"Vasudeva continued, 'O bull of the Bharata race, having spoken thus
unto the Yadavas, the son of Rukmini (Pradyumna) ascended his golden
car. And the car he rode was drawn by excellent steeds in mail. And over
it stood a standard bearing the figure of a _Makara_ with gaping mouth
and fierce as Yama. And with his steeds, more flying than running on the
ground, he rushed against the foe. And 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. And as hot
in contempt of the foe, and continuously slew the Danavas in battle, no
one could mark the slightest interval between his successive shafts. And
the colour of his face changed not, and his limbs trembled not. And
people only heard his loud leonine roars indicative of wonderful valour.
And 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 Salwa's warriors. And, O king, Pradyumna, the mower
of foes rushed with speed against Salwa himself so desirous of an
encounter! And, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, braved by the heroic
Pradyumna in that mighty battle, the angry Salwa could ill bear the
challenge! And that conqueror of hostile cities, Salwa, maddened by
anger, descended from his beautiful car of unchecked speed, resolved to
encounter Pradyumna. And the people beheld the fight between Salwa and
the foremost of Vrishni heroes, which was even like unto the encounter
between Vasava with Vali. And, O hero, mounting on his beautiful car
decked with gold and furnished with flags and flag-staffs and quivers,
the illustrious and mighty Salwa began to discharge his arrows at
Pradyumna! Pradyumna also by the energy of his arms, overwhelmed Salwa
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
my son arrows that were like blazing fire. But the mighty Pradyumna
parried off that arrowy shower. Beholding this, Salwa rained on my son
other weapons of blazing splendour. Then, O foremost of monarchs,
pierced by the shafts of Salwa, the son of Rukmini discharged without
loss of time an arrow that was capable of entering the vitals of a foe
in fight. And that winged shaft shot by my son, piercing Salwa's mail,
entered his heart--whereupon he fell down, in a swoon. And beholding the
heroic king Salwa fallen down deprived of sense, the foremost of the
Danavas fled away rending the ground beneath their feet. And, O lord of
the earth, the army of Salwa sent up exclamations of _Oh!_ and _Alas!_
seeing their king, the lord of Saubha, drop down bereft of sense! And O
son of the Kuru race, regaining his senses, the mighty Salwa 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. And, O mighty king, wounding the son
of Rukmini, Salwa sent up a shout like unto the roar of a lion, and
filling the entire earth with it! And, O Bharata, when my son became
senseless, Salwa, without losing a moment, again discharged at him other
shafts difficult to bear. And pierced with numberless arrows and
deprived of his senses, Pradyumna, O chief of the Kuru race, became
motionless on the field of battle!'"