Krishna said: O son of Kunti, having been thus addressed, the son of Suta (the charioteer) then replied to Pradyumna, that foremost of heroes, in these sweet words.

The Charioteer said: O son of Rukmani, I am not afraid to guide horses in battle. I am acquainted with the usage of the Vrishnis in war. It is in no way otherwise.

O hero of long life, those that are placed as charioteers (on the cars) are taught to protect the warriors on their chariots. You were greatly afflicted.

O hero, you were very much wounded by the arrows shot by Shalva, you were also deprived of your senses. Therefore I retired (with you) from the field of battle.

O foremost of the Satyatas, O son of Keshava, now that you have regained your senses, without further trouble you will now see my skill in guiding the horses.

I am born of Daruka and I have been duly trained (in my art); I shall now enter into the well-arranged army of Shalva without the least fear.

Krishna said: O hero, having said this, the charioteer pulled the reins and led the horses with great speed to the field of battle.

O king, struck with the whip and pulled by the reins, those excellent horses, appeared as if they were flying in the air by performing various beautiful motions, now circular, now similar, now dissimilar, now going to the right and now going to the left.

O king, those horses, understanding as it were the desire of the son of Daruka, became as if burned with energy and seemed to fly without touching the ground with their feet.

O foremost of men, he wheeled round Shalva's army so easily that they who witnessed it became very much surprised.

Being unable to bear that manouvere of Pradyumna, the king of Saubha, instantly discharged three arrows at the charioteer (of his adversary).

O mighty-armed hero, without taking any notice of the force of those arrows the son of Daruka, continued to lead the chariot round the (Shalva's) army as he was doing (from the start). O hero, thereupon the king Shalva, again discharged at my son, the son born of Rukmani, a shower of various kinds of weapons. But that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Rukmani, smilingly showed the lightness of his hand and cut off all those weapons before they reached him. Secing all his weapons cut down, the Saubha king, taking recourse of the terrible illusion, natural to the Asuras, poured a shower of weapons.

Cutting off those greatly powerful weapon of the Daitya in the mid-air by means of the Brahma weapon, he (Pradyumna) discharged winged weapons of other kinds.

These (weapons), which ever delight (in tasting) blood, warded off the arrows of the Daitya and pierced his head, bosom and face. Thereupon he (Shalva) fell down senseless.

When wounded by arrows, the meanminded Shalva fell down, the son of Rukmani discharged at him another arrows capable destroying every enemy.

When that arrow, which was worshipped by all the Dashaharas, which was flaming like the fire and which was as fatal as a venomous snake, was fixed on the bowstring, that sight filled the air with cries of "Oh" and "Alas."

Thereupon all the celestials with Indra and the lord of wealth (Kubera) at their head sent (to Pradyumna) Narada and the god of wind (Vayu) with the speed of mind.

These two (celestials), coming to the son of Rukmani, thus told him the message (sent) by the celestials. They said "O hero, the king Shalva is never to be killed by you.

There is none who cannot be killed by that arrow. He is however unslayable by you in battle, therefore draw back the arrow.

"O mighty-armed hero, the creator has ordained that he will be killed by Krishna, the son of Devaki. Let it not be falsified."

Thereupon that excellent hero, Pradyumna, withdrew that foremost of arrows from his excellent bow and kept it back into his quiver.

O king of kings, then the mighty Shalva, pierced with the arrows of Pradyumna, rose up disheartened; and he then speedily fled away.

O king of kings, the wicked-minded (Shalva), thus defeated by the Vrishni, ascended (his car) Saubha made of precious metals; and leaving Dvarka he disappeared through the skies.