what is the use then of parching thy palate now, by uttering that word?  Thou art now for the practice of virtue, O Suta, but thou shalt not escape with life.  Like Nala who was defeated by Pushkara with the aid of dice but who regained his kingdom by prowess, the Pandavas, who are free from cupidity, will recover their kingdom by the prowess of their arms, aided with all their friends.  Having slain in battle their powerful foes, they, with the Somakas, will recover their kingdom.  The Dhartarashtras will meet with destruction at the hands of those lions among men (viz., the sons of Pandu), that are always protected by virtue!’”

“Sanjaya continued, ’Thus addressed, O Bharata, by Vasudeva, Karna hung down his head in shame and gave no answer.  With lips quivering in rage, he raised his bow, O Bharata, and, being endued with great energy and prowess, he continued to fight with Partha.  Then Vasudeva, addressing Phalguna, that bull among men, said, “O thou of great might, piercing Karna with a celestial weapon, throw him down.”  Thus addressed by the holy one, Arjuna became filled with rage.  Indeed, remembering the incidents alluded to by Krishna, Dhananjaya blazed up with fury.  Then, O king, blazing flames of fire seemed to emanate from all the pores of the angry Partha’s body.  The sight seemed to be exceedingly wonderful.  Beholding it, Karna, invoking the brahmastra, showered his shafts upon Dhananjaya, and once more made an effort to extricate his car.  Partha also, by the aid of the brahmastra, poured arrowy downpours upon Karna.  Baffling with his own weapon the weapon of his foe, the son of Pandu continued to strike him.  The son of Kunti then, aiming at Karna sped another favourite weapon of his that was inspired with the energy of Agni.  Sped by Arjuna, that weapon blazed up with its own energy.  Karna, however, quenched that conflagration with the Varuna weapon.  The Suta’s son also, by the clouds he created, caused all the points of the compass to be shrouded with a darkness such as may be seen on a rainy day.  The son of Pandu, endued with great energy, fearlessly dispelled those clouds by means of the Vayavya weapon in the very sight of Karna.  The Suta’s son then, for slaying the son of Pandu, took up a terrible arrow blazing like fire.  When that adored shaft was fixed on the bow-string, the earth, O king, trembled with her mountains and waters and forests.  Violent winds began to blow, bearing hard pebbles.  All the points of the compass became enveloped with dust.  Wails of grief, O Bharata, arose among the gods in the welkin.  Beholding that shaft aimed by the Suta’s son, O sire, the Pandavas, with cheerless hearts, gave themselves up to great sorrow.  That shaft of keen point and endued with the effulgence of Sakra’s thunder, sped from Karna’s arms, fell upon Dhananjaya’s chest and penetrated it like a mighty snake penetrating an ant-hill.  That grinder of foes, viz., the high-souled Vibhatsu, thus deeply pierced in that encounter, began to reel.