The defeat of Karna

Sanjaya said When that hair-stirring battle continued to be fought and when all the warriors were filled with anxiety and were greatly afflicted.

O foremost of the Bharatas, Radha's son advanced against Bhima for battle, like one infuriate elephant rushing against a compeer in the same state.

Dhritarashtra said How raged the battle, near Arjuna's chariot between those two mighty car-warriors, Bhima and Karna, both possessed of great strength?

Once before, Karna was vanquished by Bhima in battle, how could he then again assail Bhimasena?

How could Bhima proceed against Suta's son, that mighty car-warriors regarded as the foremost of all warriors on earth.

Having worsted Bhisma and Drona, the very virtuous king Yudhishthira entertained not so much apprehension from any body else as he did from Karna.

Thinking of the mighty car-warrior Karna, he passes many sleepless nights from fear. How then could Bhima proceed against that son of Suta?

O Sanjaya, how could indeed Bhima fight with Karna, that best of all warriors, that hero devoted to the Brahmana, endued with prowess and never flying away from fight.

How did those two mighty car-warriors Karna and Vrikodara fight with each other, in that combat that raged in the neighborhood of Partha's chariot?

Knowing his brotherhood towards the Pandavas and possessing a compassionate temperament and remembering the words of Kunti, how could the son of Şuta fight with Bhimasena?

How did Bhima, that hero, fight with Suta's Karna, keeping alive the memory of the wrongs inflicted on him by the latter in days gone by?

O Suta, my son Duryodhana fondly cherishes the hope that Karna will obtain victory in battle over the united Pandavas.

How did that one, on whom my wicked son's hope of victory rested, fight with Bhimasena of fierce deeds.

How did Bhima also fight with that son of Suta, O sire, relying on whom my sons provoked hostilities with many mighty carwarriors?

How did Bhima fight with that son of a charioteer, remembering the numerous wrongs inflicted on them to have their cause in him?

How did Bhima fight with that highly puissant son of Suta, who on a single car had vanquished the three worlds?

How did Bhima then fight with that son of Suta who was born with a pair of (natural) earrings and covered in a coat of mail.

As you are conversant with these topies, O Sanjaya, tell me truly in detail how the battle between these two heroes, was fought and who obtained victory.

Sanjaya said Abandoning then that foremost of carwarriors namely, the son of Radha, Bhimasena strove to reach the spot where the heroic Krishna and Dhananjaya were.

Then as he was proceeding, the son of Radha assailing him began to shower shafts furnished with wings of Kanka-feather on him, like clouds showering rain on the mountain.

Then the valorous son of Adhiratha, with his beautiful face like a blooming lotus lighted up with a smile, challenged Bhimasena as he

Karna said "O Bhima! your foes never thought of your fighting even in their dreams. Why do you show me your back from a desire for seeing Arjuna.

O delighter of the Panchalas! this conduct is not worthy of the son of Kunti. Confronting me do you cover me with a shower of arrows."

Sanjaya said Bhimasena then did not put up with that challenge of Karna tamely. But wheeling his car in a semicircle, be began to fight with the son of Suta.

In that combat when that one conversant with all weapons and clad in mail viz., Karna was proceeding against him, the illustrious Bhima pierced him with straight-flying arrows.

Desirous of reaching the end of all those hostilities, he began to rob Karna's strength, out of a desire for slaying him. Having slain many other Kauravas the mighty Bhima.

That vindictive son of Pandu, excited with wrath, that slayer of foes, O sire, began to discharge at Karna many showers of fearful arrows.

Then the highly puissant son of Suta, by means of the illusion of his weapon devoured up all those showers of arrows poured by that one of the gait of an infuriate elephant.

O mighty monarch, duly favoured by knowledge, then that fierce bowman Karna began to career on the field of battle like a teacher of the military science.

The wrathful son of Radha then seemed to insult with his smiles, Bhimasena who was fighting in great anger.

But the son of Kunti did not brook that derisive smile of Radha's, son in the midst of many other brave warriors, who were looking ai that fight between them.

Excited to the highest pitch of rage, the mighty Bhimasena, with several Vatsadantas, pierced Karna on the centre of his chest, like a guide goring a mighty elephant with the hook.

Once more with twenty one whetted shafts furnished with wings and duly discharged, Bhimasena pierced Suta's son of variegated armour.

Then the heroic Karna pierced each of the steeds of Bhima with five shafts, steeds that were decked with golden caparisons and endued with the fleetness of the wind.

O king, thereafter, a net-work-of arrows was woven, within the twinkling of an eye, around the car of Bhima by the mighty Karna.

O mighty monarch, the son of Pandu with his car, standard and charioteer, was covered all over with the arrows shot from Karna's bow.

Then with sixty-four arrows, Karna shattered the tough armour of Bhima to pieces; and waxing wroth he wounded Pritha's son with Narachas capable of penetrating through the very vitals.

Then the mighty-armed Vrikodara unmindful of all those shafts shot from Karna's bow, began to strike dauntlessly the son of Suta.

Bhima then with the body struck with the arrows discharged from Karna's bow, that resembled snakes of virulent poison did indeed feel no pain, O mighty monarch.

Then the highly puissant Bhimasena pierced Karna in that battle, with thirty-two Vallas of great sharpness and energy.

Then Karna, indifferently covered Bhima of mighty arms and desirous of the slaughter of the Sindhu king, with a tremendous shower of arrows.

In that battle the son of Radha fought mildly with Bhima, but Bhima fought with the former wrathfully remembering all their former hostilities.

Bhima excited with wrath, did not bear that insult; and that slayer of foes quickly sped a shower of shafts at Karna.

Those shafts then discharged by Bhimasena in that battle, fell upon the heroic Karna like so many humming birds.

Furnished with golden wings, keen points and discharged from the bow of Bhimasena, those arrows covered Radha's son like fights of insects covering a blazing fire.

Then that foremost of car-warriors viz., Karna covered on all sides with those arrows, Oking, O Bharata, shot numerous fierce arrows at Bhima.

Vrikodara then cut-off with many shafts all those arrows of Karna that ornaments of battle, arrows that resembled the bolt of heaven, before they could reach him.

But once more, O Bharata, that subduer of foes viz., Vikartana's son Karna, covered Bhimasena with a shower of arrows.

O Bharata, we then beheld Bhimasena thus pierced all over with arrows, resemble a porcupine with its quills erect.

Then that hero Vikodara held all those shafts, furnished with golden wings, whetted on stone and shot from the bow of Karna, like the sun holding his own myriad rays.

His body steeped in blood, Bhima then appeared beautiful like a Asoka tree in the spring covered all over with blossoms.

But the mighty armed Bhima with his eyes roiling in rage, did not for long, bear that conduct of Karna in battle patiently.

Thereafter he pierced Karna in battle with twenty five Narachas; pierced therewith Karna appeared beautiful like a white mountain with his sides covered over with snakes of virulent poison.

Then once more that one of prowess resembling that of the immortals, pierced that reckless son of a Suta in his vital limbs with two sets of arrows numbering six and eight respectively.

Again the valiant Bhimasena with another arrow smilingly cut-off the bow of Karna with great quickness.

Quickly did he then slay with his arrows Karna's four steeds and charioteer. He then pierced Karna on the breast with Narachas of the effulgence of solar rays.

Those winged shafts piercing Karna through, fell down on the earth like the rays of the sun penetrating through masses of rain clouds.

Wounded with those arrows and with his bow cut open, Karna was afflicted with great pain; although proud of his manliness, he then proceeded to another part of the field.