Having as thou sayst, passed thy exile in the
woods in strict accordance with thy pledge and being therefore weakened
by practising an ascetic course of life, how canst thou desire a combat
with me now! O Pritha's son, if Sakra himself fight on thy side, still I
would feel no anxiety in putting forth my prowess. Thy wish, O son of
Kunti, is about to be gratified. Do thou fight with me now, and behold
my strength.' Hearing this, Arjuna said, 'Even now, O Radha's son, thou
hadst fled from battle with me, and it is for this that thou livest
although thy younger brother hath been slain. What other person, save
thee, having beheld his younger brother slain in battle would himself
fly from the field, and boast as thou dost, amid good and true men?'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Having said these words unto Karna, the
invincible Vibhatsu rushed at him and charged a volley of shafts capable
of penetrating through a coat of mail. But that mighty car-warrior,
Karna, received with great alacrity that discharge with an arrowy shower
of his own, heavy as the downpour of the clouds. And that fierce volley
of arrows covered all sides and severally pierced the steeds and arms
and leathern fences of the combatants. And incapable of putting up with
that assault, Arjuna cut off the strings of Karna's quiver by means of a
straight and sharp arrow. Thereupon, taking out from his quiver another
arrow, Karna pierced the Pandava in the hand at which the latter's hold
of the bow was loosened.
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