(क्रमशः) कर्ण का पलायन

Sanjaya said. Thus though deprived of his car and completely vanquished by Bhima, Karna mounting on another car began speedily to pierce the son of Pandu.

Then like two huge elephants goring each other with the ends of their tusks, those two heroes began to pierce each other with arrows shot from bows drawn to the fullest stretch.

Thereupon Karna covered Bhima with mriyads of shafts and then uttered a loud warcry and once more pierced the latter on his breast.

In return, Bhima pierced him with ten straight-flying arrows and next with twenty arrows of depressed knots.

Karna again, O king, piercing Bhima on the centre of his chest with nine arrows, struck his enemy's standard with one sharp arrow.

Then with a group of sixty-three arrows Pritha's son, pierced Karna in return like a driver goring his elephant with so many hooks or a horseman lacerating his animal with so many whips.

Thus deeply pierced, O king, by the highsouled son of Pandu, the heroic Karna began to lick the corners of his mouth and his eyes became red in rage.

Therefore, O mighty monarch with a view to bring about the slaughter of Bhima, Karna sped at him an arrow capable of penetrating through all bodies, like Indra hurling the thunder.

That shaft or variegated wing shot from the bow of Suta's son pierced through the son of Pritha and then penetrating the earth went inside it.

Thereupon the mighty-armed Bhima with his eyes red in rage, hurled, without thinking for a moment, at the son of Suta, a heavy sixsided mace adorned with gold, measuring full four cubit in length and looking like the bolt of heaven. With that mace, that enraged descendant of the Bharata race slew the welltrained and excellent steeds of Adhiratha's son, like Indra slaying the Asuras with his thunderbolt. Then O mighty monarch, with a couple of razor-headed arrows, the mighty-armed Bhima.

Cut down the standard of Adhiratha's son and then with other shafts he slew the latter's charioteer. Leaving that car of which the steeds and the charioteer had been slain and of which the standard had been cut down.

O Bharata, Karna with a cheerless heart stood before Bhimasena, stretching his bow. Then we beheld the wonderful prowess of Radha's son.

In as much as that foremost of car-warriors though deprived of his car, was successful in holding his enemy in check. Beholding then that foremost of men, that son of Adhiratha deprived of his car in that battle.

King Duryodhana, O monarch, addressing Durmukha said-"O Durmukha yonder is the son of Radha rendered carless by Bhimasena!

Do you supply that mighty car-warrior, that foremost of men with a chariot.” Thereupon, O Bharata, hearing the words of Duryodhana, Durmukha.

Quickly rushed to the rescue of Karna, covering at the same time Bhima with his arrows. Beholding Durmukha approach to rescue the son of Suta in battle.

The son of the wind god became filled with delight and he began to lick the corners of his mouth. Then, O monarch, holding Karna at bay by means of his keen arrows.

The son of Pandu drove his chariot towards Durmukha. Then in the encounter that followed, with nine shafts of depressed knots.

And keen points, Bhima dispatched Durmukha to the abode of Death. Then upon the slaughter of Durmukha, the son of Adiratha mounting in the car of this slain hero, looked beautiful like the effulgent fire, O king. Then beholding Durmukha prostrate, with his vital limbs torn off and weltering in his blood, Karna with his eyes overflowing with tears, refrained from the fight for a while. Circumambulating that slain prince and passing over him.

The heroic Karna breathed hot and heavily and was embarrassed as to what he should do. At this opportunity O king, Bhimasena struck Suta's son with fourteen Narachas furnished with vulterine feathers. Those Narachas of great impetuosity and furnished with golden wings, pierced through Karna's armour;

Those blood-drinking arrows decked with gold, then illumined the ten quaters and drank the life-blood of Suta's son.

Then passing through his body those arrows sank into the earth and looked like so many snakes urged on by Death, O foremost of men.

With only half their bodies inserted into their holes. Then the son of Radha, without a moment's reflection, pierced Bhimasena in return with fourteen fierce Narachas decked with gold. Those winged shafts piercing the left arm of Bhimasena.

Entered the earth, like Krouncha birds entering into a grove of trees. Entering the earth, those Narachas looked beautiful.

Like the burning rays of the sun while it towards the Western mountains. Pierced in both the arms with those Narachas capable of cutting to the very quick, Bhima.

courses

Shed blood profusely, like mountains ejecting streams of water. Then Bhima pierced Suta's son in return with three winged shafts endued with the energy of Suparna and he then pierced the driver of his enemy with seven arrows. Thereupon, O mighty monarch, afflicted with Bhima's mighty and highly distressed, Karna.

Of illustrious renown fled from the field of battle, being borne away by his fleet steeds. Then Bhimasena, that Atiratha remained the master of the field, with his bow of golden staff stretched and looking like a burning fire.