Vaisampayana continued, “Although thus urged with various words by Karna, still, O chief of the Bharata race, that Brahmana did not ask for any other boon.  And although Karna sought to pacify him to the best of his power, and worshipped him duly, yet that best of Brahmanas did not ask for any other boon.  And when that foremost of Brahmanas did not ask for any other boon, Radha’s son again spake unto him with a smile, ’My mail, O regenerate one, hath been born with my body, and this pair of ear-rings hath arisen from Amrita.  It is for these that I am unslayable in the worlds.  Therefore, I cannot part with them.  Do thou, O bull among Brahmanas, accept from me the entire kingdom of the earth, rid of enemies and full of prosperity!  O foremost of regenerate ones, if I am deprived of my ear-rings, and the mail born with my body, I shall be liable to be vanquished by the foes!’”

Vaisampayana continued, “When the illustrious slayer of Paka refused to ask for any other boon, Karna with a smile again addressed him, saying, ’O god of gods, even before this, I had recognised thee, O Lord!  O Sakra, it is not proper for me to confer on thee any unprofitable boon, for thou art the very lord of the celestials!  On the contrary, being as thou art the Creator and lord of all beings, it is thou that shouldst confer boons on me!  If, O god, I give thee this coat of mail and ear-rings, then I am sure to meet with destruction, and thou shalt also undergo ridicule!  Therefore, O Sakra, take my earrings and excellent mail in exchange for something conferred by thee on me!  Otherwise, I will not bestow them on thee!’ Thereupon Sakra replied, ’Even before I had come to thee, Surya had known of my purpose and without doubt, it is he that hath unfolded everything unto thee!  O Karna, be it as thou wishest!  O son, except the thunder-bolt alone, tell me what it is that thou desirest to have!’”

Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words of Indra, Karna was filled with delight and seeing that his purpose was about to be accomplished he approached Vasava, and intent upon obtaining a dart incapable of being baffled, he addressed Indra, saying, ’Do thou, O Vasava, in exchange for my coat of mail and ear-rings, give me a dart incapable of being baffled, and competent to destroy hosts of enemies when arrayed in order of battle!’ Thereupon, O ruler of earth, fixing his mind for a moment on the dart (for bringing it there), Vasava thus spake unto Karna, ’Do thou give me thy ear-rings, and the coat of mail born with thy body, and in return take this dart on these terms!  When I encounter the Daitya in battle, this dart that is incapable of being baffled, hurled by my hand, destroyeth enemies by hundreds, and cometh back to my hand after achieving its purpose.  In thy hand, however, this dart, O son of Suta, will slay only one powerful enemy of thine.  And having achieved that feat, it will, roaring and blazing, return to me!’ Thereat Karna said, ’I