Pradyumna, the illustrious son of Rukmini and Krishna, stood upon the battlefield, his form radiant with divine might. As the lord of Saubha unleashed his sorcery, weaving illusions thick as night, Pradyumna drew upon celestial weapons. In a single, resplendent moment, he dispelled all those magical veils, just as the sun scatters the darkness at dawn. With keen aim, Pradyumna loosed twenty-five arrows, each with golden shafts and iron tips, perfectly crafted, piercing the commander of Shalva’s army. Then, his bow sang again: a hundred arrows struck Shalva himself, while single shafts felled the common soldiers, ten arrows each found the leaders, and three arrows each struck at their vehicles. This astonishing feat, wrought by the great-souled Pradyumna, caused awe to ripple through both friend and foe, who honored him for his valor. Yet, the creation of Maya—an illusory city—remained elusive. It appeared in many forms, then in one; it was seen, then vanished, impossible for the enemy to comprehend. Sometimes it was on the ground, sometimes soaring in the sky, at times perched on mountain peaks, and sometimes submerged in water. In its dire condition, Saubha spun about like a flaming wheel, dazzling and confounding the warriors. Wherever Shalva, his Saubha, and his forces could be glimpsed, the chiefs of the Sātvatas loosed their arrows. The missiles, blazing like fire or the sun and as deadly as serpents, bewildered Shalva’s army, driving them into confusion. Though torrents of weapons rained down upon the heroic Vṛṣṇis from Shalva’s side, they did not abandon the field; each was intent upon victory, determined to conquer both worlds. In the midst of battle, Dyumān, Shalva’s minister who had once bested Pradyumna, now charged forward with a heavy mace. He struck Pradyumna’s chest, roaring triumphantly. The blow was so fierce that Pradyumna, his chest shattered, fell unconscious. His charioteer, the righteous son of Dāruka, swiftly carried him from the field. When Pradyumna regained his senses, he turned to his charioteer in distress: “Alas, how improper it is, O charioteer, that you have withdrawn me from battle! Never has it been heard that a Yadu flees the fight—save for a charioteer of unmanly mind, who incurs sin. What shall I say to my fathers, Rāma and Keśava, when I return, having retreated from battle? How shall I answer them? Surely, my brothers’ wives will laugh and say, ‘How did your cowardice become known in battle, O hero?’” The charioteer replied with respect, “O lord, I acted out of righteousness. A charioteer must protect a warrior in distress, and a warrior must protect his charioteer. Knowing this, I withdrew you from the field, for you had been struck by the mace and had fallen unconscious.” Thus concluded this chapter of the great battle with Shalva. Afterward, Pradyumna, purified and resolute, took up his bow and addressed his charioteer: “Take me to Dyumān, the hero.” Smiling, Pradyumna struck Dyumān, who was attacking his own troops, with eight iron arrows. Four arrows felled the four horses, one struck the charioteer, two shattered the bow and banner, and with another arrow, he struck Dyumān’s head. Elsewhere, Gada, Sātyaki, Sāmba, and other warriors of the Yadus slew the remaining forces of the lord of Saubha, whose soldiers, their necks severed, fell into the sea. Thus, as the Yadus and Shalvas slaughtered each other, the fierce and tumultuous battle raged for twenty-seven days and nights. Meanwhile, Krishna had gone to Indraprastha at the invitation of Dharma’s son. There, after the Rajasuya sacrifice was completed and Shishupala was slain, he took leave of the Kuru elders, the sages, and Pritha with her sons. Observing terrible omens, Krishna returned to Dvaraka. He said, “I have come here with noble friends; the kings allied with the Chedi are surely about to attack my city.” Seeing the destruction of his people and arranging Dvaraka’s defense, Keshava spoke to Daruka of 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.” Obediently, Daruka mounted the chariot and drove forth. All, both friend and foe, saw Krishna, Arjuna’s younger brother, entering the field. Shalva, his forces nearly destroyed, saw Krishna and, roaring terribly, hurled a blazing spear at Krishna’s charioteer. The weapon streaked through the sky like a meteor, illuminating the heavens, but Shauri’s arrows shattered it into a hundred pieces. Then Krishna pierced Shalva with sixteen arrows, and as Saubha soared in the sky, he showered it with arrows as the sun showers its rays. In retaliation, Shalva struck Krishna’s left arm and broke his Sharnga bow—a wondrous sight that caused a great outcry among those who witnessed it. Roaring, Shalva spoke to Janardana: “Fool, because of you, our friend—my brother-in-law—was slain in the assembly, and 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.” With that, Krishna struck Shalva’s chest with his terrible mace. Shalva trembled, vomiting blood. When the mace was repelled, Shalva vanished. Suddenly, a man approached Krishna, bowed, and, weeping, spoke: “I am sent by Devaki. Krishna, Krishna, mighty-armed one, your beloved father has been bound and carried away by Shalva and his men, like a beast.” Thus the battle raged on, the fate of all hanging in the balance.