“’Arjuna said, “My victory, O Krishna, is, certain.  There is no doubt in this, since thou, O slayer of Madhu, that art the master of all the worlds, art pleased with me.  Urge the steeds, O Hrishikesha, and my car, O great car-warrior!  Today Phalguna will not return from battle without slaying Karna.  Behold Karna slain today and cut in pieces with my shafts.  Or, O Govinda, thou wilt today behold me slain with (Karna’s) arrows.  That terrible battle, capable of stupefying the three words, is at hand.  As long as the earth will last, people will speak of it.”  Saying these words unto Krishna who is never tired with exertion, Partha quickly proceeded on his car against Karna like an elephant against a rival elephant.  Once more Partha of great energy said unto Krishna, that chastiser of foes, these words, “Urge the steeds, O Hrishikesha, for time passeth.”  Thus addressed by the high-souled son of Pandu, Keshava wished him victory and urged steeds as fleet as thought.  Then that car of Pandu’s son, possessed of great speed, soon reached the front of Karna’s car.’”

87

“Sanjaya said, ’Beholding Vrishasena slain, Karna, filled with grief and rage, shed tears from his eyes for the death of his son.  Endued with great energy, with eyes red as copper from rage, Karna proceeded in the face of his foe, having summoned Dhananjaya to battle.  Then those two cars, both possessed of solar effulgence and covered with tiger-skins, when they came together, looked like two suns close to each other.  Both having white steeds and both crushers of foes, those two great bowmen, those two warriors possessed of solar effulgence, looked resplendent like the sun and the moon in the firmament.  Beholding those two warriors that resembled Indra and Virochana’s son (Vali) carefully preparing for battle for the conquest of the three worlds, all creatures were filled with wonder.  Seeing those two warriors rushing towards each other with the clatter of car-wheels the twang of bows, the sound of palms, the whizz of arrows, and leonine shouts, and seeing also their standards, viz., that of Karna bearing the elephant’s rope and that of Partha bearing the ape, approach each other, all the lords of the earth became filled with wonder.  Seeing those two car-warriors engaged with each other, O Bharata, all the kings uttered leonine shouts and cheered them repeatedly with applause.  Beholding that single combat between Partha and Karna, thousands of combatants there slapped their armpits and waved their garments on the air.  The Kauravas beat their musical instruments and blew their numerous conchs for gladdening Karna.  Similarly, all the Pandavas, for gladdening Dhananjaya, caused every point of the compass to resound with the blasts of their trumpets and conchs.  With those leonine shouts and slaps on armpits and other loud cries and roars of brave warriors, tremendous became the noise there on the occasion of that encounter between Karna and Arjuna.  People beheld those two tigers among