Śrī Śuka began to recount the destruction of Śālva and his formidable Saubha fortress by the Lord. After ritually purifying himself with water, Krishna, his bow in hand, addressed his charioteer: “Take me to Dyumān, the valiant warrior.” Rukmiṇī’s son, smiling gently, struck down Dyumān, who was attacking the Yadu troops, with eight iron-tipped arrows. With four arrows he felled Dyumān’s four horses, with one he struck the charioteer, with two more he shattered the enemy’s bow and banner, and with a final arrow he pierced Dyumān’s head. Meanwhile, Gada, Sātyaki, Sāmba, and other Yadava heroes cut down the forces of the lord of Saubha; the warriors of Saubha, their necks severed, tumbled into the sea. Thus, the Yadus and Śālva’s army slaughtered each other in a ferocious, tumultuous battle that raged on for twenty-seven days and nights. At this time, Krishna had been summoned by Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Dharma, and had traveled to Indraprastha. There, after the grand Rājasūya sacrifice was completed and the arrogant Śiśupāla was slain, Krishna took leave of the elders of the Kuru dynasty, the revered sages, and Pṛthā with her sons. Observing dreadful omens, he then returned to Dvārakā. He spoke to his companions: “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 people and arranging the city’s defense, Keśava spoke with Daruka about the threat of Saubha and King Śālva: “Charioteer, bring my chariot swiftly to Śālva’s presence; do not fear, for this king of Saubha is a master of illusion.” Thus commanded, Daruka mounted the chariot and drove forth. All present—friend and foe alike—saw Krishna, Arjuna’s younger brother, enter the fray. Śālva, whose forces were nearly destroyed, saw Krishna and hurled a spear with a terrible roar at Daruka, Krishna’s charioteer. That blazing weapon, streaking through the sky like a great meteor, was shattered into a hundred pieces by Krishna’s arrows. Then Krishna pierced Śālva with sixteen arrows and struck the flying Saubha fortress with a shower of arrows, as the sun bathes the earth with its rays. In turn, Śālva struck Krishna’s left arm and broke the mighty Śārṅga bow from his hand—a wondrous sight that caused a great outcry among the onlookers. Roaring, the king of Saubha addressed Janārdana: “Fool! Because of you, our friend—my brother-in-law—was slain in the assembly, and his wife was abducted while you acted recklessly. Today, with sharp arrows, I will send you—who deem 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 Śālva furiously on the chest with his terrible mace. Śālva trembled and vomited blood. But when the mace was repelled, Śālva vanished from sight. Suddenly, a man approached Krishna, bowed, and, weeping, spoke: “I am sent by Devakī. Krishna, Krishna, mighty-armed one, your beloved father has been bound and carried away by Śālva and his men, like a beast.” Hearing this grievous news, Krishna, overcome by affection, assumed a human disposition—dejected and compassionate, he spoke as any ordinary man might: “How could my father, mighty and unconcerned Balarāma—unconquered by gods and demons—be carried away by Śālva, a mere lesser man? Such is the power of fate.” As Govinda spoke thus, Śālva, lord of Saubha, appeared, and, bringing forth a figure resembling Vasudeva, addressed Krishna: “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 Krishna, the deceiver drew his sword, seized Anakadundubhi’s head, and, taking it, entered the Saubha fortress in the sky. For a moment, the great-souled Krishna was overcome by his natural affection, surrounded by his people. But soon he realized this was a demonic illusion, conjured by Śālva 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. Some sages, O king, speak of such things, but 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 the Lord’s feet and attaining 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? Then, as Śālva 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 strength, fell into the water in a thousand pieces. Abandoning his ruined fortress, Śālva seized his mace and rushed at Achyuta. As Śālva charged, 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 Śālva, who shone like the rising sun. With that discus, Hari struck off the head of the master of illusions, adorned with earrings and crown, just as Indra slew Vṛtra with his thunderbolt. Cries of “Alas!” rose among men. When the wicked Śālva fell and Saubha was destroyed, celestial drums resounded in the sky, played by the hosts of gods. Then Dantavakra, enraged, came forth to avenge his fallen friend. Thus concludes the seventy-seventh chapter, “The Slaying of Śālva,” in the sacred tenth book of the great Bhāgavata Purāṇa. Now begins the seventy-eighth chapter. Śuka said: The wickedness of Śiśupāla, Śālva, Pauṇḍraka, and others, even after they departed this world, was met by Krishna with transcendental friendship. Then, a single foot-soldier, furious and wielding a mace, shaking the earth with his immense strength, was seen approaching, O great king.