कर्ण पर्व — युद्धको पूर्वसन्ध्यामा कर्ण र शल्यको संवाद

Sanjaya said Beholding the great bowmen bowmen Karna stationed for battle all the Kurus began to utter loud cries of joy from all sides.

Thereupon with the beatings of cymbals and drums, the sound of all sorts of weapons and the war-cries of the greatly active heroes all your soldiers proceeded to the battle-field, making death the final point of stoppage.

When Karna went all the soldiers, were filled with joy. The earth, O king, trembled and created a loud noise.

All the great planets including the sun seemed moving about. And the meteors were seen blazing up all the quarters. Cloudless thunders fell and fierce winds blew.

A large number of animals and birds, kept to the right of your army and emitted noise foreboding a dreadful calamity.

After the departure of Karna his horses trembled down on earth. And a dreadful shower of bones fell from the sky.

O king, their weapons were as if burning and the flags were trembling. And the horses shed tears.

Those and other dreadful portends appeared there presaging the destruction of the Kauravas. Stupefied by Destiny they paid no attention of them.

Seeing the departure of the charioteer's son all the king cried out victory. The Kauravas then thought that the Pandavas had been defeated.

The king Vikartana, the subduer of hostile heroes and the foremost of car-warriors, stood on the car, thinking of the death of Bhishma and Drona. He shone there like the sun of fire.

Thinking of the powerful feats of Arjuna, elated with self conceit and pride, worked up with anger and breathing hot and hard, said to Shalya-

When I am with my bow I do not fear even the angry Mahendra with thunder-bolt in his hand. Beholding Bhishma and other leading heroes lying on the battle field I do not feel the least anxiety.

Seeing the immaculate Bhishma and Drona equal to Indra and Vishnu, the grinders of the best of cars, elephants and horses and who are not to be killed by any, slain by the enemy I do not feel any fear in battle today.

Well-versed in the use of powerful weapons and himself the foremost of Brahmanas why did not the preceptor kill in battle all the enemies who killed the most powerful of our hero with their drivers, elephants and chariots?

Listen to me, O Karna, I tell you the truth, thinking of this Drona in battle that there is none amongst you excepting myself who can withstand the advancing Arjuna the heroes who resembled the most dreadful Regent of Death.

In Drona were skill, practice, strength, patience, the greatest of weapons and policy. While that high-souled one has come by death I think all others, shorn of strength, on the point of death.

Even on reflection I do not find any thing perinanent in this world on account of the eternal connection of acts. When the preceptor himself is no more who can expect that he will surely live till even today's sun-rise.

While preceptor has been slain in battle by the enemies, weapons, strength, prowess, actions and wise policy cannot forsooth conduce to the happiness of a man.

In energy Drona equaled the sun or firc; in prowess he was like Vishnu or Indra, in policy he was like Vrihaspati or Ushanas; invincible though he was even weapons could not protect him.

Our women and children are weeping and bewailing, the manliness of the sons of Dhritarashtra has been defeated. I know therefore, O Shalya, that it is I who am to fight; proceed therefore against the array of our enemies.

Save me who can withstand the army in the midst of which in the truthful Pandavas king Bhimasena, Arjuna, Vasudeva, Satyaki, Srinjaya and the twins.

Therefore, O king of Madra, move on quickly in this battle towards the Panchalas, Pandavas and Srinjayas. Encountering them either I will kill them or will myself go to the abode of death by the road followed by Drona.

Do not think, O Shalya, that I will not enter into the heart of their army. I cannot tolerate such dissension's amongst the kith and kin. I will even follow Drona, renouncing my life.

A wise man or an ignorant person, none can escape death, when the lease of his life expires. Therefore, O learned one. I shall proceed against Partha. I cannot transgress my destiny.

O king, the son of Chitravirya's son always does me good. For the accomplishment of his object I will give up this dear life which it is very difficult to renounce.

Rama conferred upon me this best of cars covered with tiger-skins, with axle producing no sound, equipped with a golden seat, having trivenu made of silver and drawn by best of horses.

Behold, O Shalya, these beautiful bows, these, flags, these maces, these dreadful arrows, this shinning sword, this powerful weapon this white conch of dreadful and loud blare.

Mounted upon this chariot with banners, its wheels producing a sound like that of a thunderbolt drawn by white horses and adorned with beautiful quivers I shall, with all my mighty, destroy that best of car-warriors, Arjuna.

Even if death himself the destroyer of all, protects vigilantly the son of Pandu, in battle I will either kill him or go myself to the abode of death following Bhishma.

If Yama, Varuna, Kubera and Vasava with all their followers come here and unitedly protect the son of Pandu in battle, I will even then defeat himn with them all. What is the use of speaking more?

Sanjaya said Hearing those words of Karna who was delighted at the prospect of the battle, the powerful king of Madras laughed him and said the following to check him.

Do not brag thus, do not brag thus, O Karna; you are so much transported with joy that you are speaking what you should not do. Who is that Dhananjaya, the best of men and who again are you the vilest of men?

Who else save him the foremost of men (Arjuna) could carry away by force the younger sister of Keshava, having made a confusion in the capital of Yadus that was protected by the younger brother of Indra and that resembled the celestial region protected by the king of gods.

Who else save, Arjuna, powerful like the king of gods, could on the occasion of a quarrel brought about by the slaughter of an animal summon Bhaba, the lord of lords, the creator of the worlds, to battle?

To honor the god of fire Jaya, (Arjuna) vanquished the Asuras, gods, great snakes, men, birds, Pishacas, Yakshas and Rakshasas with his arrow and gave him the food he wanted.

Do you remember, O Karna, the occasion when killing the large nuinber of enemies with this arrows effulgent like the sun Arjuna liberated the son of Dhritarashtra himself among the Kurus?

Do you remember the occasion when you yourself were the first to take to your heels and the Pandavas, having defeated the Gandharvas headed by Chitraratha, liberated the quarrelsome sons of Dhritarashtra?

When Virata's kine were seized by them, the Kauravas, overwhelining in number both as regards men and animals and having the preceptor, the preceptor's son and Bhishma amongst them, were defeated by that foremost of men. Why did you not defeat Arjuna then?

Another battle has presented itself today for your destruction. If you do not fly from the battle in fear of your enemies you will be killed, O charioteer's son, as soon as you will go to the battle.

Sanjaya said When the king of Madra was thus, in all sincerity, addressing these harsh words to him and singing the glories of his enemy, that slayer of foes, the commander of the Kuru army, excited with anger, said.

Karna said Let it be so. Why do you praise Arjuna so much. A battle will soon take place between him and me. If he defeats me in battle then your praises will be considered as well said.

Sanjaya said The king of Madra said-'let it be so,' and gave no reply, when Karna desirous of fighting, said to Shalya 'go'. Then that carwarrior, having white horses and Shalya as his driver, dashed against his enemies killing a number of enemies in battle like the sun destroying darkness.

Then in that car covered with tiger-skins and white horses yoked to it, Karna went on cheerfully. And seeing the armies of the Pandavas he immediately inquired after Arjuna.