perfectly bright, looked exceedingly beautiful on their cars, like the planets Rahu and Ketu risen in the firmament at the time of the universal dissolution.  The elephant’s rope on Karna’s banner, looking like a snake of virulent poison and made of jewels and gems and exceedingly strong and resembling the bow of Indra, looked resplendent (as it waved in the air).  That foremost of apes, again, belonging to Partha, with jaws wide open and terrible, and difficult of being gazed at, like the sun himself, inspired fear by his formidable teeth.  The impetuous Ape on the standard of the wielder of Gandiva, becoming desirous of battle, rushed from his station and fell upon Karna’s standard.  Endued with great impetuosity, the Ape, darting forward, struck the elephant’s rope with his nails and teeth, like Garuda falling upon a snake.  Decked with rows of little bells, hard as iron, and resembling the fatal noose (in the hands of Yama or Varuna), the elephant’s rope, filled with wrath, closed with the Ape.  Thus in that fierce single combat between those two heroes, which was the result of what had been settled at the time of the match at dice, their standards first battled with each other.  Meanwhile the steeds of the one neighed at the steeds of the other.  The lotus-eyed Keshava pierced Shalya with his keen glances.  The latter also cast similar glances at the former.  Vasudeva, however, vanquished Shalya with those glances of his, while Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, vanquished Karna with his glances.  Then the Suta’s son, smilingly addressing Shalya, said, “If Partha by any means slays me in battle today, tell me truly, O friend, what thou wilt do after that.”  Shalya answered, saying, “If thou art slain, I myself will slay both Krishna and Dhananjaya.”  Once more the ruler of the Madras said, “If, O Karna, the white steeded Arjuna slays thee in battle today, I myself, on a single car, will slay both Madhava and Phalguna.’”

“Sanjaya continued, ’Arjuna also asked Govinda a similar question.  Krishna, however, smiling, said unto Partha these words of grave import, “The Sun himself may fall down from his place, the Earth herself may split into a 1,000 fragments; fire itself may become cold.  Still Karna will not be able to slay thee, O Dhananjaya!  If, however, any such occurrence takes place, know then that the destruction of the universe will be at hand.  As regards myself, I will, using my bare arms, slay both Karna and Shalya in battle.”  Hearing these words of Krishna, the ape-bannered Arjuna, smiling, replied unto Krishna who was never fatigued with exertion, saying, “Shalya and Karna, united together, are not a match for myself alone, O Janardana!  Thou shalt today, O Krishna, behold Karna with his standard and banners with Shalya and his car and steeds, with his umbrella and armour and darts and shafts and bow, cut in pieces with my shafts in battle.  Thou shalt today behold him with his car and steeds and darts and armour and weapons, reduced to dust like