into a hundred pieces by Shauri’s arrows. Krishna then pierced Shalva with sixteen arrows and struck the Saubha city as it moved in the sky, showering it with arrows as the sun does with its rays. Shalva retaliated, striking Krishna’s left arm and breaking the Sharnga bow from his hand—a wondrous sight that caused a great outcry among all who witnessed it. The king of Saubha, roaring loudly, spoke to Janardana: “Fool, because of you, our friend—my brother-in-law—was slain in the assembly, his wife abducted, while you acted recklessly. Today, with sharp arrows, I will send you—who think yourself invincible—on a path of no return, if you dare stand before me.” The Blessed Lord replied, “In vain you boast, dull-witted one; you do not see Death standing near. True heroes show their valor in deeds, not in many words.” Thus, the battle’s fury and the exchange of words between Krishna and Shalva reached its climax, setting the stage for the destruction of Shalva and his city of illusion.