Karna Parva — The parley between Karna and Duryodhana

Dhritarashtra said It is told that Arjuna slaughtered all belonging to your side, according as he wished. Really even if the very Destroyer himself had come to battle, the could not escape Arjuna, when he took up arms against him.

Thereupon the son of Pritha, unassisted by anybody, ravished Vadra. And again, he, being solitary, gratified Agni. Then he, having subjugated this entire earth, compelled all the monarchs to pay him tribute.

Moreover he, being unassisted, slaughtered the whole force of the Nivatakavachas. And also having taken up his celestial bow and without any help from other hands, he (Arjuna) battled against the God, Mahadeva, who stayed before him in the guise of a hunter.

Again, single-handed, he protected the entire race of the Bharatas; and similarly single-handed he gratified Vava. Also all the monarchs of the earth were defeated by him alone, who was possessed of fierce strength.

They, that is the Kuru warriors, are not to be blamed; rather they should be praised for the reason of their having fought with such a great warrior. Then, O Suta, what did Duryodhana do afterwards? O Sanjaya, do you relate to me all these in detail.

Sanjaya said The Kaurava warriors, who now resembled the serpents deprived of their fangs and poison and trodden over by the feet and some of whom were struck and wounded and some, again, were deprived of their armours, weapons and proper conveyances and some of whom were thrown down and who all, again, uttered very plaintive voices and who were scorched by the fire of grief and who merely made a parade of their knowledge in arms and who were all defeated by the antagonists and who now repaired to their encampment, had been counselling with one another.

Thereupon Karna, who was filled with wrath and who sighed heavily like a serpent and who squeezed his hands and who looked at

'The thing is that Arjuna is always very persevering, skillful and intelligent and again, when the first time (for any thing to be done) comes, the Eternal One (Vasudeva) awakes him to his duties.

Today we were all deceived by him (Arjuna) by the shower of weapons poured forth all on a sudden. But tomorrow, O ruler of earth, I will baffle all his attempts.'

Having been thus addressed (by Karna) and saying-so be it, he (Duryodhana) commanded all the best of monarchs to dissolve. All these kings, being thus ordered, repaired to their respective abodes.

Having passed that night most happily, the (those monarchs), with ample gratification, proceeded out for battle (the following morning). They then saw a very invincible array of army, that was constituted by the King of Justice (Yudhishthira), who was the greatest of the whole Kuru race, with the greatest care and quite in accordance with the advices of both Brihaspati and Ushanas.

Thereupon Duryodhana, that smiter of enemies, called to his memory, Karna, who baffled the attempts of the his antagonists and who was the foremost of all heroic warriors and who was the slayer of his foes and who had the neck like that of a bull.

The king's (Duryodhana's) mind was now constantly directed towards Karna, who resembled Purandara in battle and who was like the Marutas in prowess and who also was equal to Kartavirya in prowess.

As also the hearts of all the troops turned towards Karna, who was the son of the charioteer and who, again was a great bowman, even as the heart of a person always turns towards his friends, whilst he falls in some great danger.

Dhritarashtra said Thus when the minds of all you were turned towards Karna the son of Vikartana, did the warriors on my side look at the son of Radha, even as persons, oppressed with cold, look at the sun?

O Sanjaya, how did Karna, the son of Vikartana, fight there (in the field of battle), when my troops had first re-retreated and again engaged themselves in the battle. And how also did the sons of Pandu fight in the field with the son of Suta?

Indeed, Karna that mighty-armed warrior, would have slaughtered all the sons of Pritha along with the whole lot of the Srinjayas, although he was alone. In the field of battle, the strength of the arms of Karna was similar to the prowess of both Shakra and Vishnu; and the weapons, as well as the prowess of that loftyminded warrior were very fierce. Hoping to be under the protection of Karna, Karna, king Duryodhana was most eager for the battle.

Then what did that very powerful carwarrior do after seeing Duryodhana very highly oppressed by the son of Pandu and also after witnessing all the sons of Pandu to display their prowess in arms?

Relying upon Karna, the foolish prince Duryodhana, again, aspired to defeat the sons, of Pritha along with their sons, as well as Keshava in the field of battle.

Alas! this is a matter of great grief that in the field of battle Karna, possessed of immense strength, could not defeat the sons of Pandu! It is certain that Destiny holds the foremost position in all affairs.

Alas! the most dreadful result of gaming at dice has now been visible. O Sanjaya, I now hear of the greatest sorrows, that had been brought about by foolish, Duryodhana and also that resemble a large number of deadly arrows!

O Sire, the son of Subala was considered to be possessed of great policy; as also Karna was always extremely attached to the prince (Duryodhana).

O Sanjaya, when such is the matter with the battle which is most dreadful I have often heard that my sons were being constantly defeated and slaughtered. There exists no one who can restrain the Pandavas in the battle; and they enter into my whole force, even as one penetrates into the midst of a throng of women. I is sure that Destiny is the must supreme.

Sanjaya said O monarch, do you now reflect upon your past actions, that were most righteous (the game at dice and others of the kind). Man afterwards reflects upon all actions that had past away. But that however, one should not do. For, one is destroyed by that sort of reflection.

That act of yours has been far from bringing out the desired end. Although you are possessed of knowledge, yet you did not consider before hand the propreity and impropriety of you actions.

O monarch, it was several times told to you, that you should not fight with the, Pandavas. But, O ruler of earth, that advice you did not accept out of foolishness.

The most horrible deeds of sin had been perpetrated by you in respect to the Pandavas. And only for those acts of yours that this terrible destruction of kings takes place now.

O foremost of the Bharata race all has now passed away, do not grieve for them. O you of evenlasting fame, do you now hear of all that had taken place, namely the details of that awful slaughter.

Thus when the night dawned, Karna went of the king. And having approached him that hero of very powerful arms then addressed Duryodhana.

Karna said Today, O monarch, I will go forth for battle with the famous son of Pandu. Either I shall slay that hero or he will slay me.

O descendant of the Bharata race, O monarch, on account of the innumerable acts of both myself as well as of the son, O Pritha, that this encounter between me and Arjuna had taken place; else this would not have occurred.

O ruler of earth, do you listen to my speech, uttered in accordance with my wisdom. O descendant of the Bharata race, if I cannot slay the son of Pritha in battle, I will not return from the field.

For the reason of this army on over said having had the best of its warriors all slaughtered, that I will myself stand in the field-the son of Pritha will proceed against me, who am deprived of the Sakti-arrow given to me by Shakra (Indra).

O lord of men, then be you conscious of what proves beneficial to you. The strength of my celestial weapons is similar to the strength of Arjuna's weapons.

As regards the baffling of attempts of the most powerful antagonists and as to the highness of arms and the range of arrows shot and in respect to skillfulness, as also in the management of weapons, Suvyasachin is never my peer.

Again, O descendant of the Bharata race, either in physical strength, or in heroism, or knowledge (in the management or arms), or in prowess or in hitting the mark Savyasachin is never my peer.

My bow, that was known by the name of Vijaya, was the most supreme of all weapons. It was made by Vishvakarman with the object of performing what was agreeable to Indra.

O monarch, Shatakratu (Indra), indeed, subdued all the Daityas by means of that bow and again, at the twang of that bow, the whole body of the Dailyas supposed the ten points of the compass to be empty.

And formerly Shakra (Indra) gave away to the son of Bhrigu that excellently equipt and best of the celestial bows, which was highly respected by all; and afterwards the son of Bhrigu gave it to me.

I will battle with that foremost one amongst the victorious warriors, the mighty-armed Arjuna, in the field; even as Indra fought with all the Daityas, who had assembled against him.

That fierce bow, given away by Rama, is in every way superior to the Gandiva bow; with that bow the entire earth was conquered twenty-one times (by Bhargava).

The son of Bhrigu speaks of the celestial deeds of that formidable bow. As Rama has given it to me I will surely fight with the son of Pandu with that bow.

Today, O Duryodhana, I will gratify your heart, along with that of your friends by slaughter in the field of battle the heroic Arjuna that foremost one amongst the victorious warriors.

O lord of earth, the whole kingdom of earth, along with the oceans, the mountains, the forests and the islands, with all her heroes slaughtered, will be your own; and over which you will be established with your sons and grandsons.

There exists nothing that I cannot perform today, especially for gratifying you; even as success (ascetic) does surely exist in respect to a person, who is passionately attached to virtue and who also has controlled his soul.

There is no one, who, coming in contact with me, is able to bear me in the battle; even as the tree, coming in contact with the fire, is able to bear it. Indeed this must be told by me that is what respect with the fire, is able to bear it. Indeed this must be told by me that in what respect I am inferior to Phalguna (Arjuna).

The string of his bow is celestial as also he (Arjuna) has got two inexhaustible quivers. His charioteer is Govinda. But I have got nothing like all these.

His Gandiva bow is celestial and one of the best; as also it is indestructible in battle, whereas my bow, called Vijaya, is also divine and formidable, as it is also the foremost of its kind.

Thus, O monarch, as regards the bow I am superior to the son of Pritha. But in what respect the son of Pandu (Arjuna), that heroic one, is superior to me, do you now listen to.

That one, born in the Dasharha race, is the holder of the reins (of his horses), who is revered by all people; as also his car, that is ornamented with gold, is celestial and the gift of Agni (the god of fire).

That hero is impenetrable in all his parts. His horses are possessed of the speed of the mind. His standard is also celestial, the most resplendent, bearing an Ape exciting the greatest wonder.

Moreover Krishna, who is the creator of the universe, most carefully guards that car. I am destitute of all these equipments, yet I wish to fight with the son of Pandu.

Indeed, this Shalya, who is the creator of the assemblies, resembles Shauri. Should be perform the duties of my charioteer, the victory will surely by yours.

Let Shalya, therefore, who is irresistible by the antagonists, act as my charioteer. And let the carts also convey my long shafts, as well as the arrows furnished with the feathers of vultures.

Let, O lord of kings, the best of horses by yoked to my excellent cars; and let them, O foremost of the Bharata race, follow me without exhaustion.

Thus I will be superior to the son of Pritha in respect to these (the above mentioned) qualities. And thus, again, A Shalya is superior to Krishna; and I am superior to Arjuna.

Even as that one, of the Dasharha race, who is the slayer of the hostile neroes, is thoroughly versed in knowledge about horses, so Shalya, that most powerful car-warriors, is also acquainted with the science of horses.

In respect of the strength of arms there exist none who is equal to the prince of Madras.

Even as there exists not a single bowman, who is peer in respect to the management of arms, so there is no one, who resembles Shalya as to the knowledge of horses.

Thus my car, which is attended with all these surroundings, will indeed, be superior to that of the son of Pritha. Even the very celestials, accompanied by Vasava, will not be capable of proceeding against it (my car).

Thus having performed all these, when I take my stand upon the car, I should surely be superior to Arjuna in respect of these (the above mentioned) qualities, and also I should, O foremost of the Kuru race, subdue Phalguna.

O mighty, O searcher of enemies, I desire that all this should be done by you. Also this my desire should be fulfilled by you; and the time in doing it should not pass away for nothing.

Having performed all this, there will be enough help to me on all desirable points. Thereupon, O descendant of the Bharata race, you will witness whatever I will achieve in the field of battle. By all means I will subdue all the assembled Pandavas in the field of battle.

Even the very celestials and the Asuras will not be able to proceed against me in the field. O monarch, what should I say of the sons of Pandu, who are of human origin and who will not be capable of withstanding me in the battle.

Sanjaya said Thereupon your son, having been thus addressed by Karna, who was the ornament of battle and also having adore the son of Radha, told him these words with a highly gratified heart.

Duryodhana said I will perform all this, that you, O Karna, desire. Numerous cars, furnished with the excellent quivers and yoked to the foremost of horses, will follow you in the field of battle.

And let the long shafts and the arrows furnished with the wings of vultures, be conveyed to you in innumerable carts; and O Karna, all of us, namely the princes, wi follow you into the field.

Sanjaya said O mighty monarch, your son, who is possessed of immense prowess, after having thus addressed and also having advanced before the prince of Madras, spoke these words to that chief, O monarch.