Karna Parva — The defeat of Karna

Sanjaya said Beholding the Pandava troops rush upon your army, O monarch, Duryodhana checked his soldiers on all sides, O best of Bharatas. Although your son O king, cried at the top of his voice still his flying troops refused to stop.

Then one and the other wing of the army and Shakuni, the son of Subala and the Kauravas well-armed fell upon Bhima in battle.

Beholding the army of Dhritarashtra, with all the kings flying Karna said to the king of Madras. "Proceed towards the car of Bhima."

Thus accosted by Karna, the king of Madras urged those best of horses of the color of swans to where Vrikodara was.

Thus urged by Shalya, the ornament of battle those horses, approaching the chariot of Bhimasena, mingled in battle.

Seeing Karna approach Bhima too was filled with anger and made up his mind to kill him.

He then said to the heroic Satyaki and Dhristadyumna, the son of Prishata-"You two protect the pious king Yudhishthira. With great difficulty he escaped a perilous situation in my presence.

Before my very eyes the wicked son of Radha cut-off the king's armnour and robes for the gratification of Duryodhana.

I shall go today to the end of that misery, O son of Prishata. I shall either slay today in battle Karna or he will kill me with a dreadful encounter. I tell you the truth.

Today I made over the king to you as a sacred trust; do you all, shaking off lethargy, address yourselves to protect him."

Having said these words and made all the quarters resound with a loud and leonine shout the mighty-armed Bhima proceeded towards Adhiratha's son.

Beholding Bhima, who takes delight in battle, advance quickly, the king of Madras said to the charioteer's son.

Shalya said Behold, O Karna, the large-armed son of Pandu, worked up with anger. Forsooth he wishes to discharge at you his anger, accumulated for a long time.

O Karna, this form of his, I had never seen before even on the destruction of Abhimanyu and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha.

He bears such a form, burning like the fire of dissolution, as it appears that he, when angered, is capable of resisting the three worlds.

Sanjaya said O king, while the son of Radha thus said to the king of Madra, Vrikodara, burning with anger, approached Karna.

Beholding Bhima, who take delight in battle thus approach the son of Radha, as if smiling, said to Shalya.

O king of Madra, what you have said to me today regarding Bhimasena is all true; there is no doubt about it.

This Vrikodara is heroic, brave and wrathful. He does not care for any while protecting his body and is superior to all in vital strength.

While living secretly in the city of Virata, he depending merely on the strength of his own arms, slew secretly, to satisfy Draupadi, Kichaka with all his relations,

He today stands at the head of the battle, clad in mail and is beside himself with anger. he is ready to engage in battle with the destroyer armed with uplifted mace.

I have cherished this desire all through my life that either I shall kill Arjuna or Arjuna will kill me. That desire of mine may be fulfilled today on account of my encounter with Bhima.

If I kill Bhima or overpower him Partha may come against me. That will be good for me. Decide without any delay with you think proper for the moment.

Hearing these words of the highly energetic son of Radha Shalya replied-"O hero, proceed against the highly powerful Bhimasena. Having over-powered him you may then obtain Phalguna.

Your determination, you long-cherished desire, O Karna, will be accomplished today. I tell you the truth.

Thus accosted Karna once more said to Shalya. “Either I will kill Arjuna in battle or he will kill me. Giving your heart to battle, proceed where Vrikodara is."

Sanjay said Then, O king, Shalya quickly went on his car where that great bowman Bhima, was engaged in belabouring your army.

Then there arose, O king, the sound of trumpets and drums when Karna and Bhima met.

Worked up with anger the powerful Bhimasena began to rout your army, whom it is so difficult to vanquish, with his sharp and polished arrows.

O monarch, that encounter between Bhima and Karna in battle became dreadful and the noise thereof was tremendous.

Beholding Bhima approach towards him, Karna, otherwise called Vaikartana or Vrisha, filled with anger, struck him on the chest with an arrows. Once more the highly energetic Karna covered him with a shower of arrows. Thus struck by the charioteer's son Bhima two enshrouded him with Narachas.

With nine sharp and bent arrows he struck Karna who again cut-off his bow in twain with winged arrows.

Sundering his bow he once more struck him on the chest with a highly keen arrow capable of cutting off all kinds of arms.

Then, O king, taking up another bow, Bhima, who knew where the vital parts are, pierced the son of the charioteer to the very vitals with sharpened arrows.

Then Karna struck him with twenty-five arrows like a hunter striking a proud and infuriate elephant in the forest with a number of blazing brands.

Thereupon with his limbs mangled by arrows, beside himself with anger and his eyes reddened with pride and ire the son of Pandu set on his bow a highly impetuous and excellent arrow capable of bearing a heavy strain and riving the mountains,

Stretching with great force his bow to his cars the Maruti (Bhima), filled with anger all desirous of slaying Karna discharged it.

Discharged by powerful Bhima, that arrow, making a sound like that of a thunderbolt, struck Karna in that battle like the thunderbolt itself clapping a mountain,

O descendant of Kuru, thus struck by Bhimasena, the Commander Suta's son sat down senseless on the terrace of his car.

Beholding the Suta's son insensible the king of Madras carried him away on his car from the battle-field.

After Karna's defeat Bhima began to belabour the huge army of Dhritarashthra like Indra routing the Danavas.