Chapter 63

“Sanjaya said, ‘Meanwhile Karna also began, with his arrowy showers, toafflict the mighty car-warriors of the Kaikayas, viz., those great bowmenthat stood before him. Indeed, the son of Radha despatched to Yama’sabode full five hundred of those warriors that were employed in checkinghim in that battle. Beholding the son of Radha to be irresistible in thatbattle, those warriors, afflicted with the arrows of their assailant,repaired to the presence of Bhimasena. Breaking that car-force into manyparts by means of his arrows, Karna, singly and riding on that same carof his, pursued Yudhishthira, who then, exceedingly mangled with arrowsand almost insensible, was proceeding slowly for reaching the Pandavaencampment with Nakula and Sahadeva on his two sides. Having approachedthe king, the Suta’s son, from desire of doing good to Duryodhana,pierced the son of Pandu with three formidable arrows. In return, theking pierced Radha’s son in the centre of the chest and then his driverwith three shafts. Then those two scorchers of foes, viz., the twin sonsof Madri, those two protectors of Yudhishthira’s car-wheels, rushedtowards Karna so that the latter might not succeed in slaying the king.Then Nakula and Sahadeva, both shooting showers of shafts with greatcare, covered the son of Radha therewith. The valiant son of the Suta,however, in return, pierced those two high-souled chastisers of foes withtwo broad-headed arrows of great sharpness. The son of Radha then slewYudhishthira’s excellent steeds, white as ivory and fleet as the mind,and having black hair in their tails. Then, smiling the while, the Suta’sson, that great bowman, with another broadheaded shaft, felled thehead-gear of Kunti’s son. Similarly, the valiant Karna, having slain thesteeds of Nakula, cut off the car shafts and bow of that intelligent sonof Madri. Those two steedless and carless sons of Pandu,–those twobrothers,–thereupon ascended the car of Sahadeva. Beholding those twobrothers made carless, that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., theirmaternal uncle, the ruler of the Madras, moved by compassion, addressedthe son of Radha and said, “Thou art to fight today with Pritha’s sonPhalguna. Why dost thou then, with rage inflamed to such a pitch, battlewith Dharma’s royal son? Thou art suffering thy weapons to be exhausted.Thy own armour is being weakened. With thy shafts reduced, and withoutquivers, with thy driver and steeds fatigued, and thyself mangled by foeswith weapons, when thou wilt approach Partha, O son of Radha, thou wiltbe an object of derision and mirth.” Though thus addressed by the rulerof the Madras, Karna still, filled with rage, continued to assailYudhishthira in battle. And he continued to pierce the two sons of Madriby Pandu with many keen arrows. Smiling the while, by means of his shaftshe made Yudhishthira turn his face from the battle. Then Shalya,laughing, once more said unto Karna as the latter, excited with greatwrath and resolved upon Yudhishthira’s destruction stood on his car,these words, “Him for whose sake Dhritarashtra’s son always honours thee,slay that Partha, O son of Radha. What wouldst thou gain by slayingYudhishthira? The two Krishnas are blowing their conchs, whose loud blareis being heard. The twang also of Arjuna’s bow is being heard, like theroar of the clouds in the season of rains. There, Arjuna, striking downthe foremost of our car-warriors with his arrowy down-pours, is devouringall our troops. Behold him, O Karna, in this battle. The two that areprotecting his rear are Yudhamanyu and Uttamauja. The brave Satyaki isprotecting his left wheel, and Dhrishtadyumna is protecting his rightwheel. There, Bhimasena is fighting with the royal son of Dhritarashtra.Act in such way, O son of Radha, that Bhima may not be able to slay theking today in the sight of us all,–that the king may, indeed, escapehim. Behold, Duryodhana is brought under the power of Bhimasena, thatornament of battle. Approaching if thou canst rescue him, it will,indeed, be a very wonderful feat. Going thither, rescue the king, for agreat peril has overtaken him. What wilt thou gain by slaying the sons ofMadri or king Yudhishthira?” Hearing these words of Shalya, O lord ofEarth, and beholding Duryodhana overpowered by Bhima in that dreadfulbattle, the valiant son of Radha, thus urged by the words of Shalya andexceedingly desirous of rescuing the king, left Ajatasatru and the twinsons of Madri by Pandu, and rushed for rescuing thy son. He was borne byhis steeds that were fleet as birds and that were urged by the ruler ofthe Madras. After Karna had gone away, Kunti’s son Yudhishthiraretreated, borne, O sire, by the fleet steeds of Sahadeva. With his twinbrothers accompanying him, that ruler of men, quickly repairing in shameto the (Pandava) camp, his body exceedingly mangled with shafts, alightedfrom the car and hastily sat down on an excellent bed. The, arrows thenbeing extracted from his body, the royal son of Pandu, his heartexceedingly afflicted with sorrow’s dart, addressed his two brothers,viz., those two mighty car-warriors, the sons of Madri, saying, “Repairquickly to the division of Bhimasena. Roaring like a cloud, Vrikodara isengaged in battle.” Riding another car, Nakula, that bull amongcar-warriors, and Sahadeva of great energy,–those two brothers, thosetwo crushers of foes,–both endued with great might, then proceededtowards Bhima, borne by steeds of the utmost fleetness. Indeed, thebrothers having together repaired to Bhimasena’s division, took up theirplaces there.'”