08.034
Core and Pancharatra: Karna encounters Bhima, who is destroying the Kaurava army. Shalya takes unconscious Karna away, hit by Bhima.
Sanjaya said:
Seeing the Pāṇḍavas charging, your army did not stop shouting, O king, indeed your son did not halt.
Then, the Kauravas, with their weapons raised, attacked Bhima from all sides, including the front, flanks, and south, during the battle.
Karna, upon seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra fleeing and turning away, dispatched the white-colored excellent horses to where Bhima was.
The horses, dispatched by the great king Śalya, who shone in battle, were yoked to Bhīmasena's chariot after reaching it.
Upon seeing Karṇa coming near, Bhīma, in his wrath, resolved to destroy Karṇa, O best of the Bharatas.
He instructed the brave Satyaki and Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pṛṣata, to protect the righteous King Yudhiṣṭhira, who had narrowly escaped great danger under his watchful eyes.
In front of me, the king, with all his retinue severed, was made so by the evil-minded Radheya to please Duryodhana.
Today, O son of Prishata, I will put an end to his sorrow. Either I will kill Karna in battle, or he will kill me. This is the truth I declare to you in this dreadful war.
"Today, I entrust the king to your care. All of you should strive to protect him without any worry."
Having spoken thus, the mighty-armed one departed towards Adhiratha, making all directions resound with a great lion's roar.
Upon seeing Bhima, who was eager for battle and approaching swiftly, the powerful ruler of the Madras spoke to the charioteer's son.
Behold Karna, the mighty-armed and angry one, the joy of the Pandavas, who has long harbored anger and now seeks to release it upon you with certainty.
I have never seen such a form before, whether it is Abhimanyu, Karna, the demon, or Ghatotkacha who is slain.
When angered, he who is capable of restraining the entire three worlds assumes a form that resembles the auspicious fire of destruction.
As the lord of the Madras was speaking to Radheya, O king, Vrikodara, burning with rage, approached Karna.
Upon seeing Bhima, who was rejoicing in the battle, Radheya, with a smile, addressed Shalya.
The statement you made today, O king of Madra, to Bhimasena, O lord, is true; there is no doubt about it.
This is Vrikodara, who is brave, heroic, and prone to anger. He is indifferent to both his body and life, and is superior in strength.
During their incognito stay in the city of Virata, Kichaka, along with his followers, was killed by the Pandavas, who acted to please Draupadi, relying solely on their physical strength and hidden strategies.
Today, he stands at the forefront of the battle, armed and intoxicated with anger, ready to face even death itself as if it were a mere servant with a raised stick.
For a long time, I have desired this wish: to either kill Arjuna in battle or be killed by Dhanañjaya. Perhaps today, this will come true by meeting Bhima.
If Bhimasena is killed or rendered chariotless, Arjuna will come towards me; that will be favorable for me. Here, quickly consider what you deem appropriate.
Upon hearing the words of the noble Radheya, Shalya addressed the son of a charioteer who had arrived in such a manner.
You, O mighty-armed one, approach Bhimasena, who possesses great strength. Once you have defeated Bhimasena, you will then achieve Arjuna.
O Karna, the desire that has been in your heart for a long time will indeed come true. I assure you of this truth.
Upon hearing this, Karṇa spoke again to Śalya, expressing his determination: "I will either kill Arjuna in battle, or Dhanañjaya will kill me." With his mind resolved for the battle, he urged, "Go, go."
Then Śalya quickly rode his chariot to the place where Bhīma, the great archer, was causing havoc among the troops, O lord of men.
Then, O King, the sound of trumpets and the loud noise of drums arose as Karna and Bhima encountered each other.
Then Bhimasena, in his anger, made your formidable army flee in all directions with his sharp and shining arrows, displaying his might.
The fierce and tumultuous clash between Karna and Pandava was terrifying, O great king. Then, after a moment, Pandava charged at Karna.
Seeing the approaching enemy, Karṇa, the mighty son of Vikartana, struck him angrily on the chest with an iron arrow between the breasts. Then, with an immeasurable spirit, he showered him with arrows again.
He, having been pierced by the son of a charioteer, covered Karṇa with arrows and pierced him with nine sharp, bent-jointed arrows.
His ear was severed in the middle of the bow by an arrow. Then, with a very sharp arrow that could pierce any armor, he struck him in the chest.
Vrikodara, the son of a charioteer, took another bow and pierced the vital parts with sharp arrows. O king, he roared with a mighty sound, as if shaking the heavens.
Karna attacked him with twenty-five arrows, resembling an arrogant elephant in the forest, maddened and struck by blazing torches.
Then, the Pāṇḍava, his body pierced by arrows, was overcome with rage. His eyes turned red with anger and indignation, and he desired to kill the son of a charioteer.
He fitted the excellent arrow into the bow, which was capable of bearing great weight and speed, and could even pierce through mountains.
The great archer, filled with anger and intent on killing Karna, drew his bow with great force from his ear and released it like a mighty wind.
The arrow, released by the mighty warrior, sounded like a thunderbolt and struck Karṇa in the battle with the force of a thunderbolt, as if piercing a mountain.
The son of a charioteer, struck by Bhimasena, fell unconscious on the chariot seat, O descendant of Kuru, as the commander of the army.
Then the king of Madra, upon seeing the unconscious son of the charioteer, took Karna, who was resplendent in battle, away by chariot from the battlefield.
After Karna was defeated, Bhimasena scattered the great Kaurava army, just as Indra once scattered the army of demons.
