03.017
Pancharatra: Krishna’s various son’s fight Shalva’s army.
Vāsudeva said.
But having approached her, O king, Śālva, the lord of Saubha, then encamped there with a great army of men and elephants. (3-17-1)
That army, established on level ground in the area full of water, equipped with the fourfold forces, was guarded by King Śālva. (3-17-2)
Having excluded cremation grounds, abodes of deities, anthills, and sanctuaries, the army settled in the remaining area. (3-17-3)
O king, by the division of the troops, the paths became sixfold. There were indeed nine slopes in the camp of Śālva. (3-17-4)
Endowed with all kinds of weapons and skilled in all missiles, it was crowded with chariots, elephants, and horses, and filled with foot-soldiers and banners. (3-17-5)
It was accompanied by satisfied and strong people, distinguished by heroic marks, adorned with wonderful banners and armor, and equipped with splendid chariots and bows. (3-17-6)
Having assembled everything in Dvārakā, O descendant of Kuru, the bull among men then set out swiftly, like the king of birds. (3-17-7)
Then, seeing the army of the lord of Śālva advancing, the princes, descendants of Vṛṣṇi, went out and fought. (3-17-8)
O Kaurava, Cārudeṣṇa, Sāmba, and Pradyumna, the great chariot-warrior, could not endure the attack of that king of Śālva. (3-17-9)
All of them, adorned with chariots, various ornaments, and banners, were joined with the king of Śālva, accompanied by many heroic warriors. (3-17-10)
But Sāmba, having taken up his bow, joyfully fought in battle with Kṣemavṛddhi, the commander of Śālva's army. (3-17-11)
O best of the Bharatas, the great son of Jāmbavatī released a shower of arrows, just as the thousand-eyed (Indra) releases rain. (3-17-12)
O great king, Kṣemavṛddhi, the commander of the army, endured that tumultuous shower of arrows, remaining unmoving like the Himalaya. (3-17-13)
Then, O king, for Sāmba, there was also certainly an increase of prosperity. He released a very great net of arrows created by illusion. (3-17-14)
Then, having torn the net made of illusion by illusion itself, Samba showered his (the enemy's) chariot with a thousand arrows. (3-17-15)
Then Kṣemavṛddhi, the commander of the army, having been pierced by Sāmba and afflicted by Sāmba's arrow, departed quickly on swift horses. (3-17-16)
When the cruel army-chief of Śālva was routed, then Vegavān, the powerful Daiteya by name, rushed at my son. (3-17-17)
But Sāmba, the foremost of the Vṛṣṇi clan, O king, having approached, stood firm and restrained the speed of the swift one, O heroic king. (3-17-18)
He, O son of Kunti, Sāmba, the hero of true valor, having whirled his swift mace with speed, hurled it with force. (3-17-19)
O king, struck by her, the swift one fell to the ground, like a tree with decayed roots shattered by the wind. (3-17-20)
When the hero, the great asura with the raised mace, had fallen there, my son entered the great army and fought. (3-17-21)
O great king, a demon named Vivindhya, a great chariot-warrior and wielder of a mighty bow, well-known, was joined by Cārudeṣṇa. (3-17-22)
Then, O king, a very tumultuous battle took place between Cārudeṣṇa and Vivindhya, just as it had once occurred between Vṛtra and Indra. (3-17-23)
O great king, both of them, greatly enraged, struck each other with arrows, roaring like two lions of immense strength. (3-17-24)
Then the son of Rukmiṇī, having consecrated an arrow as brilliant as fire and the sun with a great missile mantra, fixed the enemy-destroying shaft to his bow. (3-17-25)
He, having summoned Vivindhya in anger, the great chariot-warrior hurled (a weapon); my son, O king, lifeless, then fell. (3-17-26)
Seeing Vivindhya slain and his army thrown into confusion, Śālva once again approached in his flying city Saubha. (3-17-27)
Then, O mighty-armed one, all the inhabitants of Dvaraka and their army became agitated when they saw Shalva, who had descended to earth from his Saubha vehicle. (3-17-28)
Then, O son of Kunti, after going out and arranging that army of the Anartas, Pradyumna spoke these words, O great king. (3-17-29)
Let all of you stand, let all see me in battle, as I prevent Saubha and its king by force in the war. (3-17-30)
Today, I will destroy the Yādavas with missiles released from my bow, just as the lord of Saubha's magical army used serpents. (3-17-31)
Be reassured; do not be afraid. Today the king of Saubha is perishing. Attacked by me, the wicked-souled one along with Saubha will be destroyed. (3-17-32)
O son of Pāṇḍu, as Pradyumna, delighted, was speaking thus, that army, having been arrayed, O hero, fought as it pleased. (3-17-33)
