SECTION CXXXII

“Dhritarashtra said, ’I regard Bhimasena’s prowess to be exceedingly wonderful, inasmuch as he succeeded in battling with Karna of singular activity and energy.  Indeed, O Sanjaya, tell me why that Karna, who is capable of resisting in battle the very celestials with the Yakshas and Asuras and men, armed with all kinds of weapons, could not vanquish in battle Pandu’s son Bhima blazing with resplendence?  O tell me, how that battle took place between them in which each staked his very life.  I think that in an encounter between the two, success is within reach of both as, indeed, both are liable to defeat.[156] O Suta, obtaining Karna in battle, my son Suyodhana always ventures to vanquish the sons of Pritha with Govinda and the Satwatas.  Hearing, however, of the repeated defeat in battle of Karna by Bhimasena of terrible deeds, a swoon seems to come upon me, I think, the Kauravas to be already slain, in consequence of evil policy of my son.  Karna will never succeed, O Sanjaya, in vanquishing those mighty bowmen, viz., the sons of Pritha.  In all the battles that Karna has fought with the sons of Pandu, the latter have invariably defeated him on the field.  Indeed, O son, the Pandavas are incapable of being vanquished by the very gods with Vasava at their head.  Alas, my wicked son Duryodhana knoweth it not.  Having robbed Pritha’s son, who is like the Lord of the treasures himself, of his wealth, my son of little intelligence seeth not the fall like a searcher of honey (in the mountains).  Conversant with deceit, he regardeth it to be irrevocably his and always insulteth the Pandavas.  Myself also, of unrefined soul, overcome with affection for my children, scrupled not to despise the high-souled sons of Pandu that are observant of morality.  Yudhishthira, the son of Pritha, of great foresight, always showed himself desirous of peace.  My sons, however, regarding him incapable, despised him.  Bearing in mind all those woes and all the wrongs (sustained by the Pandavas), the mighty-armed Bhimasena battled with the Suta’s son.  Tell me, therefore, O Sanjaya, how Bhima and Karna, those two foremost of warriors, fought with each other, desirous of taking each other’s life!’

`Sanjaya said, ’Hear, O king, how the battle took place between Karna and Bhima which resembled an encounter between two elephants in the forest, desirous of slaying each other.  The son of Vikartana, O king, excited with rage and putting forth his prowess, pierced that chastiser of foes, viz., the angry Bhima of great prowess with thirty shafts.  Indeed, O chief of Bharata’s race, Vikartana’s son struck Bhima with many arrows of keen points, decked with gold, and endued with great impetuosity.  Bhima, however, with three sharp shafts cut off the bow of Karna, as the latter was engaged in striking him.  And with a broad-headed arrow, the son of Pandu then felled on the earth Karna’s charioteer