Karna Parva — Shalya's accepting the charioteer ship of Karna

Duryodhana said Thus that illustrious god, Brahman, that Grandsire of all the words, acted as the charioteer on that occasion; while Rudra acted as the car-warrior.

That hero, who is superior to the warrior on the car, should be made to act as the charioteer. You do, therefore, hold the reins of the horses in the field of battle, O foremost of persons.

Even as, on that occasion, the Grandsire was elected by all the celestials with great care, so you, who are superior to Karna, are selected with great care by us.

As he (Grandsire), O great monarch, was chosen as one superior to the lord (Shankara) by all the celestials, even so do you immediately restrain the horses of Rudra.

Shalya said O best of persons, this celestial and most extraordinary history regarding those two foremost of immortals, narrated several times, was heard by me also. O descendant of the Bharata race, I have also heard how the great Grandsire acted as the charioteer of Bhava and how the Asuras were all slaughtered with a single arrow.

All this, namely how the Grandsire, that illustrious one, acted as the charioteer on that occasion, had fully been known to Krishna beforehand.

Again, Krishna knows very well in all their details what had already taken place and what will take place hereafter. O descendant of the Bharata race, knowing the import of all this, Krishna took up the charioteership of the son of Pritha, even as the Self-create One took up the charioteer-ship of Rudra.

If it be possible that the son of charioteer (Karna) should ever slay the son of Kunti, beholding the son of Pritha slaughtered, Keshava himself will surely engage in battle. And that holder of the conch, the discus and the mace will destroy your whole race.

There exists no king in our whole army, who will be able to stand in the front of that high-souled descendant of Vrishni's race, when he will be filled with wrath.

Sanjaya said Your son, who was a chastiser of enemies and who was endued with mighty arms and who also had a very cheerful heart, now replied to the king of the Madra, who was speaking in such a tone.

In the field of battle, O mighty-armed warrior, you do not under-mine the value of Karna, the son of Vikartana, who is most supreme of all that are versed in the management of arms and who, again, has crossed the great ocean of all Shastras.

Hearing the most tremendous and very high twang of his bow-string and the sound of his palms, even the troops of the Pandavas run away in different directions.

O mighty-armed heroes, you have witnessed it with your own Ghatotkacha, who dreamed innumerable dreams, was slain by (Karna) in that night with several other illusions before him. eyes and

Having been encompassed with very great terrors during all these days, Vibhatsu could never stay in the ranks facing against him (Karna).

Then, O monarch, the very powerful Bhimasena, who was hemmed in on all sides by the horns of the bow (belonging to Karna), was addressed in these terms namely fool and Glutton.

So also, O sire, the two war-like sons of Madri, having been first vanquished by him in that dreadful battle, were not slain by him in the field having some motive in view.

By him (Karna) also that most heroic warrior of the Vrishni race, that chief of the Satvata clan, Satyaki, who was a mighty warrior, was vanquished in the battle; as also he was deprived of his car.

And several other heroes, namely all the Srinjayas, who headed by Dhrishtadyumna, often and often vanquished in the field by him, who felt the greatest ease in the battle.

How will it be possible then that the Pandavas will defeat that great car-warrior in the field of battle, who, when enraged, can slaughter even Purandara, that wielder of the thunderbolt, in battle.

were Were O heroic warrior, you are well-versed in diverse kinds of weapons and you have crossed over the ocean of all branches of knowledge. And there exists none else in this world, who is equal to you in the strength of arms.

O monarch, you are made up of shafts; and you are invincible in respect to your antagonists in prowess. O slayer of enemies, you are, therefore, called Shalya (shaft).

All the warriors of the Satvata race are not able to stand, encountering the strength of your arms. O monarch, is the highly powerful Krishna superior to you in the strength of your arms?

Even as, indeed, the whole force (belonging to the Pandavas) is supported by Krishna upon the fall of Phalguna, so should this vast army (of the Kurus) be supported by you upon the death of Karna.

O sire, for what reason should Vasudeva restrain your forces in the field of battle; and for what reason also you will not slaughter the hostile ariny.

Now, O sire, for your sake I wish to go in the way in this field of battle, that had already been trodden by my heroic brothers (slain), as well as by all the rulers of the earth.

Shalya said O son of Gandhari, O bestower of honors, when you describe me in the presence of your troops to be superior to the son of Devaki I am highly satisfied with you.

O hero, even as you desire, so now I accept the charioteership of that highly illustrious son of Radha, while he will engage in fight with that foremost of the sons of Pandu.

But war-like one, I must have a condition in respect to the son of Vikartana, namely that I may be allowed to utter any words, I like, in his presence.

Sanjaya said Then, O monarch, O sire, your son, attended by Karna, addressed the king of the Madras, in the presence of all the Kshatriyas, saying-So be it.

Having been thus assured by Shalya's accepting the office of charioteership (of Karna), Duryodhana, being highly gratified, embraced Karna.

Moreover your son, being greatly praised (by the bands around him), addressed Karna, saying-do you slaughter all the sons of Pritha in the field of battle, even as Mahendra (Indra) slaughtered all the Danavas in the battle-field.

When the drivership of his horses was accepted by Shalya, Karna became highly once gratified and more addressed Duryodhana, saying-

Indeed, this king of the Madras does not say this in a cheerful spirit. Therefore, O monarch, do you request him once more (for the charioteership) in sweeter words.

Thereupon king Duryodhana, who was very learned and versed in all objects and who also was possessed of great strength, once more addressed that ruler of earth. Shalya, the chief of the Madras, in a voice as deep as the rumbling of the clouds, filling the whole region with the echo of his voice.

O Shalya, Karna thinks that he should fight with Arjuna today. So you, O foremost of men, restrain his horses in the field of battle.

Karna is most willing to slaughter Phalguna (Arjuna), after having slain all the other heroes inferior to him. In consequence of this, O monarch, I repeatedly entreat you to hold the reins of his horses.

Even as Krishna, that foremost one amongst all the charioteers, is the adviser of the son of Pritha, so you would support the son of Radha in all ways.

Sanjaya said Thereupon Shalya, that king of the Madras, being highly gratified, after having embraced your son, Duryodhana, that slayer of enemies, addressed him, saying.

Shalya said O monarch, O son of Gandhari, O handsome-looking one, if you so desire, I will perform all that you consider to be dear to you.

O foremost of the Bharata race, for whatever acts I am competent, there I will engage myself with the whole of my heart; and I will bear the burden of all your acts.

Whatever, either agreeable or disagreeable, I will order to Karna, who are willing to do you good, for all that you, as well as Karna, should excuse me in every way.

Karna said Even as Brahma is to Ishana or a Keshava is to Ishana or as Keshava is to the son of Pritha, so you, O king of the Madras, should ever be engaged in rendering us good.

Shalya said The most respectable personages believe in these four different ways, which are enumerated thus-self-blame, or self-praise and speaking ill or well of others.

O wise one, whatever I will speak with a view to draw out your confidence, all that is full of self-praise. Be what it may, do you listen to it properly.

O illustrious one, I am, like Matali, competent to act as the charioteer of Indra and careful as I am, I am also versed in the management of horses, as, again, I am acquainted with all sorts of knowledge and learning, conscious of the means of avoiding all future dangers.

Then, O sinless one, I will drive your horses, while you will be engaged in battle with the son of Pritha, in the field. O son of a charioteer, be you free from all anxieties and troubles.