Karna Parva — Dreadful battle

Dhritarashtra said When Bhimasena and Pandu's Yudhishthira were fighting, when my soldiers were being killed by the Pandavas and Srinjayas, when my army was routed and dispirited tell me, O Sanjaya, what did the Kauravas do. son

Sanjaya said Seeing the mighty-armed Bhima the valiant Karna, with eyes, reddened in anger, rushed towards him.

Beholding your soldiers routed by Bhima the powerful Karna rallied them again with great exertion.

Having collected your son's force the largearmed Karna advanced against the heroic Pandavas invincible in battle. Drawing their bows and discharging arrows the great carwarriors of the Pandavas advanced against the son of Radha.

Worked up with anger and desiring for victory Bhimasena, the grandson of Sini, Shikhandi Janamejaya, the powerful Dhristadyumna, all the Prabhadrakas and the Panchalas advanced furiously from all directions against your army.

In the same way the powerful car-warriors of your host speedily advanced against the Pandava army desirous of killing them.

The hosts, abounding in cars, elephants, the cavalry and infantry, looked exceedingly wonderful.

Shikhandi rushed against Karna and Dhristadyumna, accompanied by a great force, proceeded against your son Dushasana.

Nakula against Vrishasena and Yudhishthira advanced against Chitrasena; Sahadeva proceeded against Uluka in that battle. two ran

Satyaki proceeded against Shakuni and the sons of Draupadi against other Kauravas. And the great car-warrior Drona's son proceeded against Arjuna in that battle.

Gautama encountered in battle the great bowman Yudhamanyu. And the powerful Kritavarma rushed against Uttamoujasa.

The large-armed Bhimasena alone withstood all your sons with their armies.

Thereupon Shikhandi, the slayer of Bhishma, with winged arrows, obstructed Karna ranging fearlessly in the battle-field).

Thus obstructed and with his lips trembling in anger Karna struck Shikhandi on the forehead with three arrows.

Carrying three arrows Shikhandi shone there like a silver mountain with three elevated summits.

Sorely wounded by Karna in that battle that great bowman struck him in return with ninety sharp arrows.

Having slain his horses and driver with three arrows the great car-warrior Karna struck down his standard with a razor-shaped arrow.

Then jumping down from his horseless car that great car-warrior, the aggrandiser of his enemies, discharged a dart in anger at Karna.

Cutting it off in battle with three arrows Karna struck Shikhandi with nine sharp arrows.

Avoiding arrows shot off Karna's bow Shikhandi, greatly wounded, quickly retreated from the field.

O king, then Karna fell on the Pandava army as the violent wind disperses a pack of cotton.

Wounded by your son Dhristadyumna struck, in return, Dushasana on the breast with three arrows.

Then Dushasana struck the left arm of his enemy with a sharp gold feathered, winged arrows.

Thus wounded and filled with terrible rage Dhristadyumna shot arrows at Dushasana.

O king, with three arrows your son cut-off the shaft discharged by Dhristadyumna which was about to fall with great force.

Then approaching Dhristadyumna he struck him on the breast and two arms with seventeen other gold winged arrows.

Then worked up with anger Prisata's son cut-off his bow with a sharp razor shaped arrow at which all his people shouted out.

Your son, however, taking up another bow, smilingly covered Dhristadyumna with wounds of arrows.

Beholding the prowess of your high-souled son all the warriors in the field, Siddhas and Apsaras were filled surprise.

We saw the highly powerful Dhristadyumna obstructed by Dushasana like a huge elephant checked by a lion.

Then desirous of rescuing their generalissimo, O elder brother of Pandu, the Panchala car-warriors, elephants and horses surrounded your son.

O slayer of enemies, then ensued a dreadful and destructive encounter between your people and your enemy's host.

Standing by his father's side Vrishasena struck Nakula with five iron arrows and again wounded with three others.

The heroic Nakula however smiling struck Vrishasena on the breast with a sharp Naracha.

Thus wounded greatly by his powerful enemy that grinder of his enemies struck his adversary with twenty five arrows.

Those two foremost of men covered each other with thousands of arrows at which their respective battalions broke.

Seeing Duryodhana's soldiers quickly flying away Karna, O king, prevented them with force.

After Karna's departure Nakula proceeded against the Kauravas. Avoiding Nakula in battle Karna's son quickly went to Karna, who was guarding the passage of his chariot.

Angry Uluka was restrained by Sahadeva in battle. Having killed his four horse the powerful Sahadeva dispatched his charioteer to the abode of Yama.

Then leaping down from his car O king, Uluka, the joy of his sire, soon advanced against the host of Trigarttas.

Having pierced Shakuni with twenty sharp arrows Satyaki, as if smiling, struck down the standard of Subala's son with his dart.

O king, the powerful son of Subala too, worked up with anger, cutting off his coat of mail, again sundered his golden standard.

Then Satyaki pierced him in return with sharpened arrows and also pierced his charioteer with three arrows.

Then quickly dispatched his horses to the abode of Yama with arrows. Then ( king, jumping down all on a sudden from his own car Shakuni quickly got on Uluka's car.

Then that hero, expert in fighting, soon took away Sini's grandson. Then O king, Satyaki, with great force, advanced against your army at which they were all routed.

Covered with arrows shot by Sini's grandson your soldiers, O king, fled away in all directions and dropped down dead.

Your son obstructed Bhimasena in battle. Bhima however, in a moment, deprived him of his horses, charioteer, car and standards. His men, O king, were highly pleased.

The king soon fled away from Bhimasena's view. Then the entire Kuru army rushed towards Bhimasena. And desirous of killing Bhima they set up a terrible shout.

Having struck Kripa Yudhamanyu soon cut-off his bow. But Kripa, the foremost of the wielders of arms, taking up another bow struck down on earth Yudhamanyu's standard, charioteer and umbrella. the great car-warrior Yudhamanyu fled away on his car.

Uttamouja soon covered Hirdika's son Bhima of dreadful prowess like showers covering a mountain.

Then O slayer of enemies, that battle became highly dreadful the like of which had never been seen by me before, O king.

Then Kritavarma, in that battle, O king, all on a sudden struck Uttamouja on the breast at which the latter sank down on his car.

His charioteer however carried away that foremost of car-warriors. Then the Kuru army surrounded Bhimasena from all sides.

With a huge elephant force Dushasana and Subala's son surrounded Pandu's son and began to assail him with small arrows.

Thereupon making the angry Duryodhana retreat from the battle-field with a hundred arrows Bhima quickly advanced against the elephant force.

Beholding that elephant force advance against him all on a sudden Vrikodara, worked up greatly with anger, invited celestial weapons.

He then struck elephants with elephants as Indra assailed the Asuras. Killing the elephants in battle Vrikodara covered the sky with arrows as a swarm of insects cover a flame.

As the wind scatters a collection of clouds so Bhima dispersed and killed those elephants collected there in thousands.

Covered with net-works of gold and gems the elephants looked greatly beautiful like clouds charged with lightning.

Assailed by Bhima, O king, the elephants fled away on all sides. Some, cut to their hearts, fell down on earth.

With elephants adorned with gold fallen there the earth appeared as if strewn with shattered mountains.

With fallen elephant warriors, shining and adorned with jewels and the earth shone beautiful as if covered with planets dropped for the wane of virtue.

With their temples, frontal globes and trunks maimed the elephants, struck by Bhimasena's arrows, fled away in hundreds in that battle.

With their limbs wounded with arrows, stricken with fear and vomiting blood, some, huge like mountains, fled away like mountains adorned with metals.

There they saw the two arms of Bhimasena, holding bows, pasted with sandal and Aguru and resembling two huge serpents.

Hearing the twang of his bow resembling the sound of a thunder-bolt the elephants passed urine and excreta and fled away.

That feat, of the intelligent Bhimasena who fought single-handed, resembled that of Rudra while destroying all creatures.