Chapter 76 - Fight with Śālva

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. O King! Now listen to the account of another miraculous deed of Kṛṣṇa, who, out of sport, assumed a human form. This concerns the killing of Śālva, the master of the aerial car Saubha.

2. Śālva, a friend of Śiśupāla, had arrived (and was present) at the Svayaṃvara of Rukmiṇī. At that time (he), Jarāsandha and other partisans of Śiśupāla were vanquished by Yādavas.

[Here Padaratnāvalī’ s Text adds the following verses.]

2.1. The Lord was desirous of lightening the burden of the earth. Contemplating over his self in himself, he remained silent. Thereupon the sage whose lotus-feet are adored by gods, revealed himself in the presence of the Lord of the world.

2.2.. Nārada was welcomed by all the members of the assembly by going forward to receive and was duly worshipped by them. He was highly worshipped by Kṛṣṇa and he occupied a comfortable seat near the King.

2.3. With due formalities Dharmarāja bowed to him and enquired of him: “You have access everywhere and you pay visits anywhere and at any time and are impartial (not attached to anyone), O Brāhmaṇa sage.

2.4-5. Who among all chivalrous kings ruling over many kingdoms in the world, is the warrior-prince that is engaged in war preparations all the while now?”. Hearing the question so posed by him, the sage Nārada replied.

Nārada said:

2.6. As the pride of all kings is crushed down by Kṛṣṇa of incomparable valour, they now live in their respective kingdoms with their activities curtailed and their glory lost.

2.7. There is, however, one Kṣattriya prince who is highly enterprising and is of wicked mind. He is born in the Śālva country and is a king with a powerful force of men and animals.

2.8. His brother Haṃsa, the son of Brahmadatta, was killed in the battle of the Yamunā by the high-souled Viṣṇu (Kṛṣṇa), the conquerer of the universe.

2.9. The enemy of Kṛṣṇa, with an ambition to repay the debt of his (dead) brother by avenging his death, went to Kuṇḍinapura and created an alliance with Rukmī and other princes for that purpose.

2.10. (The alliance was formed) with Śiśupāla, Druma and other kings, with Dantavakra as the prominent leader. But Jarāsandha and others were defeated in the battle.

3. In the hearing of all the kings (present there) Śālva took a vow, “I shall eliminate all the Yādavas from this earth. Look at my bravery.”

4. Having made this solemn declaration, the foolish king propitiated the Almighty god Śiva, subsisting himself only on a handful of dust (flour?) once a day.

[Padaratnāvalī’s Text adds here:]

4(A). When he departed and did not return for many years though his ministers waited for him, his younger brother was installed by them as the king, for they were in need of a monarch (to rule).

5. At the end of the year, the glorious god Śiva, the consort of Pārvatī, who is easily propitiated in a short while, offered to bestow a boon on Śālva who had sought asylum with him.

6. As a boon, he prayed the god to grant him an aerial car which would go anywhere at his will and which should be impregnable to gods, Asuras, human beings, Gandharvas, serpents and Rākṣasas (demons) and which could strike terror in the heart of Vṛsṇis.

7. “Be it so” said god Siva, the Lord of mount Kailāsa. Commanded by Śiva. Maya, the conquerer of cities of enemies, constructed a city (like spacious aerial car) of steel, called Saubha and handed it over to Śālva.

8. Sālva obtained (in his possession) the aerial car that could move anywhere at his will and was shrouded in darkness and was inaccessible (to others).

[Here Padaratnāvalī’s Text adds:]

8.1. He has now returned to his country which is militarily fully prepared with army and transport (horses, chariots, etc). Out of (all) princes, he is the only king actively preparing (for war), O king.

8.2. Having heard this report as detailed by Nārada, the affluent king Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Dharma, quietly looked at the face of the glorious Lord Kṛṣṇa who was seated by his side.

8.3. Listening to that report, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the essence of courage and fortitude, was not disturbed at all. Laughing a bit loudly he remarked, “So be it”, That is the index of his greatness.

8.4. Having worshipped the sage and paying him respects with sweet words, he thought, “It is a good thing that he who was wanted and expected for a long time, has also come now.”

8.5-6. Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of Lakṣmī, immediately despatched Ugrasena, King of Yādavas. Yuyudhāna, Akrūra, Kṛtavarmā and other prominent Yādava warriors along with his contingent of army to defend Dvārakā (against the expected attack from Śālva.)

(End of the Eighty-fourth chapter in Padaratnāvalī’s Text)

Śrī Suka continued:

8.7-8. While the noble-souled Govinda was thus staying at Indra- Prastha and king Yudhiṣṭhira along with his younger brothers had accomplished his purpose (the completion of the Rājasūya sacrifice), Śālva heard that his friend Śiśupāla, the son of Damaghoṣa and Jarāsandha had been killed and the Rājasūya had been completed and he got enraged.

9. Śālva laid siege to Dvārakā with a mighty army, O prominent Bharata. He razed to ground city parks, gardens, completely.

[Padaratnāvalī adds:]

9(A). He based his camp in the air over the city and fought.

10. He destroyed the city along with its towers, gates, mansions, balconies, terraces and places of recreation. Destructive weapons were showered from that formidable aerial car (a veritable floating city).

11. Heavily fell down (upon Dvārakā) huge stones, trees, thunderbolts, serpents, a shower of gravel (hail-stones?). Terrific tornadoes swept (across the city); the cardinal points were darkened with heavy dust.

12. Just as the earth was (formerly) oppressed under the scourage of Tripura, the city of Kṛṣṇa was subjected to extreme harassment by Saubha and could not get any respite or comfort.

13. The glorious Pradyumna noticed how his people were subjected to distress. Encouraging them with words “Don’t fear”, the highly illustrious warrior mounted his chariot.

14-15. Sātyaki, Cārudeṣṇa, Sāmba, Akrūra and his younger brothers, Kṛtavarmā, Bhānuvinda, Gada, Śuka and Sāraṇa and other renowned leaders of the army followed him in their chariots equipped with bows and arms and accoutred in coats of mail and protected by chariots, elephants, cavalry and foot-soldiers.

16. Then there raged a battle between the army of Śālva and that of the Yādavas, tumultuous and horripulating like the (bitter) struggle between gods and Asuras (in ancient times).

17. Just as the sun (the hot-rayed, luminary) dispells the darkness of the night instantaneously, Pradyumna, the son of Rukmiṇī destroyed in a moment all the black magical spells of Śālva, the master of Saubha, with his celestial missiles.

18. He pierced the commander-in-chief of Śālva’s army with twenty shafts with gold feathers, iron tips and well-polished knots (known as sannataparva)

19. He struck Śālva with a hundred arrows and every one of his soldiers with one shaft each, leaders of every battalion (or charioteers) with ten arrows and the horses with three each.

20. Observing that great and wonderful feat of the high- souled Pradymna, soldiers on both the sides applauded him.

21. But the aerial-car Saubha constructed by Maya had such a magical structure and contrivances that sometimes it appeared many, sometimes one, and at times it was invisible. It was thus very difficult for the enemies (Yādavas) to locate it or conceive its nature and whereabouts.

22. Sometimes Saubha was on the ground; sometimes it flew into the sky; at times it rested on the summit of a mountain; sometimes it floated on water; sometimes it whirled round like a fire-brand and was not stationary at any point—(and thus was impossible to locate).

23. So the leaders of the Yādava army discharged arrows at every such point where Śālva with his aerial car Saubha and his soldiers made their appearance.

24. With his floating city Saubha and his army being sorely oppressed by the arrows discharged by the Yādava enemies—arrows the touch of which was scorching like the fire and the sun and unapproachable like venomous serpents Śālva fainted.

25. Though the Yādava warriors were severely beaten by the volleys of weapons discharged by the leaders of Śālva’s army, none of them deserted the battlefield or his respective (appointed) position, for they wanted to win both the worlds (viz. their sovereignty in the world if survived or heavenly happiness if killed) in the battle.

26. A minister of Śālva called Dyuman, a mighty warrior himself but who was previously heavily beaten (by Pradyumna), made a surprise attack on Pradyumna and striking him with a heavy iron mace, roared loudly.

27. Pradyumna’s charioteer, the son of Dāruka (Kṛṣṇa’s charioteer) who knew his duty (as a charioteer), carried away from the battlefield Pradyumna, the chastiser of enemies whose chest was gravely wounded by the stroke of the mace.

28. When Pradyumna, the son of Kṛṣṇa regained his consciousness after some time he blamed his charioteer, “Alas! you have not done well in that you have removed me from the battle-field.

29. No person born in Yadu’s race is known to have turned away from the battle-field except me who incurred the blemish through a weak-minded charioteer like you.

30. Having deliberately and obviously left the battlefield, what should I plead to my uncle Balarāma and father Kṛṣṇa when they meet me and enquire about my ability.

31. My brothers and sisters-in-law will jeer at me and openly ask me, “How did you fare with your enemies in the battle? How is it that you played the coward?”

The charioteer replied:

32. (It is) With full knowledge of my duty as a charioteer that I have done this, O long-lived one. My Lord, the prescribed duty is that the charioteer should protect the warrior in times of peril and the warrior should reciprocally protect him.

33. Knowing this duty as a charioteer, I took you away from the battlefield as, when attacked by the enemy and struck down with a mace, you became unconscions in a Swoon.