08.022
Core and Pancharatra: Karna gives lame excuses for his not having encountered Arjuna till date. Then he compares the strengths and weaknesses between him and Arjuna and recommends his chariot to be driven by Shalya, to become superior in comparison to Arjuna.
Dhritarashtra said:
Arjuna, by his own will, did not kill us all. In battle, not even death would spare the aggressor.
Arjuna, indeed, was the one who took away the auspicious one, satisfied the fire, and having conquered this earth, made the kings pay tribute.
One, with a divine bow, killed the Nivātakavacas. Another, in the guise of a hunter, fought against Shiva.
One protected the Bharatas and pleased the world. By him alone, all my fierce warriors were conquered. They are not to be blamed; they are praiseworthy. Tell me what they did.
Sanjaya said:
The proud warriors, having been killed, struck down, and destroyed, were left without armor, weapons, or vehicles. They were distressed and with faint voices, having been conquered by their enemies.
The Kauravas in the camp were once again deliberating on their strategy, feeling as helpless as serpents with broken fangs, devoid of poison, and trampled upon.
Then Karna, furious and breathing like a snake, spoke to them while pressing his hand with his own, as he looked at your son.
Arjuna, being controlled, firm, skillful, and steadfast, always enlightens him, and the transcendental Lord also guides him at the right time.
"Suddenly, we have been deceived by the release of the weapon today by him. But tomorrow, O king, I shall destroy all his plans."
After being addressed in this way, he agreed with the best of kings. They rested well and joyfully set out for battle after the night.
They observed the formidable formation set by Dharmaraja, which was difficult to conquer, meticulously organized by the leader of the Kurus following the guidance of Brihaspati and Ushanas.
At that time, Duryodhana, who was always self-controlled, remembered Karna, who was strong like a bull and his opponent-maker.
In the battle, the king's mind turned to Karna, who was as formidable as Purandara in battle, as strong as the Maruts, and as valiant as Kartavirya. Karna, the son of a charioteer and a great archer, was seen as a reliable ally in times of crisis.
Dhritarashtra said:
When your slow mind turned to Karna, the son of Vikartana, you saw him as if he were the sun, afflicted by cold.
When the armies withdrew and the battle resumed, how did Karna, the son of Vikartana, fight there, O Sanjaya? And how did all the Pandavas engage in battle with the son of the charioteer?
Karna, the mighty warrior, is believed to have the strength and prowess comparable to the gods Indra and Vishnu. He could defeat the Pandavas and the Somakas with his fierce weapons and great valor.
Then, seeing Duryodhana greatly troubled by the Pandava, and observing the valiant sons of Pandu in the great battle as well.
Relying on Karna, Duryodhana's pride once more drives him to attempt to defeat the sons of Pritha, along with their sons and Krishna.
"Alas, what great sorrow it is that Karna, in the battle where the sons of Pandu fought, did not act with impetuosity. Fate is certainly the refuge."
"Alas, the intense sorrows caused by Duryodhana are like thorns, and I must endure them, O Sanjaya."
O father, Saubala is considered wise. In the ongoing divine battles, Sanjaya, I heard that the sons were always slain and defeated.
No one can stop the Pandavas in battle; fate is indeed stronger, like entering the midst of a woman.
Sanjaya said:
Indeed, any task that is considered only after it is past does not become his and perishes through mere contemplation.
This duty of yours, though far-reaching and known, was not performed by you earlier when considering what has been attained and what has not.
O king, you have been repeatedly advised by the Pandavas not to engage in battle. However, due to your delusion, you do not heed this advice, O lord of the people.
You have committed terrible sins among the Pandavas, and because of you, there is a dreadful destruction of people among the kings.
At that time, do not grieve, O best of the Bharatas, for having transgressed. Listen to everything as it happened, the terrible calamity, O infallible one.
In the morning, Karṇa approached the king and spoke to Duryodhana, the mighty-armed, after meeting him.
Today, O king, I shall confront the illustrious Pandava. Either I will defeat that hero, or he will defeat me.
O King, because of the numerous tasks of both myself and Arjuna, there was no opportunity for us to meet.
"Listen to my words, O lord of the people. I will not return without defeating Arjuna in battle, O Bharata."
With the heroes slain in the army and me standing in battle, Arjuna, empowered by Indra, will attack me.
Then, O lord of people, understand what is beneficial for you, and the strength of Arjuna's weapons and resources.
In the breaking of great bodies, lightness, shooting far, skill, and weaponry, there is no one like Arjuna who is equal to me.
The bow named 'Vijaya', known for its great power among all weapons, was crafted by Vishvakarma with the intent to serve Indra's purpose.
O king, Indra, who conquered the groups of demons and whose sound confuses the ten directions of the demons, gave that highly esteemed (thing) to Bhārgava.
Bhargava gave me a divine and excellent bow, with which I will challenge the mighty-armed Arjuna, the best among the victorious, just as Indra fought all the assembled Daityas in battle.
The formidable bow given by Rama surpasses the Gandiva. The earth was conquered twenty-one times with that bow.
Bhārgava mentioned the divine deeds associated with the bow, which Rama had indeed given to me, and with which I shall fight against the Pāṇḍava.
Today, I, Duryodhana, will bring joy to you and my relatives by defeating the heroic Arjuna, the best among the victorious, in battle.
Today, O king, your realm, complete with mountains, forests, islands, and oceans, and having vanquished enemies, will be established by your sons and grandsons.
Today, nothing is impossible for me, especially for the sake of your beloved. Success is assured for one who is self-possessed and properly devoted to their duty.
He cannot withstand me in battle, just as a tree cannot withstand fire. However, I must express myself because I am overshadowed by Arjuna.
The bowstring of his bow is divine, and the great arrows are inexhaustible. His divine bow, the excellent Gandiva, remains unaging in battle.
"I possess a great divine bow named Vijaya, and my bow is excellent. There, I am superior to Arjuna with that bow, O king."
"By me, the Pāṇḍava is acknowledged as a superior hero. Know this from me: the charioteer, a descendant of the Daśārhas, is revered by all the worlds."
The divine chariot, gifted by Agni, is adorned with gold and is unbreakable from all sides. It is heroic, with horses as swift as the mind. The flag is divine, radiant, and astonishing with a monkey emblem.
Krishna, the creator of the world, protects the chariot. I, deprived of these resources, wish to fight against Pandu's son.
This hero Śalya, who is glorious in battle, would ensure your victory if he were to take up the role of charioteer.
His charioteer, Śalya, should be easily manageable by others. Let my carts carry iron arrows and vulture-feathered ones.
O King, let the chief chariots yoked with the best horses always follow me, O best of the Bharatas.
Thus, I will surpass Arjuna in qualities. Shalya is indeed superior to both Krishna and Arjuna.
The descendant of the Daśārhas, known for defeating enemy heroes, understands horses' nature just as well as Śalya, the renowned charioteer.
There is no one who matches the king of Madra in arm strength, and similarly, no archer equals me in weaponry.
Thus, there is no one like Śalya in chariot-fighting. This chariot of mine will surpass Arjuna's.
"O great king, this has been done by you, and I wish, O subduer of enemies, that by doing so, all my desires will be fulfilled."
Then you will witness in the battle what I am going to do, O Bhārata. Today, I will surely defeat all the assembled Pāṇḍavas.
Duryodhana said:
I will carry out everything as you believe, Karna. The chariots along with their attendants and horses will accompany you, O son of a charioteer.
"Let the carts carry iron arrows with vulture wings. We, all the kings, will follow you, Karna."
Sanjaya said:
After speaking thus, O great king, your glorious sons approached and the king addressed these words to the king of Madra.
