17. WAR BETWEEN PRADYUMNA AND SHAALWA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AARANYA PARVA > ARJUNAABHIGAMANA PARVA > CHAPTER 17 - WAR BETWEEN PRADYUMNA AND SHAALWA

“Vaasudeva continued, ‘O bull of the Bharata race (Yudhishthira), having spoken thus to the Yaadavaas, the son of Rukmini (Pradyumna) ascended his golden chariot. The chariot he rode was drawn by excellent horses in armour. Over it stood a flag bearing the figure of a Makara with wide open mouth and fierce as Yama. With his horses, more flying than running on the ground, he rushed against the enemy. The hero equipped with arrowbasket and sword, with fingers cased in leather, twanged his bow possessed of the splendour of the lightning, with great strength, transferring it from hand to hand, as if in contempt of the enemy, spread confusion among the Daityaas and other warriors of the city of Saubha. As hot in contempt of the enemy, and continuously slew the Daanavaas in battle, no one could mark the slightest gap between his successive arrows. The colour of his face did not change and his bodyparts did not tremble. People only heard his loud lion-like roars indicative of wonderful valour.

“The aquatic monster (Makara) with mouth wide open, that devourer of all fishes, placed on golden flag-staff of that best of chariots, struck terror into the hearts of Shaalwa’s warriors. O king (Yudhishthira), Pradyumna, the cutter of enemies, rushed with speed against Shaalwa, who himself so desirous of an encounter! O preserver of the Kuru race (Yudhishthira), braved by the heroic Pradyumna in that mighty battle, the angry Shaalwa could not bear the challenge! That conqueror of hostile cities, Shaalwa, maddened by anger, descended from his beautiful chariot of unchecked speed, resolved to encounter Pradyumna. The people saw the fight between Shaalwa and the foremost of Vrishni heroes (Pradyumna), which was like to the encounter between Vaasava (Lord Indra) with Bali.

“O hero (Yudhishthira), mounting on his beautiful chariot decked with gold, furnished with flags, flag-staffs and arrow baskets, the illustrious and mighty Shaalwa began to discharge his arrows at Pradyumna! Pradyumna also by the energy of his arms, overwhelmed Shaalwa in the combat by a thick shower of arrows. The king of Saubha (Shaalwa), however, thus attacked in battle by Pradyumna, did not tolerate him, but discharged at my son (Pradyumna) arrows that were like blazing fire. But the mighty Pradyumna avoided off that arrowy shower. Seeing this, Shaalwa rained on my son other weapons of blazing splendour. Then, O foremost of monarchs (Yudhishthira), pierced by the arrows of Salwa, the son of Rukmini (Pradyumna) discharged without loss of time an arrow that was capable of entering the vital organs of an enemy in fight.

“That winged arrow shot by my son, piercing Shaalwa’s armour, entered his heart, immediately he fell down, in a swoon. Seeing the heroic king Shaalwa fallen down deprived of sense, the foremost of the Daanavas fled away tearing the ground under their feet. O lord of the earth (Yudhishthira), the army of Shaalwa sent up exclamations of ‘Oh!’ and ‘Alas!’ seeing their king, the lord of Saubha, drop down deprieved of sense! O son of the Kuru race (Yudhishthira), regaining his senses, the mighty Shaalwa 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 weakened on his chariot. O mighty king (Yudhishthira), wounding the son of Rukmini (Pradyumna), Shaalwa sent up a shout like to the roar of a lion, and filling the entire earth with it! O Bharata (Yudhishthira), when my son became senseless, Shaalwa, without losing a moment, again discharged at him other arrows difficult to bear. Pierced with numberless arrows and deprived of his senses, Pradyumna, O chief of the Kuru race (Yudhishthira), became motionless on the battlefield!’”