Section LX

"Arjuna said,

'The time, O Karna, has now come for making good your loquacious boast in the midst of the assembly, viz., that there is none equal to you in fight. Today, O Karna, contending with me in terrible conflict, you shalt know your own strength, and shalt no longer disregard others. Abandoning good breeding, you had uttered many harsh words, but this that you endeavourest to do, is, I think, exceedingly difficult. Do you now, O Radha’s son, contending with me in the sight of the Kurus, make good what you had said before in disregard of myself.

You who hadst witnessed Pancala’s princess outraged by villains in the midst of the court, do you now reap the fruit of that act of thine. Fettered by the bonds of morality before, I desisted from vengeance then. Behold now, O son of Radha, the fruit of that wrath in conflict at hand. O wicked wight, we have suffered much misery in that forest for full twelve; years. Reap you today the fruits of our concentrated vengeance. Come, O Karna, cope with me in battle. Let these your Kaurava warriors witness the conflict.

Hearing these words, Karna replied,

'Do you, O Partha, accomplish in deed what you sayst in words. The world knows that your words verily exceed your deed. That you had foreborne formerly was owing to your inability to do anything. If we witness your prowess even now, we may acknowledge its truth. If your past forbearance was due to your having been bound by the bonds of morality, truly you are equally bound now although you regardest thyself free. Having as you sayst, passed your exile in the woods in strict accordance with your pledge and being therefore weakened by practising an ascetic course of life, how canst you desire a combat with me now! O Pritha’s son, if Sakra himself fight on your side, still I would feel no anxiety in putting forth my prowess. Your wish, O son of Kunti, is about to be gratified. Do you fight with me now, and behold my strength.'

Hearing this, Arjuna said,

'Even now, O Radha’s son, you had fled from battle with me, and it is for this that you livest although your younger brother has been slain. What other person, save you, having beheld his younger brother slain in battle would himself fly from the field, and boast as you dost, amid good and true men?'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said these words unto Karna, the invincible Vibhatsu rushed at him and charged a volley, of shafts capable of penetrating through a coat of mail. But that mighty car-warrior, Karna, received with great alacrity that discharge with an arrowy shower of his own, heavy as the downpour of the clouds. And that fierce volley of arrows covered all sides and severally pierced the steeds and arms and leathern fences of the combatants. And incapable of putting up with that assault, Arjuna cut off the strings of Karna’s quiver by means of a straight and sharp arrow. Thereupon, taking out from his quiver another arrow, Karna pierced the Pandava in the hand at which the latter’s hold of the bow was loosened.

And then the mighty-armed Partha cut off Karna’s bow into fragments. And Karna replied by hurling a dart at his adversary, but Arjuna cut it off by means of his arrows. And then the warriors that followed the son of Radha rushed in crowds at Arjuna, but Partha sent them all to the abode of Yama by means of arrows shot from the Gandiva. And Vibhatsu slew the steeds of Karna by means of sharp and tough arrows shot from the bow-string drawn to the ear, and deprived of life they dropped down on the ground.

And taking another sharp and blazing arrow endued with great energy, the mighty son of Kunti pierced the breast of Kama. And that arrow, cleaving through his mail, penetrated into his body. And at this, Karna’s vision was obscured and his senses left him. And regaining consciousness, he felt a great pain, and leaving the combat fled in a northernly direction. And at this, the mighty car-warrior Arjuna and Uttara, both began to address him contumely.'"