high-souled one, the king of the Madras, addressing Karna, said, “There cometh that car-warrior having white steeds yoked unto his vehicle and having Krishna for his driver, slaying his foes in battle.  There cometh he about whom thou wert enquiring, holding his bow Gandiva.  If thou canst slay him today, great good may then be done to us.  He cometh, O Karna, desirous of an encounter with thee, slaying, as he cometh, our chief warriors.  Do thou proceed against that hero of Bharata’s race.  Avoiding all our warriors, Dhananjaya advanceth with great speed, for, as I think, an encounter with thee, judging by his form swelling with rage and energy.  Blazing with wrath, Partha will not stop from desire of battle with anybody else save thee, especially when Vrikodara is being so much afflicted (by thee).  Learning that king Yudhishthira the just hath been exceedingly mangled and made carless by thee, and seeing (the plight of) Shikhandi, and Satyaki, and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, and the (five) sons of Draupadi, and Yudhamanyu, and Uttamauja, and the brothers, Nakula and Sahadeva, that scorcher of foes, Partha, advanceth impetuously on a single car against thee.  Without doubt, he is advancing with speed against us, avoiding other combatants.  Do thou, O Karna, proceed against him, for there is no other bowman (among us that can do so).  I do not behold any arrangements made for his protection, either on his flanks or at his rear.  He advanceth alone against thee.  Look after thy success now.  Thou alone art able to encounter the two Krishnas in battle.  Proceed, therefore, against Dhananjaya.  Thou art the equal of Bhishma, of Drona, of Drona’s son, of Kripa.  Do thou resist in this great battle the advancing Savyasaci.  Indeed, O Karna, slay this Dhananjaya that resembles a snake frequently darting out its tongue, or a roaring bull, or a tiger in the forest.  There, those kings, those mighty car-warriors of the Dhritarashtra’s army, through fear of Arjuna, are quickly flying away, regardless of one another.  Save thee, O Suta’s son, there is no other man, O hero, that can, in battle, dispel the fears of those retreating combatants.  All those Kurus, O tiger among men, obtaining thee as their refuge in this battle, stand depending on thee and desirous of thy protection.  Mustering thy great prowess, O mighty-armed one, proceed against Vrishni’s race, who is always gratified by the diadem-decked (Arjuna).”

“’Karna said, “Thou seemest now to be in thy usual frame of mind and thou art now agreeable to me.  Do not, O mighty-armed one, entertain any fear of Dhananjaya.  Behold the might of my arms today, and behold my skill.  Single-handed, I will today destroy the mighty host of the Pandavas, as also those two lions among men, the two Krishnas!  I say this truly unto thee.  I will never return from the field today without slaying two heroes.  Or, slain by those two, I shall today sleep on the field of battle.  Victory is uncertain in battle.  Slaying or slain, I shall today achieve my purpose.”