in that battle.  The valiant Bhima then, in that encounter, pierced Karna with two and thirty broad-headed shafts of keen points and fierce energy, Karna, however, with the greatest indifference, covered, in return, with his arrows, the mighty-armed Bhimasena who was desirous of Jayadratha’s slaughter.  Indeed, the son of Radha, in that encounter, fought mildly with Bhima, while Bhima, remembering his former wrongs, fought with him furiously.  The wrathful Bhimasena could not brook that disregard by Karna.  Indeed, that slayer of foes quickly shot showers of arrows at Radha’s son.  Those arrows, sped in that encounter by Bhimasena, fell on every limb of Karna like cooing birds.  Those arrows equipped with golden wings and keen points, shot from Bhimasena’s bow, covered the son of Radha like a flight of insects covering a blazing fire.  Karna, however, O king, shot showers of fierce shafts in return, O Bharata.  Then Vrikodara cut off, with Many broad-headed arrows, those shafts resembling thunderbolts, shot by that ornament of battle, before they could come at him.  That chastiser of foes, viz., Karna, the son of Vikartana, once more, O Bharata, covered Bhimasena with his arrowy showers.  We then, O Bharata, beheld Bhima so pierced in that encounter with arrows as to resemble a porcupine with its quilts erect on its body.[155] Like the sun holding his own rays, the heroic Bhima held in that battle all those shafts, whetted on stone and equipped with wings of gold, that were shot from Karna’s bow.  All his limbs bathed in blood, Bhimasena looked resplendent like an Asoka tree in spring adorned with its flowery burthen.  The mighty-armed Bhima could not brook that conduct, in battle, of the mighty-armed Karna.  Rolling his eyes ill wrath, he pierced Karna with five and twenty long shafts.  Thereupon, Karna looked like a white mountain with many snakes of virulent poison (hanging from its sides).  And once more, Bhimasena, endued with the prowess of a celestial, pierced the Suta’s son who was prepared to lay down his life in battle, with six and then with eight arrows.  And, again, with another arrow, the valiant Bhimasena quickly cut off Karna’s bow, smiling the while.  And he slew also with his shafts the four steeds of Karna and then his charioteer, and then pierced Karna himself in the chest with a number of long shafts endued with the effulgence of the sun.  Those winged shafts, piercing through Karna’s body, entered the earth, like the rays of the sun piercing through the clouds.  Afflicted with arrows and his bow cut off, Karna, though proud of his manliness, felt great pain and proceeded to another car.’”

SECTION CXXXI

“Dhritarashtra said, ’What, indeed, O Sanjaya, did Duryodhana say when he saw that Karna turning away from the field upon whom my sons had reposed all their hopes of victory?  How, indeed, did the mighty Bhima, proud of his energy, fight?  What also, O son, did Karna do after this, beholding Bhimasena in that battle resemble a blazing fire?’