Karna Parva — Battle between Kauravas and Pandavas

Dhritarashtra said While armies thus encountered each other, did Partha, O Sanjaya, assail the Samsaptakas and Karna the Pandavas.

Skilled in narration as you are, recount at length the incidents of the battle to me. I am never satiated with listening to the accounts of the prowess of heroes.

Sanjaya said Disregarding the huge hostile array arranged in that way Arjuna rayed his force in proper form on account of the evil policy of your son.

The huge army of the Pandavas, abounding in infantry, cavalry, elephants and cars and led by Dhristadyumna, looked magnificent.

With his horses white as the pigeons and endued with the effulgence of the sun or the moon the son of Prishata, with bow in hand, shone like Death himself in body.

The sons of Draupadi desirous of fighting stood by the side of the son of Prishata. They had celestial coats of mail and weapons and were powerful like tigers. They followed him like stars following the moon.

Beholding he Samsaptakas in battle array, Arjuna, worked up with anger, rushed against them, drawing his Gandiva bow.

With a view to kill Arjuna the Samsaptakas bent upon acquiring victory, advanced against him, making death their end.

Those brave warriors with men, horses, infuriate elephants and cars began quickly to assail Arjuna.

Furious was their encounter with Kiritin. It resembled that between Arjuna and Nivata Kavachas, as we have heard.

Thousands and thousands of cars, horses, flags, elephants, foot-soldiers engaged in fighting, arrows, bows, swords, discus, battle axes, uplifted arms holding weapons and heads of enemies were cut by Partha.

Considering his car drowned into that whirlpool of warriors resembling the bed of the was nether region the Samsaptakas sent up loud war-cries.

Slaying all his enemies in front Partha killed those that stood at a distance, then those that were on his right and back like Rudra himself killing in anger the entire animate creation.

And exceedingly dreadful the encounter of your army with the Panchalas, Chedis and Srinjayas.

Kripa, Kritavarma, Shakuni, the son of Subala, with cheerful soldiers, all greatly worked up with anger and capable of striking the car-warriors fought with Kosalas, the Kachis, Matsyas, Karushas, Kekayas and Surasenas all of whom were highly terrible in battle.

That great battle, destructive of life, body and sins, brought on fame, virtue and heaven for all the Kshatriya, Vaishyas and Sudra heroes that engaged in it.

O best of Bharatas, meanwhile, the king Duryodhana, with all his brothers and Kuru heroes and many powerful Madraka carwarriors, protected Karna while he fought with the Pandavas, the Panchalas, the Chedis and Satyaki.

Destroying that huge army with his sharpened arrows and assailing many leading car-warriors Karna afflicted Yudhishthira.

Sundering the armour, weapons and bodies of thousands of his enemies, killing them by thousands and sending them to heaven to earn fame Karna gave great delight to his friends.

Thus, O father, the battle, putting the Kurus and Srinjayas resembled that between the gods and demons in the days of yore.