Chapter 76: The Battle Between Śālva and the Vṛṣṇis

 

10.76.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

athānyad api kṛṣṇasya

śṛṇu karmādbhutaḿ nṛpa

krīḍā-nara-śarīrasya

yathā saubha-patir hataḥ

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; atha — now; anyat — another; api — yet; kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; śṛṇu — please hear; karma — deed; adbhutam — wonderful; nṛpa — O King; krīḍā — for playing; nara — humanlike; śarīrasya — whose body; yathā — how; saubha-patiḥ — the lord of Saubha (Śālva); hataḥ — killed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Now please hear, O King, another wondrous deed performed by Lord Kṛṣṇa, who appeared in His humanlike body to enjoy transcendental pastimes. Hear how He killed the master of Saubha.

 

10.76.2

śiśupāla-sakhaḥ śālvo

rukmiṇy-udvāha āgataḥ

yadubhir nirjitaḥ sańkhye

jarāsandhādayas tathā

 

śiśupāla-sakhaḥ — a friend of Śiśupāla's; śālvaḥ — named Śālva; rukmiṇī-udvāhe — to Rukmiṇī's wedding; āgataḥ — having come; yadubhiḥ — by the Yadus; nirjitaḥ — defeated; sańkhye — in battle; jarāsandha-ādayaḥ — Jarāsandha and others; tathā — as well.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śālva was a friend of Śiśupāla's. When he attended the wedding of Rukmiṇī, the Yadu warriors defeated him in battle, along with Jarāsandha and the other kings.

 

10.76.3

śālvaḥ pratijñām akaroc

chṛṇvatāḿ sarva-bhūbhujām

ayādavāḿ kṣmāḿ kariṣye

pauruṣaḿ mama paśyata

 

śālvaḥ — Śālva; pratijñām — a promise; akarot — made; śṛṇvatām — as they listened; sarva — all; bhū-bhujām — the kings; ayādavām — devoid of Yādavas; kṣmām — the earth; kariṣye — I will make; pauruṣam — prowess; mama — my; paśyata — just see.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śālva swore in the presence of all the kings: "I will rid the earth of Yādavas. Just see my prowess!"

 

10.76.4

iti mūḍhaḥ pratijñāya

devaḿ paśu-patiḿ prabhum

ārādhayām āsa nṛpaḥ

pāḿśu-muṣṭiḿ sakṛd grasan

 

iti — with these words; mūḍhaḥ — the fool; pratijñāya — having vowed; devam — the lord; paśu-patim — Śiva, the protector of animallike men; prabhum — his master; āradhayām āsa — worshiped; nṛpaḥ — the King; pāḿśu — of dust; muṣṭim — a handful; sakṛt — once (daily); grasan — eating.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Having thus made his vow, the foolish King proceeded to worship Lord Paśupati [Śiva] as his deity by eating a handful of dust each day, and nothing more.

 

10.76.5

saḿvatsarānte bhagavān

āśu-toṣa umā-patiḥ

vareṇa cchandayām āsa

śālvaḿ śaraṇam āgatam

 

saḿvatsara — of a year; ante — at the end; bhagavān — the great lord; āśu-toṣaḥ — he who is quickly pleased; umā-patiḥ — the master of Umā; vareṇa — with a benediction; chandayām āsa — had him choose; śālvam — Śālva; śaraṇam — for shelter; āgatam — approached.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great Lord Umāpati is known as "he who is quickly pleased," yet only at the end of a year did he gratify Śālva, who had approached him for shelter, by offering him a choice of benedictions.

 

10.76.6

devāsura-manuṣyāṇāḿ

gandharvoraga-rakṣasām

abhedyaḿ kāma-gaḿ vavre

sa yānaḿ vṛṣṇi-bhīṣaṇam

 

deva — by demigods; asura — demons; manuṣyāṇām — and humans; gandharva — by Gandharvas; uraga — celestial serpents; rakṣasām — and Rākṣasa spirits; abhedyam — indestructible; kāma — at will; gam — traveling; vavre — chose; saḥ — he; yānam — a vehicle; vṛṣṇi — for the Vṛṣṇis; bhīṣaṇam — terrifying.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śālva chose a vehicle that could be destroyed by neither demigods, demons, humans, Gandharvas, Uragas nor Rākṣasas, that could travel anywhere he wished to go, and that would terrify the Vṛṣṇis.

 

10.76.7

tatheti giriśādiṣṭo

mayaḥ para-puraḿ-jayaḥ

puraḿ nirmāya śālvāya

prādāt saubham ayas-mayam

 

tathā — so be it; iti — having thus said; giri-śa — by Lord Śiva; ādiṣṭaḥ — ordered; mayaḥ — Maya Dānava; para — of the enemy; puram — the cities; jayaḥ — who conquers; puram — a city; nirmāya — constructing; śālvāya — to Śālva; prādāt — he gave; saubham — named Saubha; ayaḥ — of iron; mayam — made.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Śiva said, "So be it." On his order, Maya Dānava, who conquers his enemies' cities, constructed a flying iron city named Saubha and presented it to Śālva.

 

10.76.8

sa labdhvā kāma-gaḿ yānaḿ

tamo-dhāma durāsadam

yayas dvāravatīḿ śālvo

vairaḿ vṛṣṇi-kṛtaḿ smaran

 

saḥ — he; labdhvā — obtaining; kāma-gam — moving at his will; yānam — the vehicle; tamaḥ — of darkness; dhāma — abode; durāsadam — unapproachable; yayau — went; dvāravatīm — to Dvārakā; śālvaḥ — Śālva; vairam — the enmity; vṛṣṇi-kṛtam — shown by the Vṛṣṇis; smaran — remembering.

 

TRANSLATION

 

This unassailable vehicle was filled with darkness and could go anywhere. Upon obtaining it, Śālva went to Dvārakā, remembering the Vṛṣṇis' enmity toward him.

 

10.76.9-11

nirudhya senayā śālvo

mahatyā bharatarṣabha

purīḿ babhañjopavanān

udyānāni ca sarvaśaḥ

 

sa-gopurāṇi dvārāṇi

prāsādāṭṭāla-tolikāḥ

vihārān sa vimānāgryān

nipetuḥ śastra-vṛṣṭayaḥ

 

śilā-drumāś cāśanayaḥ

sarpā āsāra-śarkarāḥ

pracaṇḍaś cakravāto 'bhūd

rajasācchāditā diśaḥ

 

nirudhya — besieging; senayā — with an army; śālvaḥ — Śālva; mahatyā — large; bharata-ṛṣabha — O best of the Bharatas; purīm — the city; babhañja — he broke up; upavanān — the parks; udyanāni — gardens; ca — and; sarvaśaḥ — all around;

 

sa-gopurāṇi — with towers; dvārāṇi — and gateways; prāsāda — mansions; aṭṭāla — observatories; tolikāḥ — and surrounding walls; vihārān — recreational areas; saḥ — he, Śālva; vimāna — of airships; agryāt — from the best; nipetuḥ — there fell; śastra — of weapons; vṛṣṭayaḥ — torrents;

 

śilā — stones; drumāḥ — and trees; ca — also; aśanayaḥ — thunderbolts; sarpāḥ — snakes; āsāra-śarkarāḥ — and hailstones; pracaṇḍaḥ — fierce; cakravātaḥ — a whirlwind; abhūt — arose; rajasā — with dust; ācchādditāḥ — covered; diśaḥ — all the directions.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śālva besieged the city with a large army, O best of the Bharatas, decimating the outlying parks and gardens, the mansions along with their observatories, towering gateways and surrounding walls, and also the public recreational areas. From his excellent airship he threw down a torrent of weapons, including stones, tree trunks, thunderbolts, snakes and hailstones. A fierce whirlwind arose and blanketed all directions with dust.

 

10.76.12

ity ardyamānā saubhena

kṛṣṇasya nagarī bhṛśam

nābhyapadyata śaḿ rājaḿs

tri-pureṇa yathā mahī

 

iti — thus; ardyamānā — tormented; saubhena — by the airplane Saubha; kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; nagarī — the city; bhṛśam — terribly; na abhyapadyata — could not have; śam — peace; rājan — O King; tri-pureṇa — by the three aerial cities of the demons; yathā — as; mahī — the earth.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus terribly tormented by the airship Saubha, Lord Kṛṣṇa's city had no peace, O King, just like the earth when it was attacked by the three aerial cities of the demons.

 

10.76.13

pradyumno bhagavān vīkṣya

bādhyamānā nijāḥ prajāḥ

ma bhaiṣṭety abhyadhād vīro

rathārūḍho mahā-yaśāḥ

 

pradyumnaḥ — Pradyumna; bhagavān — the Lord; vīkṣya — seeing; bādhyamānāḥ — being harassed; nijāḥ — His own; prajāḥ — subjects; mā bhaiṣṭa — do not fear; iti — thus; abhyadhāt — addressed; vīraḥ — the great hero; ratha — on His chariot; ārūḍhaḥ — mounted; mahā — immense; yaśāḥ — whose glory.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing His subjects so harassed, the glorious and heroic Lord Pradyumna told them, "Do not fear," and mounted His chariot.

 

10.76.14-15

sātyakiś cārudeṣṇaś ca

sāmbo 'krūraḥ sahānujaḥ

hārdikyo bhānuvindaś ca

gadaś ca śuka-sāraṇau

 

apare ca maheṣv-āsā

ratha-yūthapa-yūthapāḥ

niryayur daḿśitā guptā

rathebhāśva-padātibhiḥ

 

sātyakiḥ cārudeṣṇaḥ ca — Sātyaki and Cārudeṣṇa; sāmbaḥ — Sāmba; akrūraḥ — and Akrūra; saha — with; anujaḥ — younger brothers; hārdikyaḥ — Hārdikya; bhānuvindaḥ — Bhānuvinda; ca — and; gadaḥ — Gada; ca — and; śuka-sāraṇau — Śuka and Sāraṇa;

 

apare — others; ca — also; mahā — eminent; iṣv-āsāḥ — archers; ratha — of chariot (warriors); yūtha-pa — of the leaders; yūtha-pāḥ — the leaders; niryayuḥ — they went out; daḿśitāḥ — wearing armor; guptāḥ — protected; ratha — by (soldiers on) chariots; ibha — elephants; aśva — and horses; padātibhiḥ — and by foot soldiers.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The chief commanders of the chariot warriors — Sātyaki, Cārudeṣṇa, Sāmba, Akrūra and his younger brothers, along with Hārdikya, Bhānuvinda, Gada, Śuka and Sāraṇa — went out of the city with many other eminent bowmen, all girded in armor and protected by contingents of soldiers riding on chariots, elephants and horses, and also by companies of infantry.

 

10.76.16

tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaḿ

śālvānāḿ yadubhiḥ saha

yathāsurāṇāḿ vibudhais

tumulaḿ loma-harṣaṇam

 

tataḥ — then; pravavṛte — began; yuddham — a battle; śālvānām — of the followers of Śālva; yadubhiḥ saha — with the Yadus; yathā — just like; asurāṇām — of the demons; vibudhaiḥ — with the demigods; tumulam — tumultuous; loma-harṣaṇam — making bodily hair stand on end.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A tumultuous, hair-raising battle then commenced between Śālva's forces and the Yadus. It equaled the great battles between the demons and demigods.

 

10.76.17

tāś ca saubha-pater māyā

divyāstrai rukmiṇī-sutaḥ

kṣaṇena nāśayām āsa

naiśaḿ tama ivoṣṇa-guḥ

 

tāḥ — those; ca — and; saubha-pateḥ — of the master of Saubha; māyāḥ — the magic illusions; divya — divine; astraiḥ — with weapons; rukmiṇī-sutaḥ — the son of Rukmiṇī (Pradyumna); kṣaṇena — in an instant; nāśayām āsa — destroyed; naiśam — of the night; tamaḥ — the darkness; iva — as; uṣṇa — warm; guḥ — whose rays (the sun).

 

TRANSLATION

 

With His divine weapons Pradyumna instantly destroyed all of Śālva's magic illusions, in the same way that the warm rays of the sun dissipate the darkness of night.

 

10.76.18-19

vivyādha pañca-viḿśatyā

svarṇa-puńkhair ayo-mukhaiḥ

śālvasya dhvajinī-pālaḿ

śaraiḥ sannata-parvabhiḥ

 

śatenātāḍayac chālvam

ekaikenāsya sainikān

daśabhir daśabhir netṝn

vāhanāni tribhis tribhiḥ

 

vivyādha — He shot; pañca — five; viḿśatyā — plus twenty; svarṇa — gold; puńkhaiḥ — whose shafts; ayaḥ — iron; mukhaiḥ — whose heads; śālvasya — of Śālva; dhvajinī-pālam — the commander-in-chief; śaraiḥ — with arrows; sannata — level; parvabhiḥ — whose joints; śatena — with one hundred; atāḍayat — He struck; śālvam — Śālva; eka-ekena — with one each; asya — his; sainikān — officers; daśabhiḥ daśabhiḥ — with ten each; netṝn — the chariot drivers; vāhanāni — the carriers; tribhiḥ tribhiḥ — with three each.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Pradyumna's arrows all had gold shafts, iron heads and perfectly smooth joints. With twenty-five of them He struck down Śālva's commander-in-chief [Dyumān], and with one hundred He struck Śālva himself. Then He pierced Śālva's officers with one arrow each, his chariot drivers with ten arrows each, and his horses and other carriers with three arrows each.

 

10.76.20

tad adbhutaḿ mahat karma

pradyumnasya mahātmanaḥ

dṛṣṭvā taḿ pūjayām āsuḥ

sarve sva-para-sainikāḥ

 

tat — that; adbhutam — amazing; mahat — mighty; karma — feat; pradyumnasya — of Pradyumna; mahā-ātmanaḥ — the great personality; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; tam — Him; pūjayām āsuḥ — honored; sarve — all; sva — of His own side; para — and of the enemy side; sainikāḥ — the soldiers.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When they saw the glorious Pradyumna perform that amazing and mighty feat, all the soldiers on both sides praised Him.

 

10.76.21

bahu-rūpaika-rūpaḿ tad

dṛśyate na ca dṛśyate

māyā-mayaḿ maya-kṛtaḿ

durvibhāvyaḿ parair abhūt

 

bahu — with many; rūpa — forms; eka — with one; rūpam — form; tat — that (Saubha airship); dṛśyate — is seen; na — not; ca — and; dṛśyate — is seen; māyā-mayam — magical; maya — by Maya Dānava; kṛtam — made; durvibhāvyam — impossible to find; paraiḥ — by the enemy (the Yādavas); abhūt — it became.

 

TRANSLATION

 

At one moment the magic airship built by Maya Dānava appeared in many identical forms, and the next moment it was again only one. Sometimes it was visible, and sometimes not. Thus Śālva's opponents could never be sure where it was.

 

10.76.22

kvacid bhūmau kvacid vyomni

giri-mūrdhni jale kvacit

alāta-cakra-vad bhrāmyat

saubhaḿ tad duravasthitam

 

kvacit — at one moment; bhūmau — on the earth; kvacit — at one moment; vyomni — in the sky; giri — of a mountain; mūrdhni — on the top; jale — in the water; kvacit — at one moment; alāta-cakra — a whirling firebrand; vat — like; bhrāmyat — wandering; saubham — Saubha; tat — that; duravasthitam — never remaining in one place.

 

TRANSLATION

 

From one moment to the next the Saubha airship appeared on the earth, in the sky, on a mountain peak or in the water. Like a whirling, flaming baton, it never remained in any one place.

 

10.76.23

yatra yatropalakṣyeta

sa-saubhaḥ saha-sainikaḥ

śālvas tatas tato 'muñcañ

charān sātvata-yūthapāḥ

 

yatra yatra — wherever; upalakṣyeta — would appear; sa-saubhaḥ — with Saubha; saha-sainikaḥ — with his soldiers; śālvaḥ — Śālva; tataḥ tataḥ — in each of those locations; amuñcan — they released; śarān — their arrows; sātvata — of the Yadus; yūtha-pāḥ — the chiefs of the army.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Wherever Śālva would appear with his Saubha ship and his army, there the Yadu commanders would shoot their arrows.

 

10.76.24

śarair agny-arka-saḿsparśair

āśī-viṣa-durāsadaiḥ

pīḍyamāna-purānīkaḥ

śālvo 'muhyat pareritaiḥ

 

śaraiḥ — by the arrows; agni — like fire; arka — and like the sun; saḿsparśaiḥ — whose contact; āśī — of a snake; viṣa — like the poison; durāsadaiḥ — intolerable; pīḍyamāna — distressed; pura — whose aerial city; anīkaḥ — and whose army; śālvaḥ — Śālva; amuhyat — became bewildered; para — by the enemy; īritaiḥ — shot.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śālva became bewildered upon seeing his army and aerial city thus harassed by his enemy's arrows, which struck like fire and the sun and were as intolerable as snake venom.

 

10.76.25

śālvānīkapa-śastraughair

vṛṣṇi-vīrā bhṛśārditāḥ

na tatyajū raṇaḿ svaḿ svaḿ

loka-dvaya-jigīṣavaḥ

 

śālva — of Śālva; anīka-pa — of the leaders of the army; śastra — of weapons; oghaiḥ — by floods; vṛṣṇi-vīrāḥ — the heroes of the Vṛṣṇi clan; bhṛśa — extremely; arditāḥ — pained; na tatyajuḥ — they did not abandon; raṇam — the places on the battlefield; svam svam — each their own; loka — the worlds; dvaya — two; jigīṣavaḥ — wishing to conquer.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because the heroes of the Vṛṣṇi clan were eager for victory in this world and the next, they did not abandon their assigned posts on the battlefield, even though the downpour of weapons hurled by Śālva's commanders tormented them.

 

10.76.26

śālvāmātyo dyumān nāma

pradyumnaḿ prak prapīḍitaḥ

āsādya gadayā maurvyā

vyāhatya vyanadad balī

 

śālva-amātyaḥ — Śālva's minister; dyumān nāma — named Dyumān; pradyumnam — Pradyumna; prāk — previously; prapīḍitaḥ — hurt; āsādya — confronting; gadayā — with his club; maurvyā — made of carbonized iron; vyāhatya — striking; vyanadat — roared; balī — powerful.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śālva's minister Dyumān, previously wounded by Śrī Pradyumna, now ran up to Him and, roaring loudly, struck Him with his club of black steel.

 

10.76.27

pradyumnaḿ gadayā sīrṇa-

vakṣaḥ-sthalam ariḿ-damam

apovāha raṇāt sūto

dharma-vid dārukātmajaḥ

 

pradyumnam — Pradyumna; gadayā — by the club; śīrṇa — shattered; vakṣaḥ-sthalam — whose chest; arim — of enemies; damam — the subduer; apovāha — removed; raṇāt — from the battlefield; sūtaḥ — His chariot driver; dharma — of his religious duty; vit — the expert knower; dāruka-ātmajaḥ — the son of Dāruka (Lord Kṛṣṇa's driver).

 

TRANSLATION

 

Pradyumna's driver, the son of Dāruka, thought that his valiant master's chest had been shattered by the club. Knowing well his religious duty, he removed Pradyumna from the battlefield.

 

10.76.28

labdha-samjño muhūrtena

kārṣṇiḥ sārathim abravīt

aho asādhv idaḿ sūta

yad raṇān me 'pasarpaṇam

 

labdha — attaining; saḿjñaḥ — consciousness; muhūrtena — in a moment; kārṣṇiḥ — the son of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sārathim — to His chariot driver; abravīt — said; aho — ah; asādhu — improper; idam — this; sūta — O driver; yat — which; raṇāt — from the battlefield; me — My; apasarpaṇam — being taken away.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Quickly regaining consciousness, Lord Kṛṣṇa's son Pradyumna said to His charioteer, "O driver, this is abominable — for Me to have been removed from the battlefield!

 

10.76.29

na yadūnāḿ kule jātaḥ

śrūyate raṇa-vicyutaḥ

vinā mat klība-cittena

sūtena prāpta-kilbiṣāt

 

na — not; yadūnām — of the Yadus; kule — in the family; jātaḥ — one who was born; śrūyate — is heard of; raṇa — the battlefield; vicyutaḥ — who abandoned; vinā — except for; mat — Me; klība — like that of a eunuch; cittena — whose mentality; sūtena — because of the driver; prāpta — gotten; kilbiṣāt — stain.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"Except for Me, no one born in the Yadu dynasty has ever been known to abandon the battlefield. My reputation has now been stained by a driver who thinks like a eunuch.

 

10.76.30

kiḿ nu vakṣye 'bhisańgamya

pitarau rāma-keśavau

yuddhāt samyag apakrāntaḥ

pṛṣṭas tatrātmanaḥ kṣamam

 

kim — what; nu — then; vakṣye — will I say; abhisańgamya — meeting; pitarau — with My fathers; rāma-keśavau — Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa; yuddhāt — from the battle; samyak — altogether; apakrāntaḥ — fled; pṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; tatra — in that case; ātmanaḥ — for My self; kṣamam — fitting.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"What will I say to My fathers, Rāma and Keśava, when I return to Them after having simply fled the battle? What can I tell Them that will befit My honor?

 

10.76.31

vyaktaḿ me kathayiṣyanti

hasantyo bhrātṛ-jāmayaḥ

klaibyaḿ kathaḿ kathaḿ vīra

tavānyaiḥ kathyatāḿ mṛdhe

 

vyaktam — certainly; me — My; kathayiṣyanti — will speak of; hasantyaḥ — laughing; bhrātṛ-jāmayaḥ — My brothers' wives; klaibyam — unmanliness; katham — how; katham — how; vīra — O hero; tava — Your; anyaiḥ — by Your enemies; kathyatām — tell us; mṛdhe — in battle.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"Certainly My sisters-in-law will laugh at Me and say, 'O hero, tell us how in the world Your enemies turned You into such a coward in battle.' "

 

10.76.32

sārathir uvāca

dharmaḿ vijānatāyuṣman

kṛtam etan mayā vibho

sūtaḥ kṛcchra-gataḿ rakṣed

rathinaḿ sārathiḿ rathī

 

sārathiḥ uvāca — the driver said; dharmam — prescribed duty; vijānatā — by one who properly understood; āyuḥ-man — O long-lived one; kṛtam — done; etat — this; mayā — by me; vibho — O my Lord; sūtaḥ — a driver; kṛcchra — into difficulty; gatam — gone; rakṣet — should protect; rathinam — the master of the chariot; sārathim — his charioteer; rathī — the chariot owner.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The driver replied: O long-lived one, I have done this knowing full well my prescribed duty. O my Lord, the chariot driver must protect the master of the chariot when he is in danger, and the master must also protect his driver.

 

10.76.33

etad viditvā tu bhavān

mayāpovāhito raṇāt

upasṛṣṭaḥ pareṇeti

mūrcchito gadayā hataḥ

 

etat — this; viditvā — knowing; tu — indeed; bhavān — You; mayā — by me; apovāhitaḥ — removed; raṇāt — from the battlefield; upasṛṣṭaḥ — hurt; pareṇa — by the enemy; iti — thus thinking; mūrcchitaḥ — unconscious; gadayā — by his club; hataḥ — struck.

 

TRANSLATION

 

With this rule in mind, I removed You from the battlefield, since You had been struck unconscious by Your enemy's club and I thought You were seriously injured.