08.065
Pancharatra and Core: The duet starts between Karna and Arjuna, with initial hesitation displayed by Arjuna. Bhima, in anger, instils rage in Arjuna, resulting in the remaining Kurus fleeing, leaving Karna behind.
Sanjaya said:
In the midst of the loud sounds of conches and drums, the two great warriors with white horses, Karna and Arjuna, approached, following the ill-advised plan of your son, O king.
"Just as two mighty elephants from the Himalayas, with broken tusks, come together fiercely for battle, so did the heroes Dhananjaya (Arjuna) and Adhirathi (Karna) clash with great speed."
Just as a cloud is by the cloud, or a mountain by the mountain by chance, so did the sounds of the bowstring and the rim come together, like two rain-givers of arrows.
The mighty trees, creepers, and herbs with their grown horns, and the various kinds of mountain inhabitants, as if immovable or fallen, were striking each other with great weapons.
There was a great clash between the lord of gods and Virochana, reminiscent of ancient times. The scene was filled with arrows, broken limbs, charioteers, and vehicles, creating a situation unbearable for others, with sharp streams of blood flowing.
The great lakes, abundant with lotuses, water lilies, fish, and turtles, resounded with the calls of flocks of birds. Just as they were very close and agitated by the wind, so too did those two chariots, representing the armies, come together.
Both warriors, equal in prowess to Mahendra, resembling Mahendra, as great charioteers, fought with arrows like Mahendra's thunderbolt, akin to the battle between Mahendra and Vritra.
In the battle between Arjuna and Karna, both armies, equipped with elephants, infantry, horses, and chariots, and adorned with various colors, ornaments, garments, and garlands, trembled and rose in amazement, as if they had ascended to the sky.
With arms raised high and fingers like thunderbolts, roaring like lions and filled with excitement, they desired to see. When Arjuna, like an intoxicated elephant, approached, Karna intended to kill.
The Somakas urged Partha, saying, "Hurry, Arjuna, attack Karna and cut off his head without delay; take away the faith and kingdom from Dhritarashtra's son."
Thus, many of our warriors there said to Karna, 'Go, go then.' Conquer Arjuna, Karna, and then with armor; let the sons of Pritha return to the forest for a long time.
Then Karna first attacked Partha with ten great arrows. In response, an extremely angry Arjuna retaliated by piercing Karna in the flank with ten sharp arrows.
Karna and Arjuna, with sharp arrows, pierced each other mutually and joyfully approached the terrible battle.
In the intense battle, unable to endure, the great-souled Bhimasena became angry. Then, striking his hand with his own, biting his lip, he seemed to dance as if playing an instrument. He exclaimed, 'How could the son of a charioteer dare to pierce you, O crowned one, with ten mighty arrows right in front?'
With the same determination by which you conquered all beings and offered food to the fire in Khāṇḍava, use that determination to slay Sūtaputra; I will crush him with my mace.
Then Vasudeva, seeing the chariots being struck repeatedly, said to Arjuna: "Karna will completely crush your weapons with his weapons today. What is this, O crowned one?"
O hero, why are you bewildered and inattentive? The Kurus are jubilantly roaring, having placed Karna at the forefront, as they all understand that your weapon is being overpowered by theirs.
With the steadfastness that has destroyed dark weapons and terrible demons born of deceit in every age, you must conquer the son of a charioteer.
With this or his razor-edged discus, forcibly cut off the enemy's head. I have dispatched the Sudarshana discus, like Indra used the thunderbolt against Namuchi's enemy.
The Lord, appearing as a hunter, was greatly pleased by you. O hero, regain your courage and slay the son of a charioteer, accepting the consequences.
Then, you should offer the earth, encircled by the ocean, with its cities and flourishing villages, to the king who has vanquished his enemies; and you shall gain fame comparable to that of Arjuna.
Urged by Bhima and Janardana, and reflecting on his own nature and strength, he recognized the purpose of the great soul's arrival and spoke to Keshava.
I manifest this powerful and fierce weapon for the welfare of the world and to destroy the enemy; may you, along with the gods, Brahma, Shiva, and all the knowers of Brahman, grant me permission for this.
Thus, he declared the unbearable weapon of Brahma, which was manifested by his mind and was controllable. Then, all directions and sub-directions were enveloped with arrows of great splendor. The best of the Bharatas also unleashed hundreds of swift-moving arrows simultaneously.
In the midst of the battle, Karna released thousands of arrows, which, with their sound, approached the Pandava like streams of water released from a cloud.
He, having slain Bhimasena, Janardana, and Kiritin, who were performers of superhuman deeds, with three warriors of terrible strength, roared fiercely with a mighty voice.
Struck by Karna's arrow, Arjuna, the one with a crown, seeing Bhima and Krishna, intolerant, raised eighteen arrows again.
He pierced Suṣena with one arrow, Śalya with four, and Karna with three, and then struck the assembly leader adorned with golden armor with ten well-released arrows.
The prince, who was headless and armless, the charioteer of Rvivāja, without his bow and flag, then fell from the front of the chariot, shattered like a tree cut down by axes.
Once more, Karna, having pierced with three and eight arrows, with two, four, and ten, killed four hundred armed elephants, slaughtered eight hundred chariots, a thousand horses with riders, and destroyed thousands of infantry heroes.
Upon seeing the chief warriors engaged in battle, eager to witness the best of heroes and destroyers of enemies, Karna and Arjuna, the people, both on chariots and on the ground, stood by, controlling their horses.
Then, the bowstring of the Pandava was suddenly drawn tight and made a loud sound as it was cut. At that moment, the son of a charioteer surrounded Arjuna with a hundred small warriors.
Sixty sharp iron arrows, resembling freed snakes and washed in oil, fitted with bird feathers, pierced Vasudeva; then the Somakas fled in fear.
Then, Arjuna, with his body wounded by Karna's arrows, quickly stretched his bowstring and scattered the arrows of Adhiratha. Enraged, he received the Somakas in battle. Birds could not fly in the sky as darkness was created by the swift weapon.
Arjuna, with a smile, struck Shalya hard in the body with ten arrows. Then he struck Karna with twelve well-aimed arrows and again with seven more.
Karna, struck by the swift and fierce arrows of Arjuna, stood with his body pierced and limbs covered in blood, resembling Rudra with his bow drawn.
Then the great charioteer pierced Arjuna with three arrows, who is comparable to the lord of the thirty gods. However, desiring to kill, he sent five blazing arrows like serpents towards Krishna.
They pierced the armor of the supreme person, and the golden decorated ones fell down, well-released. With great speed, they swiftly entered the ground; after bathing, they advanced towards Karna.
Dhananjaya swiftly cut them off with five well-released arrows, each in threefold manner. They fell to the earth, the great horse and the wings of Takshaka's son.
Then the crowned one, blazing with anger as if he were fire burning the space, shot arrows drawn up to the ear, blazing and capable of ending bodies, piercing the vital parts. Despite the pain, he stood firm with immense courage.
Then, O king, the sun-like radiance of Karna's chariot was obscured by the showers of arrows, making it invisible to the angry Dhananjaya, as the sky is covered with mist.
He gathered all the essential warriors, including wheel protectors, foot guards, vanguard, and rear guards, who were approved by Duryodhana as enemy slayers.
In the battle, Arjuna, the unparalleled warrior among the Kurus, swiftly led two thousand Kuru heroes, along with their chariots, horses, and charioteers, to their demise in an instant, O king.
Then, your sons and the remaining Kurus fled, leaving Karna behind, scattering the slain and the wounded by arrows, while lamenting for their sons and fathers.
Karṇa, observing the empty directions and seeing the Kurus stricken with fear and deprived, was not disturbed, O Bharata; he rushed towards Arjuna as if going against the current.
