कर्ण पर्व — कर्ण और शल्य का संवाद

Duryodhana said O Karna, this king of Madra, superior even to Krishna, will act as your driver, like Matali, the driver of the king of gods.

As Matali manages his car drawn by the horse of Hari so will Shalya manage today your car and horses.

With you as the warrior on that car and the king of Madra as the charioteer it will, forsooth, defeat the Parthas in battle.

Sanjaya said Thereupon again in the morning Duryodhana addressed the active king of

O king of Madra, manage in battle the excellent horses of Karna. Protected by you Karna will defeat Arjuna.

Thus addressed he expressed his consent and got upon the chariot, O Bharata. When Shalya went there, Karna, in good spirits, addressed his driver saying, O charioteer, quickly equip this car for me.

Having duly equipped that victorious car the best of its kind, which resembled the city of Gandharvas Shalya presented it to Karna, saying-“May good betide you and may you come off victorious!”

Duly worshipping that car which had formerly been sanctified by a priest conversant with Brahma, going round it and worshipping the sun, Karna, the foremost of car-warriors, addressed the king of Madra, standing near him, saying-"get upon the chariot."

Then like a lion ascending a hill the highly energetic Shalya got upon the strong built car of Karna.

Beholding Shalya stationed there Karna got upon his most excellent car like the sun riding on a mass of clouds charged with lightning.

Seated on the same car those two horses. effulgent like the sun and fire, shone there like the sun and fire sitting together on a cloud in the sky.

Eulogised those two highly effulgent heroes shone like Indra and Agni (fire-god) adored with hymns in a sacrifice by Ritvikas and Sadasyas.

Shalya holding the reins of the horses Karna stood on that car stretching his dreadful bow like the sun enveloped with a circular light.

Stationed on that best of cars Karna, the foremost of men, with the rays of his shafts, looked like the sun on the mount Mandara.

Duryodhana invited to battle that mighty armed son of Radha of incomparable energy stationed on the car saying-O hero, O carwarrior, do you perform in the presence of all bond men an action, hard of accomplishment which had not been performed even by Bhishma and Drona.

I had always thought that those two mighty car-warriors Bhishma and Drona would kill, without any doubt, Bhima and Arjuna.

Like the second wielder of thunderbolt do you accomplish that heroic feat in the great battle which had not been performed by them.

Either attack the pious Yudhishthira or kill Arjuna and Bhima, O son of Radha and the twin sons of Madri.

Many blessings and victory attend you. Start for battle, O foremost of men, consume the arıny of the Pandavas.

Ten thousands of trumpets and ten thousand drums simultaneously struck and produced a sound resembling the muttering of clouds in the sky.

Accepting his words that foremost of carwarriors, the son of Radha stationed on the car, said to Shalya, an expert in fighting. Drive the horses on, O great heroes so that I may kill Arjuna, Bhima, the twins and Yudhishthira.

O Shalya, Arjuna will witness today the strength of my arms when I will discharge hundreds and thousands of Kanka feather were arrows.

I will shoot today, O Shalya, powerful arrows for destroying the Pandavas and securing victory for Duryodhana.

Shalya said O son of a charioteer, why do you make light of the sons of Pandu who are all very powerful, great bow men and experts in the use of other weapons. They never retreat from battle, fortunate, unconquerable and are of great prowess.

They are capable of striking fear even into the heart of Indra himself. O son of Radha, when you will hear the twang of his Gandiva bow in battle like the peal of the thunder itself you will not give vent to such words.

When you will see Bhimsena killed elephants with their riders by serially splitting their teeth in the battle-field, your tongue will dcfinitely pause saying anything otherwise,

When you will see Yudhishthira and the twins making a canopy with their sharpened shafts like that of clouds in the sky and other irrepressible kings all light-handed, shooting arrows reducing the number of their enemies you will not speak such words.

Sanjaya said Disregarding the words spoken by the king of Madra Karna said to him who was greatly active-"go on". Sanjaya said Disregarding the words spoken by the king of Madra Karna said to him who was greatly active-"go on".