Saubhavadhopakhyana appears in Kairata Parva of Vana Parva of Mahabharata (Critical Edition). When Krishna visits the Pandavas in Kamyaka, after hearing about their defeat in the dice game and the subsequent exile, Yudhishthira asks him where Krishna was at the time of the dice game. Krishna replied that he was busy fighting Shalva, the owner of Saubha - a flying city. He then narrates the whole story of how he killed Shalva. In Mahabharata, this narrative is in first person, as told by Krishna to Yudhishthira.

Saubhavadhopakyana: The story of killing the Saubha

Shalva attacks Dvaraka's in Krishna's absence

Hearing that Shishupala, the son of Shrutasravas had been slain by Krishna, Shalva came to the city of Dvaravati. That wicked king, stationing his forces in array, besieged that city around and above. Stationing himself in the upper regions, the king began his fight with the city. That encounter commenced with a thick shower of weapons from all sides. The city at that time was well-fortified on all sides, according to the science of fortification, with pennons, arches, combatants, walls, turrets, engines, miners, and streets barricaded with spiked wood-works and towers, edifices with gate-ways well-filled with provisions, engines for hurling burning brands and fires, vessels, of deer-skins for carrying water, and trumpets, tabors, drums, lances, forks, Shataghnis, plough-shares, rockets, balls of stone and battle-axes and other weapons, shield embossed with iron, engines for hurling balls and bullets and hot liquids! The city was also well-defended by numerous cars, and by Gada, Samba, Uddhava and others, and by warriors of prowess tried in battle, all well-born and capable of encountering any foe. These all placing themselves on commanding posts, aided by cavalry and standard-bearers, began to defend the town. Ugrasena, Uddhava and others, to prevent carelessness, proclaimed throughout the city that nobody should drink. All the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, well-knowing that they would be slain by Shalva if they behaved carelessly, remained sober and watchful. The police soon drove out of the city all mimes, dancers and singers of the Anartta country. All the bridges over rivers were destroyed, boats forbidden to ply, and the trenches around the city were spiked with poles at the bottom. The land around the city for full two miles was rendered uneven, holes and pits were dug thereon, and combustibles were secreted below the surface. The fort was naturally strong and always well-defended and filled with all kinds of weapons. In consequence of the preparations made, the city was more prepared than ever to meet the foe. In consequence of all this, the city looked like that of Indra himself. At the time of Shalva's approach, nobody could either enter or leave the town of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas without presenting the sign that had been agreed upon. All the streets of the town and the open spaces were filled with numerous elephants and horses. The combatants were all specially gratified with allowances and wages, rations, weapons, and dresses. Amongst the combatants there was none who was not paid in gold, and none who was not paid at all, and none who was not somehow obliged, and none who was not of tried valour. It was thus Dvaraka, abounding in well-ordered arrangements, was defended by Ugrasena.

Shalva, the lord of Saubha, came towards Dvaraka with an immense force consisting of infantry, cavalry and elephants. The army headed by king Shalva, consisting of four kinds of forces, occupied a level ground commanding a copious water-supply. Forsaking cemeteries and temples dedicated to the gods, sacred trees, and grounds covered by ant-hills, that host occupied every other place. The roads leading to the city were blocked up by the divisions of his army, and the secret entrances also were all blocked up by his camp. Like unto the lord of birds Garuda, the ruler of Saubha rushed towards Dvaraka, bringing with him his host equipped with all kinds of arms, skilled in all weapons, consisting of a dense display of cars. elephants and cavalry abounding in banners, and well-paid and well-fed foot-soldiers possessed of great strength and bearing every mark of heroism and furnished with wonderful chariots and bows.

Pradyumna, Krishna's son, fights Shalva

Beholding the army of Shalva, the youthful princess of the Vrishni race resolved to encounter it sallying out of the city. Charudeshna, Samba, and the mighty warrior Pradyumna sailed out, ascending on their chariots, and clad in mail, and decked with ornaments, with colours flying, resolved to encounter the mighty and countless host of Shalva. Samba taking up his bows eagerly attacked on the field of battle Kshemavriddhi, the commander of Shalva's forces and his chief counsellor. The son of Jambavati then began to shower arrows in a continuous stream as Indra showers down rain. Then Kshemavriddhi, the commander of Shalva's forces, bore that shower of arrows, immovable as the Himavat. Kshemavriddhi on his part, discharged at Samba mightier volley of shafts, aided by his powers of illusion. Dispersing by counter illusion that discharge inspired by illusion, Samba showered on his adversary's car a thousand arrows. Then pierced by the shafts on Samba and overwhelmed there with Kshemavriddhi, the commander left the field by the help of his fleet-steed.

When the wicked general of Shalva had left the field, a mighty Daitya called Vegavat rushed at Krishna’s son. Thus attacked, the heroic Samba, the perpetuator of the Vrishni race, bore that onset of Vegavat, keeping his ground. The heroic Samba, of prowess incapable of being baffled, whirling a quickly-going mace, hurled it speedily at Vegavat. Struck with that mace, Vegavat fell down on the ground, like a weather-beaten and faded lord of the forest of decayed roots. On that heroic Asura of mighty energy, being slain with the mace, Krishna’s son entered within that mighty host and began to fight with all.

A well-known Danava named Vivindhya, a mighty warrior wielding a large and powerful bow, encountered Charudeshna. The encounter between Charudeshna and Vivindhya was as fierce as that in days of yore between Vritra and Vasava. Enraged with each other the combatants pierced each other with their arrows, uttering loud roars like unto two powerful lions. Then the son of Rukmini fixed on his bow-string a mighty weapon possessing the splendour of fire or the sun, and capable of destroying all foes, having first vivified it with incantations. Then, that mighty warrior Krishna’s son, fired with wrath, challenged Vivindhya and discharged the weapon at him. The Danava struck with that weapon, fell down on the ground a lifeless corpse.

Beholding Vivindhya slain, and the whole host waver, Shalva advanced again on his beautiful car capable of going everywhere. Beholding Shalva on that beautiful car of his, the combatants of Dvaraka wavered with fear! But, Pradyumna sailed out, and bidding the Anarttas be of good cheer, said, “Waver you not, and staying behold me fight! I shall, by force, repell that car with Shalva on it! You Yadavas! This day, I shall, with my weapons like unto serpents discharged from my bow with my hand, destroy this host of the lord of Saubha! Be of good cheer, you all! Fear not! The lord of Saubha will be slain today! Attacked by me, the wretch will meet with destruction together with his car!” Upon Pradyumna speaking thus with cheerful heart, the Yadava host remained on the field and began to fight cheerfully.

Having spoken thus unto the Yadavas, Pradyumna ascended his golden car. The car he rode was drawn by excellent steeds in mail. Over it stood a standard bearing the figure of a Makara with gaping mouth and fierce as Yama. With his steeds, more flying than running on the ground, he rushed against the foe. The hero equipped with quiver and sword, with fingers cased in leather, twanged his bow possessed of the splendour of the lightning, with great strength, and transferring it from hand to hand, as if in contempt of the enemy, spread confusion among the Danavas and other warriors of the city of Saubha. As hot in contempt of the foe, he continuously slew the Danavas in battle. No one could mark the slightest interval between his successive shafts. The colour of his face changed not, and his limbs trembled not. People only heard his loud leonine roars indicative of wonderful valour. The aquatic monster with mouth wide open, that devourer of all fishes, placed on golden flag-staff of that best of cars, struck terror into the hearts of Shalva's warriors. Pradyumna rushed with speed against Shalva himself so desirous of an encounter. Braved by the heroic Pradyumna in that mighty battle, the angry Shalva could ill bear the challenge. Shalva, maddened by anger, descended from his beautiful car of unchecked speed, resolved to encounter Pradyumna. The people beheld the fight between Shalva and Pradyumna which was like unto the encounter between Vasava with Bali. Mounting on his beautiful car decked with gold and furnished with flags, flag-staffs and quivers, the illustrious and mighty Shalva began to discharge his arrows at Pradyumna. Pradyumna also, by the energy of his arms, overwhelmed Shalva in the combat by a thick shower of arrows. The king of Saubha, however, thus attacked in battle by Pradyumna, endured him not, but discharged at him arrows that were like blazing fire. But the mighty Pradyumna parried off that arrowy shower. Beholding this, Shalva rained on him other weapons of blazing splendour. Then, pierced by the shafts of Shalva, the son of Rukmini discharged without loss of time an arrow that was capable of entering the vitals of a foe in fight. That winged shaft shot by Pradyumna, piercing Shalva's mail, entered his heart – whereupon he fell down, in a swoon. Beholding the heroic king Shalva fallen down deprived of sense, the foremost of the Danavas fled away rending the ground beneath their feet. The army of Shalva sent up exclamations of Oh! and Alas! seeing their king drop down bereft of sense! Regaining his senses, the mighty Shalva rose and all of a sudden discharged his arrows on Pradyumna. Then the heroic and mighty armed Pradyumna, sorely pierced by his adversary about his throat, was enfeebled on his car. Wounding the son of Rukmini, Shalva sent up a shout like unto the roar of a lion, and filling the entire earth with it! When Pradyumna became senseless, Shalva, without losing a moment, again discharged at him other shafts difficult to bear. Pierced with numberless arrows and deprived of his senses, Pradyumna became motionless on the field of battle.

Afflicted with the arrows of Shalva when Pradyumna became senseless, the Vrishnis who had come to the fight were all disheartened and filled with grief. The combatants of the Vrishni and Andhaka races burst into exclamations of Oh! and Alas! while great joy was felt by the enemy and beholding him thus deprived of sense, his trained charioteer, the son of Daruka, soon carried him off the field by the help of his steeds. The car had not gone far when Pradyumna regained his senses, and taking up his bow addressed his charioteer, saying, “O son of the Suta! What have you done? Why do you go leaving the field of battle? This is not the custom of the Vrishni heroes in battle! Have you been bewildered at the sight of a Shalva in that fierce encounter? Or have you been disheartened, beholding the fight? Tell me truly your mind!”

The charioteer answered. “O son of Janardana! I have not been confounded, nor has fear taken possession of me. On the other hand, the task, I ween, of vanquishing Shalva is difficult for you! Therefore, I am slowly retiring from the field. This wretch is stronger than you are! It behoves a charioteer to protect the warrior on the car, however, when he is deprived of his senses! You should always be protected by me, as it behoves you to protect me! Thinking that the warrior on the car should always be protected by his charioteer, I am carrying you away! Further, you are alone, while the Danavas are many. Thinking that you are not equal to them in the encounter, I am going away!”

When the charioteer had spoken thus, Pradyumna replied unto him, saying: “Turn the car! O son of Daruka! Never do so again; never turn from the fight, while I am alive! He is no son of the Vrishni race who forsakes the field or slays the foe fallen at his feet and crying I am yours! or kills a woman, a boy, or an old man, or a warrior in distress, deprived of his car or with his weapons broken! You are born in the race of charioteers and trained to your craft! You are acquainted with the customs of the Vrishnis in battle! Versed as you are with all the customs of the Vrishnis in battle, never again fly from the field as you have done! What will the irrepressible Madhava say to me when he hears that I have left the field of battle in bewilderment or that I have been struck on the back, a run-away from the combat! What will the elder brother of Keshava, the mighty-armed Baladeva, clad in blue and inebriate with wine, say, when he returns? What also will Satyaki say on hearing that I have forsaken the fight? What will the ever-victorious Samba, the irrepressible Charudeshna. Gada, Sharana, and Akrura say unto me! What also will the wives of the Vrishni heroes when they meet together, say of me who had hitherto been considered as brave and well-conducted, respectable and possessed of manly pride? They will even say ‘this Pradyumna is a coward who comes here, leaving the battle! Fie on him!’ They will never say, ‘Well done!’ Ridicule, with exclamation of Fie, is to me or a person like me, more than death! Therefore, never again leave the field of battle! Reposing the charge on me, Hari has gone to the sacrifice of Yudhishthira! Therefore, I cannot bear to be quiet now! When the brave Kritavarma was sallying out to encounter Shalva, I prevented him, saying I will resist Shalva. For honouring me, he desisted! Having left the field of battle, what shall I say unto that mighty warrior when I meet him? When Krishna returns, what shall I say unto him? Satyaki, Baladeva, and others of the Vrishni and Andhaka races always boast of me! What shall I say unto them? Having left the field of battle and with wounds of arrows on my back while being carried away by you, I shall, by no means, be able to live! Therefore, turn that car speedily, and never do so again even in times of greatest danger! I do not think life worth much, having fled from the field like a coward, and my back pierced, with the arrows of the enemy! Have you ever seen me fly in fear from the field of battle like coward? It behoves you not to forsake the battle, while my desire of fight was not yet gratified! Therefore, go back to the field.”

Thus addressed, the son of Suta replied in haste unto Pradyumna, in these sweet words: “O son of Rukmini! I fear not to guide the horses on the field of battle, and I am acquainted also with the customs of the Vrishnis in war! It is not otherwise in the least! But, those that guide the car are taught that the warrior on the car is, by all means, to be protected by his charioteer! You were also much afflicted! You were much wounded by the arrows shot by Shalva. You were also deprived of your senses! Therefore is it that I retired from the field. But, now that you have regained your senses without much ado, you witness my skill in guiding the horses! I have been begotten by Daruka, and I have been duly trained! I will now penetrate into the celebrated array of Shalva without fear!”

Saying this, the charioteer, pulling the reins, began to lead the horses with speed towards the field of battle. Struck with the whip and pulled by the reins those excellent steeds seemed to be flying in the air, performing various beautiful motion, now circular, now similar, now dissimilar, now to the right, now to the left. Those steeds understanding as it were the intention of Daruka's son endued with such lightness of hand, burned with energy, and seemed to go without touching the ground with their feet! Pradyumna wheeled round Shalva's host so easily that they who witnessed it wondered exceedingly. The lord of Saubha, unable to bear that manoeuvre of Pradyumna, instantly sent three shafts at the charioteer of his antagonist! The charioteer, however, without taking any note of the force of those arrows, continued to go along the right. Then the lord of Saubha again discharged at Pradyumna a shower of various kinds of weapons! But the son of Rukmini, showing with a smile his lightness of hand, cut all those weapons off as they reached him. Finding his arrows cut by Pradyumna, the lord of Saubha, having recourse to the dreadful illusion natural to Asuras began to pour a thick shower of arrows. But cutting into pieces those powerful Daitya weapons shot at him in mid-career by means of his Brahma weapon, Pradyumna discharged winged shafts of other kings. These delighting in blood, warding off the shafts of Daitya, pierced his head, bosom and face. At those wounds Shalva fell down senseless. On the mean-minded Shalva falling down, afflicted with Pradyumna's arrows, the son of Rukmini aimed another arrow at him, capable of destroying every foe. Beholding that arrow worshipped by all the Dasharhas, and flaming like fire and fatal as a venomous snake, fixed on the bow-string, the firmament was filled with exclamations of Oh! and Alas! Then all the celestials with Indra and Kubera at their head sent Narada and the god of wind endued with the speed of the mind. These two, approaching the son of Rukmini, delivered unto him the message of the celestial, saying: “O hero! King Shalva is not to be slain by you! Draw back the arrow. He is unslayable by you in fight! There breathes not a person who cannot be killed by that arrow! The Creator has ordained his death at the hands of Krishna, the son of Devaki! Let this be not falsified!” Thereupon, with a glad heart, Pradyumna withdrew that best of arrows from his excellent bow and deposited it back in his quiver. Then, the mighty Shalva, afflicted with the arrows of Pradyumna, rose disheartened, and speedily went away. Then the wicked Shalva, thus afflicted by the Vrishnis, mounted on his car of precious metals, and leaving Dvaraka scudded through the skies!

Krishna fights and kills Shalva

When Shalva had left the city of the Anarttas, Krishna returned to it, on the completion of Yudhishthira’s great Rajasuya sacrifice. On his arrival, he found Dvaraka shorn of its splendour, and, there were not sounds of Vedic recitation or sacrificial offering, The excellent damsels were all destitute of ornaments, and the gardens were devoid of beauty. Alarmed by the aspect, Krishna asked Kritavarma saying: “Why is it that the men and women of the city of the Vrishnis are so woe-begone?” Thus asked, Kritavarma related to him in detail the invasion of the city by Shalva, and his subsequent departure from it. Hearing all, Krishna made up his mind to slay Shalva. Encouraging the citizens, he cheerfully addressed king Ahuka, Anakdundhubi, and the chief heroes of the Vrishni race, saying: “O bulls among the Yadavas! Stay in the city, taking every care, and know that I go to slay Shalva! I return not to the city of Dvaravati without slaying him. I will again come to you having compassed the destruction of Shalva together with his car of precious metals. Strike up the sharp, middle and flat notes of the Dundhubi so dreadful to foes!”

Thus adequately encouraged by Krishna, those heroes cheerfully said unto him: “Go and slay the enemies!” Thus receiving the benedictions of those warriors with glad hearts, and causing the Brahmanas to utter auspicious words and bowing down to the best of the regenerate ones, and to Shiva also, he set out on his car unto which were yoked the horses Shaibya and Sugriva, filling all sides with the clatter of his wheels and blowing the Panchajanya. Accompanied by his redoubted and victorious army consisting of the four kinds of the forces so persevering in battle, Krishna set out. Leaving many countries, and mountains, crowned with trees, and pieces of water, and streams, he at last arrived at the country of Matrikavarta. It is there that he heard that Shalva was coursing on his car of precious metals near the ocean, and he followed in his pursuit. Having reached the main, Shalva on his car of costly metals was in the midst of the deep heaving with billows! On seeing Krishna from a distance, that one of wicked soul himself challenged him repeatedly to the fight. Many arrows capable of piercing to the quick, discharged from Krishna’s bow reached not his car. That essentially sinful wretch of a Daitya's son of irrepressible energy, on his part began to shoot thousand upon thousands of arrows in torrents! He rained shafts upon Krishna’s soldiers and upon his charioteer and upon his steeds! But without thinking of the shafts, Krishna and his troop continued the conflict. Then the warriors following Shalva poured on Krishna straight arrows by thousands. The Asuras covered his horses and his car and Daruka with arrows capable of piercing the very vitals. Krishna could not at that time see either his horses, or his car, or his charioteer Daruka! He with his army was covered with weapons. Superhumanly skilled in weapons, Krishna also let fly from his bow arrows by tens of thousands, inspiring them with mantras! But as that car of costly metals was in the sky, full two miles off, it could not be seen by Krishna’s troops. They could therefore only remaining on the field of battle look on like spectators in a place of amusement, cheering Krishna on by shouts loud as the roar of the lion, and also by the sound of their clapping. The tinted arrows shot by the fore-part of hand penetrated into the bodies of the Danavas like biting insects. Then arose cries in the car of precious metals from those that were dying of wounds by those sharp arrows and falling into the waters of the mighty ocean. The Danavas deprived of their arms, necks, and wearing the form of Kavandhas, fell, sending up tremendous roars. As they fell they were devoured by animals living in the waters of the ocean. Then Krishna powerfully blew the Panchajanya obtained from the waters and graceful as the lotus-stalk and white as milk or the Kunda flower or the moon or silver. Seeing his soldiers fall, Shalva began to fight with the help of illusion. Then he began to ceaselessly hurl at Krishna maces, ploughshares, winged darts and lances, javelins, battle-axes, swords and arrows blazing like javelins and thunderbolts, nooses, broad swords, bullets from barrels, shafts, axes, and rockets. Permitting them to come towards him, Krishna soon destroyed them all by counter-illusion. On this illusion being rendered ineffectual, Shalva began the contest with mountain peaks. Then there was darkness and light alternately, and the day was now fair, and now gloomy, and now hot, and now cold. There was a perfect shower of coals, ashes, and weapons. Creating such illusion the enemy fought with Krishna. Ascertaining it Krishna destroyed his illusion by counter-illusion. In the due time Krishna showered arrows all round. Then the dome of heaven blazed as with a hundred suns, and with one hundred moons, and thousands and ten thousands of stars! Then none could ascertain whether it was day or night, or distinguish the points of the horizon. Becoming bewildered, Krishna fixed on his bowstring the weapon called Pragnastra. The weapon went like unto flakes of pure cotton blown away by the winds! A great fight took place, calculated to make the hair on one's body stand on end. Having regained, light, Krishna again fought with the enemy.

King Shalva, thus encountered by Krishna in battle, again ascended the sky. Inspired with the desire of victory, that wicked one hurled at Krishna Shataghnis, mighty maces, flaming lances, and stout clubs, and as the weapons came along the sky, Krishna speedily resisted them with his swift arrows, and cut them in two or three pieces before they came at him. There was a great noise in the welkins. Shalva covered Daruka, Krishna’s steeds, and his car also with hundreds of straight shafts. Then Daruka, evidently about to faint, said unto Krishna: “Afflicted with the shafts of Shalva I stay in the field, because it is my duty to do so. But I am incapable of doing so any longer. My body has become weak!” Hearing these piteous words of his charioteer, Krishna looked at him, and found the driver wounded with arrows. Nor was there a spot on his breasts or the crown of his head, or body or his arms which was not covered with shafts! Blood flowed profusely from his wounds inflicted by arrows, and he looked like unto a mountain of red chalk after a heavy shower. Seeing the charioteer with the reins in his hands thus pierced and enfeebled by the shafts of Shalva in the field of battle, Krishna cheered him up.

About this time, a certain person, having his home in Dvaraka quickly coming to Krishna’s car, addressed him like a friend, delivering to him a message from Ahuka! He seemed to be one of Ahuka's followers. Sadly and in a voice choked in sorrow, he said these words: “O warrior! Ahuka, the lord of Dvaraka, has said these words unto you! O Keshava! Hear what your father's friend says: ‘O son! In your absence today, Shalva coming to Dvaraka has by force killed Vasudeva! Therefore, no need of battle any more. Cease, O Janardana! Do defend Dvaraka! This is your principal duty!’” Hearing these words of his, Krishna’s heart became heavy, and he could not ascertain what he should do and what he should not. Hearing of that great misfortune, Krishna mentally censured Satyaki, Baladeva, and also that mighty Pradyumna. Having reposed on them the duty of protecting Dvaraka and Vasudeva, he had gone to effect the destruction of Shalva's city. In a sorrowful heart, he asked himself, “Does that mighty-armed Baladeva live, and Satyaki, and the son of Rukmini and Charudeshna, and Shamba and others? For, these living, even Indra himself could by no means destroy Vasudeva! And thought, I, It is plain that Vasudeva is dead and equally plain that the others with Baladeva at their head have been deprived of life--This was my certain conclusion. And, O mighty king, thinking of the destruction of those all, I was overwhelmed with grief! And it was in this state of mind that I encountered Shalva afresh. And now I saw, O great monarch, Vasudeva himself falling from the car of precious metals! And, O warrior I swooned away, and, O king of men, my sire seemed like unto Yayati after the loss of his merit, falling towards the earth from heaven! And like unto a luminary whose merit has been lost saw my father falling, his head-gear foul and flowing loosely, and his hair and dress disordered. And then the bow Sharanga dropped from my hand, and, O son of Kunti I swooned away! I sat down on the side of the car. And, O you descendant of the Bharata race, seeing me deprived of consciousness on the car, and as if dead, my entire host exclaimed Oh! and Alas! And my prone father with out-stretched arms and lower limbs, appeared like a dropping bird. And him thus falling, O you of mighty arms, O hero, the hostile warriors bearing in their hands lances and axes struck grievously! And (beholding this) my heart trembled! and soon regaining my consciousness, O warrior, I could not see in that mighty contest either the car of costly metals, or the enemy Shalva, or my old father! Then I concluded in my mind that it was certainly illusion. And recovering my senses, I again began to discharge arrows by hundreds."

Then, taking up his beautiful bow, Krishna began to cut off with his arrows the heads of the enemies of the celestials. He began to discharge from the Sharanga many well-looking arrows of the forms of snakes, capable of going at a great height and possessing intense energy. He could not then see the car of costly metals, for it had vanished, through illusion. Krishna was then filled with wonder. That host of Danvas then, of frightful visages and hair, set up a loud howl. Krishna then, with the object of destroying them, fixed on his bow-string the weapon capable of piercing the foes, but its sound was inaudible. Upon this, their shouts ceased. But those Danavas that had sent up that shout were all slain by those shafts of Krishna blazing as the Sun himself, and capable of striking at the perception of sound alone. After the shout had ceased at one place, another yell proceeded from another quarter. Thitherto also Krishna sent his shafts. In this way, the Asuras began to send up yells in all the ten quarters above and across. These were all slain by Krishna with arrows of diverse forms, and celestial weapons inspired with mantras. Then, that car of precious metals capable of going anywhere at will, bewildering my eyes, reappeared at Pragjyotisha. Then the destroying Danavas of fierce forms suddenly drowned me with a mighty shower of rocks. Torrents of rocks falling upon Krishna covered him up, and he began to grow like an ant-hill with its summits and peaks. Covered along with his horses, charioteer and flagstaffs, with crags on all sides, Krishna disappeared from sight altogether. Then the Vrishni heroes who were with his army were struck with panic and all on a sudden began to fly in all directions. Beholding Krishna in that plight, the heaven, the firmament, and the earth were filled with exclamation of Oh! and Alas! Then, his friends filled with sorrow and grief began to weep and wail with heavy hearts. Delight filled the hearts of the enemies. Then wielding the thunderbolt, that favourite weapon of Indra, capable of riving stones, Krishna destroyed that entire mass of crags. But his steeds, afflicted with the weight of the stones and almost on the point of death began to tremble. Beholding him, all his friends rejoiced again even as men rejoice on seeing the sun rise in the sky, dispersing the clouds. Seeing his horses almost in their last gasp for breath, afflicted with that load of stones, his charioteer said unto him in words suitable to the occasion: “O you of the Vrishni race! Behold Shalva sitting yonder. Do not disregard him! Do you exert yourself! Do you abandon your mildness and consideration for Shalva. Slay Shalva, O you of mighty arms! O Kesava! do not let him live! An enemy should be slain with every exertion! Even a weak enemy who is under the feet of a man endued with strength, should not be disregarded by the latter: that shall I say of one that dares us to the fight? Therefore, putting forth every exertion, slay him, O lord! Do not delay again! This one is not capable of being vanquished by milder measures. He cannot in my opinion be your friend who is fighting you and who devastated Dvaraka!”

Hearing such words of his charioteer, and knowing that what he said was true, Krishna directed his attention to the fight afresh, with the view of slaying Shalva and destroying the car of costly metals! Saying unto Daruka, “Stay a moment” Krishna fixed on his bow-string his favourite weapon of fire, blazing and of celestial origin, of irresistible force, and incapable of being baffled, bursting with energy, capable of penetrating into everything, and of great splendour! Saying, “Destroy the car of precious metals together with all those enemies that are in it”, he launched with the might of my arms and in wrath with mantras, the great powerful discus Sudarshana which reduces to ashes in battle Yakshas, Rakshasas, Danavas and kings born in impure tribes, sharp-edged like the razor, and without stain, like unto Yama the destroyer, and incomparable, and which kills enemies. Rising into the sky, it seemed like a second sun of exceeding effulgence at the end of the Yuga. Approaching the town of Saubha whose splendour had disappeared, the discus went right through it, even as a saw divides a tall tree. Cut in twain by the energy of the Sudarshana, it fell like the city of Tripura shaken by the shafts of Maheswara. After the town of Saubha had fallen, the discus came back into Krishna’s hands. Taking it up, he once more hurled it with force saying, “Go unto Shalva!” The discus then cleft Shalva in twain who in that fierce conflict was at the point of hurling a heavy mace. With its energy it set the foe ablaze. After that brave warrior was slain, the disheartened Danava women fled in all directions, exclaiming “Oh! and Alas!” Taking his chariot in front of the town of Saubha Krishna cheerfully blew his conch and gladdened the hearts of his friends. Beholding their town, high as the peak of the Meru, with its palaces and gate-ways utterly destroyed, and all ablaze, the Danavas fled in fear. Having thus destroyed the town of Saubha and slain Shalva, Krishna returned to the Anarttas and delighted his friends.