Chapter 21

“Vasudeva said, ‘O thou tiger among men, my great enemy king Salwa, thusencountered by me in battle, again ascended the sky. And O mightymonarch, inspired with the desire of victory, that wicked one hurled atme Sataghnis, and mighty maces, and flaming lances, and stout clubs, andas the weapons came along the sky, I speedily resisted them with my swiftarrows, and cut them in two or three pieces before they came at me. Andthere was a great noise in the welkins. And Salwa covered Daruka, and mysteeds, and my car also with hundreds of straight shafts. Then, O hero,Daruka, evidently about to faint, said unto me, ‘Afflicted with theshafts of Salwa I stay in the field, because it is my duty to do so. ButI am incapable of doing so (any longer). My body hath become weak!’Hearing these piteous words of my charioteer, I looked at him, and foundthe driver wounded with arrows. Nor was there a spot on his breasts orthe crown of his head, or body or his arms which was not, O thou foremostof sons of Pandu, covered with shafts! And blood flowed profusely fromhis wounds inflicted by arrows, and he looked like unto a mountain of redchalk after a heavy shower. And, O thou of mighty arms, seeing thecharioteer with the reins in his hands thus pierced and enfeebled by theshafts of Salwa in the field of battle, I cheered him up!

“‘And, O Bharata, about this time, a certain person, having his home inDwaraka quickly coming to my car, addressed me like a friend, deliveringto me, O hero, a message from Ahuka! He seemed to be one of Ahuka’sfollowers. And sadly and in a voice choked in sorrow, know, OYudhishthira, he said words’–O warrior, Ahuka, the lord of Dwaraka, hathsaid these words unto thee! O Kesava, hear what thy father’s friendsayeth: O son of the Vrishni race, O thou irrepressible one, in thyabsence today Salwa, coming to Dwaraka, hath by main force killedVasudeva! Therefore, no need of battle any more. Cease, O Janardana! Dothou defend Dwaraka! This is thy principal duty!–Hearing these words ofhis, my heart became heavy, and I could not ascertain what I should doand what I should not. And, O hero, hearing of that great misfortune, Imentally censured Satyaki, and Baladeva, and also that mighty pradyumna.Having reposed on them the duty of protecting Dwaraka and Vasudeva, I hadgone, O son of the Kuru race, to effect the destruction of Salwa’s city.And in a sorrowful heart, I asked myself,–Doth that destroyer of foes,the mighty-armed Baladeva, live, and Satyaki, and the son of Rukmini andCharudeshna possessed of prowess, and Shamva and others? For, O thoutiger among men, these living, even the bearer himself of the thunderboltcould by no means destroy Suta’s son (Vasudeva)! And thought, I, It isplain that Vasudeva is dead and equally plain that the others withBaladeva at their head have been deprived of life–This was my certainconclusion. And, O mighty king, thinking of the destruction of those all,I was overwhelmed with grief! And it was in this state of mind that Iencountered Salwa afresh. And now I saw, O great monarch, Vasudevahimself falling from the car of precious metals! And, O warrior I swoonedaway, and, O king of men, my sire seemed like unto Yayati after the lossof his merit, falling towards the earth from heaven! And like unto aluminary whose merit hath been lost saw my father falling, his head-gearfoul and flowing loosely, and his hair and dress disordered. And then thebow Sharanga dropped from my hand, and, O son of Kunti I swooned away! Isat down on the side of the car. And, O thou descendant of the Bharatarace, seeing me deprived of consciousness on the car, and as if dead, myentire host exclaimed Oh! and Alas! And my prone father without-stretched arms and lower limbs, appeared like a dropping bird. Andhim thus falling, O thou of mighty arms, O hero, the hostile warriorsbearing in their hands lances and axes struck grievously! And (beholdingthis) my heart trembled! and soon regaining my consciousness, O warrior,I could not see in that mighty contest either the car of costly metals,or the enemy Salwa, or my old father! Then I concluded in my mind that itwas certainly illusion. And recovering my senses, I again began todischarge arrows by hundreds.”