07.106
Dhritarashtra spoke:
Karna and Bhima, both mighty warriors, were engaged in a fierce battle beside Arjuna's chariot. How did that battle unfold?
Previously, Karṇa was defeated by Bhīmasena in battle. How did the son of Radha, the great warrior, confront Bhīma again?
How did Bhima or the son of Suta, renowned as the best chariot-warrior on earth, proceed in battle?
After overcoming Bhishma and Drona, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, feared no one else except the archer Karna.
Out of fear, he remains sleepless, constantly pondering over the great chariot-warrior. How did Bhima manage to fight the son of a charioteer in the battle?
Bhima, devoted to Brahman and endowed with valor, who never retreats in battles, fought against Karna, the greatest of warriors, in the battle. How did this encounter unfold?
The two heroes approached Arjuna's chariot. How would the son of a charioteer and Vrikodara engage in battle?
The compassionate son of a charioteer, who had previously shown brotherhood, fought with Bhima while recalling the words of Kunti.
Bhima, recalling the past enmity, engaged in battle with the son of a charioteer. How did this hero confront Karna in the fight?
Duryodhana, my charioteer son, always hopes that Karna will defeat the Pandavas in battle.
In the battle where my slow son had hope of victory, how did he confront the mighty Bhimasena?
Having taken refuge in him, my sons, the great warriors, created enmity. How did dear Bhima fight with the son of Suta?
Bhima, recalling the various challenges posed by the charioteer's son, wondered how he fought against him.
The mighty warrior who conquered the entire earth with a single chariot, how did Bhima manage to fight him, the son of Suta, in battle?
Bhima wondered how he could fight the son of a charioteer, who was born with earrings and armor, in the battle.
O Sanjaya, you are indeed skilled, so tell me truly about the battle that occurred between the two and who was victorious.
Sanjaya said:
Bhimasena, after leaving Radheya, the best among charioteers, wished to go to the place where the heroes Krishna and Dhananjaya were present.
As he was departing, Radheya rushed towards him and showered arrows upon him, O great king, like a cloud pouring rain on a mountain.
Bali, with a face blooming like a lotus, smiled and called Bhima, who was advancing into battle, then Adhirathi.
Bhimasena could not tolerate Karna's challenge in the battle. He surrounded him in a half-circle and fought the son of a charioteer.
The great warriors, with their arrows moving in unpredictable paths, showered them in the duel, piercing and controlling the best among all weapon-bearers.
Desiring to end the conflict, the mighty warrior pierced Karna, and after killing him and all others, he wished to kill more.
The intolerant and angry Pāṇḍava, known as the scorcher of foes, discharged fierce and various showers of arrows at him, O Māriṣa.
The charioteer's son, renowned for his great fame, used mystical weapons to devour those arrow showers, advancing like an intoxicated elephant.
O great king, Karna, the great archer, was properly honored by knowledge and served like a teacher in battle.
With great enthusiasm, Radheya approached Bhimasena, who was fighting with a smile, showing his intolerance towards Vrikodara.
The son of Kunti could not tolerate the smile of Karna during the battle, as he fought among the heroes and observed everything around.
The mighty and enraged Bhimasena struck the approaching enemy in the chest with his sharp weapons, as an elephant would be prodded with goads.
The charioteer, using the well-feathered and sharp arrows of the son of the charioteer, skillfully pierced Chitravarman with twenty-one arrows.
Karna, using golden nets, covered the swift horses and the hero shot them with five arrows each.
Then, O king, the net made of arrows that Karna created towards Bhimasena's chariot vanished in the blink of an eye.
At that time, O great king, the Pāṇḍava, along with his chariot, banner, and charioteer, was enveloped by the arrows shot from Karna's bow.
Karṇa, in his anger, pierced the strong armor with sixty-four arrows and struck at the side with arrows that pierced vital parts.
Then, Vrikodara, without any fear, embraced the son of a charioteer, who had unleashed arrows with incredible speed from Karna's bow.
O great king, Bhima, bearing arrows that originated from Karna's bow and were comparable to sharp poisonous snakes, did not feel any pain in the battle.
Then the mighty Bhimasena, with thirty-two sharp and fierce arrows, pierced Karna in the battle.
Effortlessly, Karna attacked the mighty-armed Bhimasena with arrows, intending to kill Saindhava.
Karna gently engaged Bhima in battle, while Bhima, filled with anger, recalled their past enmity.
Bhimasena, unable to bear the insult, quickly unleashed a shower of arrows at his foe, demonstrating his prowess as a conqueror of enemies.
The arrows dispatched by Bhīmasena in the battle descended all around, creating a terrifying sound akin to screeching birds, O king.
O great king, the golden-feathered arrows released from Bhimasena's bow rushed towards Radheya like wolves towards a small animal.
Karna, although surrounded and covered from all sides, unleashed fierce volleys of arrows in the battle, O king.
Vrikodara skillfully intercepted and cut off the thunderbolt-like arrows of his opponent with many of his own arrows before they could reach their target.
Once more, Karna, the son of Vikartana, showered arrows upon Bhimasena, the great warrior, during the battle, O descendant of Bharata.
There, O Bharata, they saw Bhima covered with arrows in battle, like a boar with darts.
In the battle, the hero held the golden-feathered, stone-polished arrows released from his bow near the ear, just as the sun holds its rays.
Bhimasena, covered in blood, stood out in the forest like a Palasha tree adorned with golden flowers.
But Bhima, O great king, could not tolerate Karna's actions in the battle. The great archer, in his anger, rolled his eyes.
He attacked Karna with twenty-five arrows, resembling a white mountain with concealed bases and venomous points.
Bhima, valiant in battle, once again pierced Karna with six and eight arrows in the vital parts during the great battle.
Then, the mighty Bhimasena, in his anger towards Karna, swiftly severed his bow and all his equipment.
He swiftly killed the four horses and the charioteer with arrows, and pierced Karna in the chest with iron arrows that shone like the rays of the sun.
They all descended to the earth, piercing through the ear, O great one, just as the sun's rays pierce through the cloud, O king.
He, in great distress with his bow broken and wounded by arrows, retreated to another chariot, maintaining his pride.
