Chapter 48

“Karna said, ‘I behold all these blessed ones, looking as if alarmed andpanic-struck and unresolved and unwilling to fight. If he that is come isthe king of the Matsyas or Vibhatsu, even I will resist him as the banksresist the swelling sea. Shot from my bow these straight and flyingarrows, like gliding snakes, are all sure of aim. Discharged by my lighthands, these keen-edged arrows furnished with golden wings shall coverPartha all over, like locusts shrouding a tree. Strongly pressed by thesewinged arrows, the bow-string will cause these my leathern fences toproduce sounds that will be heard to resemble those of a couple ofkettle-drums. Having been engaged in ascetic austerities for the (last)eight and five years, Vibhatsu will strike me but mildly in thisconflict, and the son of Kunti having become a Brahmana endued with goodqualities, hath thus become a fit person to quietly receive shafts bythousands shot by me. This mighty bowman is indeed, celebrated over thethree worlds. I, too, am, by no means, inferior to Arjuna, that foremostof human beings. With golden arrows furnished with vulturine wings shoton all sides, let the firmament seem today to swarm with fire-flies.Slaying Arjuna in battle, I will discharge today that debt, difficult ofrepayments, but promised of old by me unto Dhritarashtra’s son. When manis there, even amongst all the gods and the Asuras, that will endure tostand in the teeth of the straight arrows shot from my bow? Let my flyingarrows, winged and depressed at the middle, present the spectacle of thecoursing of the fire-flies through the welkin. Hard though he be asIndra’s thunderbolt and possessed of the energy of the chief of thecelestials, I will surely grind Partha, even as one afflicts an elephantby means of burning brands. A heroic and mighty car-warrior as he is, andthe foremost of all wielders of weapons I shall seize the unresistingPartha, even like Garuda seizing a snake. Irresistible like fire, and fedby the fuel of swords, darts, and arrows, the blazing Pandava-fire thatconsumeth foes, will be extinguished even by myself who am like unto amighty cloud incessantly dropping an arrowy shower,–the multitude ofcars (I will lead) constituting its thunder, and the speed of my horses,the wind in advance. Discharged from my bow, my arrows like venomoussnakes will pierce Partha’s body, like serpent penetrating through anant-hill. Pierced with well-tempered and straight shafts endued withgolden wings and great energy, behold ye today the son of Kunti deckedlike a hill covered with Karnikara flowers. Having obtained weapons fromthat best of ascetics–the son of Jamadagni, I would, relying on theirenergy, fight with even the celestials. Struck with my javelin, the apestationed on his banner-top shall fall down today on the ground, utteringterrible cries. The firmament will today be filled with the cries of the(super-human) creatures stationed in the flagstaff of the foe, andafflicted by me, they will fly away in all directions. I shall todaypluck up by the roots the long-existing dart in Duryodhan’s heart bythrowing Arjuna down from his car. The Kauravas will today behold Parthawith his car broken, his horses killed, his valour gone, and himselfsighing like a snake. Let the Kauravas, following their own will go awaytaking this wealth of kine, or, if they wish, let them stay on their carsand witness my combat.'”