गोहरण पर्व — गोहरण में कर्ण का पीछे हटना

Arjuna said O Karna, this is the time for you to make good the boastful words you gave vent to in the midst of assembly, 'there is none equal to me in fight.'

Fighting with me today in the encounter, O Karna, you will know your strength and will never disregard others.

Disregarding piety, you had given vent to many harsh words. But I consider what you wish to do today as difficult.

Fighting with me today in the midst of the Kurus, do you make good the insulting words that you used towards me before.

Do you reap now the fruit of your suffering the Panchala princess to-be distressed by the wicked-souled one in the court.

Being bound by the noose of piety, I desisted, before, from taking revenge. Do you now see the result of my restrained anger in battle.

O wicked one, we have undergone many miseries in the forest for twelve years. Do you now reap the fruit of our vengeance today

Do you fight with me, O Karna, in the battle. Let the Kurus and your soldiers witness it.

Karna said Do you carry out your words into action, O Partha. That your words exceed your deeds is known in the world.

What you deed suffer formerly was in consequence of your inability. We can admit today by seeing your prowess, O Partha.

If you had suffered the miseries by having been bound by the noose or morality, you are equally bound so even now though you consider yourself free.

If you had passed your exile in the same way as you said, and being distressed (for practising austerities) why do you conversant with Dharma and Artha as you are, wish to fight with me?

If Shakra himself, O Partha, fight on your behalf, still, there will be no obstruction to my displaying my prowess.

Your wish O son of Kunti, is about to be fulfilled. You will fight with me today and see my prowess.

Arjuna said Up to now you had always fled from the battle while fighting with me. For this, you are still alive; but your younger brother has been slain, O son of Radha.

Having seen his younger brother slain, what other man except you, would retreat from the battle-field, and then boast as you do in the midst of good men?

Vaishampayana said Having thus spoken to Karna, unconquerable Bibhatsu, encountered him, discharging arrows capable of piercing the coats of mail.

The mighty car-warrior Karna delightedly received it with a heavy downpour of arrows like a shower of clouds.

That dreadful network of arrows covered, on all sides, piercing severally, the horses, arms and gloves (of the hero).

Unable to bear the attack of Karna, Arjuna cut off the string of his quiver with a keenedged and straight arrow.

Then taking out other arrows from his quiver, Karna struck Arjuna with them on his hand, and the latter lost hold of his bow.

Then the large-armed Arjuna cut off Karnas bow into pieces. He then struck (Arjuna) with a Shakti, but Partha cut it off with his arrows.

Then the heroes who followed Karna all attacked Arjunat who killed them with arrows shot from his Gandiva bow.

Then Bibhatsu killed his horses with sharpened arrows shot from his bow drawn to the ears, and they all fell down slain on earth.

Then taking up another strong, sharp, and powerful arrow, the powerful son of Kunti struck Karna with it on his breast.

Boring through his coat of mail, that arrow penetrated into his body and he was deprived of the power of perception and consciousness.

Experiencing a great pain and leaving the battle-field, he fled towards the north. Then Arjuna and the mighty car-warrior Uttara began to scoff him.