As the fierce battle raged on, a moment of vulnerability arose. The warrior, recalling his brothers’ wives, imagined their laughter and taunts: “How, how did your cowardice, O hero, become known to others in battle?” This thought stung his pride, yet his charioteer, wise and steadfast, spoke gently: “O lord, knowing righteousness, I acted thus. A charioteer must protect his warrior in distress, just as a warrior should safeguard his charioteer.” The charioteer explained, “Knowing this, I withdrew you from the battle, for you were attacked by the enemy and had fallen unconscious, struck by the mace.” Thus, the seventy-sixth chapter, ‘The Battle with Śālva,’ concluded in the sacred Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa. Now, Śrī Śuka continued the tale. After purifying himself with water and taking up his bow, Krishna addressed his charioteer: “Take me to the side of Dyumān, the hero.” Rukmiṇī’s son, smiling, struck down Dyumān—who was attacking his own troops—with eight iron arrows. With skill, he sent four arrows into Dyumān’s four horses, one to the charioteer, two to the bow and banner, and another to the head. Meanwhile, Gada, Sātyaki, Sāmba, and others slew the forces of the lord of Saubha; the warriors of Saubha, their necks severed, fell into the sea. For twenty-seven days and nights, the Yadus and Śālvas slaughtered each other in a tumultuous, relentless battle. At this time, Krishna, having been invited by the son of Dharma, went to Indraprastha. After the Rajasuya sacrifice was completed and Shishupala was slain, he took leave of the elders of the Kuru dynasty, the sages, and Pritha with her sons. Observing exceedingly terrible omens, Krishna then 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.” Witnessing 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 addressed, Daruka mounted the chariot and drove forth; all—both friend and foe—saw Arjuna’s younger brother entering. Shalva, his forces nearly destroyed, saw Krishna and hurled a spear with a terrible roar at Krishna’s charioteer. That 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 fortress as it moved in the sky, showering it with arrows as the sun does with its rays. Shalva retaliated, striking the left arm of Shauri, the wielder of Sharnga, and broke the Sharnga bow from his hand—a wondrous sight. A great outcry arose among the beings 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.” Having spoken thus, Krishna struck Shalva, in his fury, on the chest with his mace of terrible force. Shalva trembled and vomited blood. Yet, when the mace was repelled, Shalva vanished. After a moment, a man approached Achyuta, bowed, and, weeping, spoke: “I am sent by Devaki. Krishna, Krishna, mighty-armed one, your father, who loves you dearly, has been bound and carried away by Shalva and his men, like a beast.” Hearing this grievous news, Krishna, overcome by affection, assumed a human disposition, became dejected and compassionate, and spoke as an ordinary man would: “How could my father, mighty and unconcerned Rama—unconquered by gods and demons—be carried away by Shalva, a mere lesser man? Such is the power of fate.” As Govinda spoke thus, the lord of Saubha appeared, and, bringing Krishna as Vasudeva had been brought, declared: “Here is your father, the one for whom you live in this world. I will kill him before your eyes. If you are the Lord, protect him, O foolish one.” Rebuking him, the deceiver drew his sword, seized Anakadundubhi’s head, and, taking it, entered the Saubha fortress in the sky. For a moment, Krishna was overcome by his natural affection, surrounded by his own people. But soon he realized that this was a demonic illusion, conjured by Shalva at Maya’s instruction. Awakened on the battlefield, Achyuta saw neither the messenger nor his father’s body. Like a man waking from a dream, he beheld his enemy in the sky, stationed on Saubha, ready to strike. Thus do some sages speak, O royal sage, yet if their words contradict themselves, surely they do not truly remember. Where are grief and delusion, affection or fear—born of ignorance—and where is your unbroken wisdom, your undiminished knowledge and lordship? By serving his feet and gaining self-knowledge, the wise destroy the beginningless grip of self-delusion. They attain their own infinite lordship—how could confusion touch one who has reached the Supreme? As Shalva attacked with a multitude of weapons, the mighty Krishna, whose valor never fails, struck him with arrows, shattered his armor, bow, and crown, and smashed the Saubha fortress with his mace. Struck by Krishna’s mace, the Saubha, crushed by his hand, fell into the water in a thousand pieces. Abandoning it, Shalva took up his mace, stood on the ground, and swiftly rushed at Achyuta. As Shalva charged with his mace, Krishna severed his arm with a razor-sharp arrow, then took up his wondrous discus, blazing like the sun at the end of time, to slay Shalva, shining like the sun rising from the eastern mountain. With that very discus, Hari struck off the head of the master of illusions, adorned with earrings and crown, just as Indra slew Vritra with his thunderbolt. Then, among men, there arose cries of “Alas!