Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/444

430 strength and energy of Arjuna's arms unequalled on the earth, Karna the son of Suryya fought with greater vigour. And parrying all those impetuous arrows shot at him by Arjuna, Karna sent up a loud shout. And this feat of his was applauded by all the warriors. Then addressing his antagonist, Karna said, 'O thou of foremost of Brahmanas. I am gratified to observe the energy of thy arms that knoweth no relaxation in battle and thy weapons themselves fit for achieving victory. Art thou the embodiment of the science of weapons, or art thou Rama that best of Brahmanas, or Indra himself, or Indra's younger brother Visbnu called also Achyuta, who for disguising himself hath assumed the form of a Brahmana and mustering such energy of arms fighteth with me? No other person except the husband himself of Sachi or Kiriti the son of Pandu is capable of fighting with me when I am angry on the field of battle. Then hearing those words of his, Phalguna replied, saying, O Karna, I am neither the science of arms (personified), nor Rama endued with superhuman powers! I am only a Brahmana who is the foremost, of all warriors of all wielders of weapons. By the grace of my preceptor I have become accomplished in the Brahma and the Paurandara weapons. I am here to vanquish thee in battle. Therefore. O hero, wait a little !

Vaisampayana continued,"Thus addressed (by Arjuna), Karna the adopted son of Radha desisted from the fight, for that mighty chariotfighter thought that Brahma energy is ever invincible. Meanwhile on another part of the filed, the mighty heroes Salya and Vrikodara, well skilled in battle and possessed of great strength and proficiency, challenging each other, engaged in fight like two elephants in rut! And they struck each other with their clenched fist and knees. And sometimes pushing each other forward and sometimes dragging each other near, sometimes throwing each other down face downward and sometimes on the sides, they fought on, striking each other at times with tbeir clenched fists. And encountering each other with blows hard as the clash of two masses of granite, the lists rang with the sounds of their combat. Fighting with each other thus for a few seconds, Bhina the foremost of the Kuru heroes taking up Salya on his arms hurled him to a distance. And Bhimasena-that bull amongst men-surprised all (by the dexterity of his feat) for though he threw Salya on the ground he did it without hurting him much. And when Salya was thus thrown down and Karna was struck with fear, the other monarchs were all alarmed. And they hastily surrounded Bhima and exclaimed, 'Surely these bulls amongst Brahmanas are excellent (warriors)! Ascertain in what race they have been born and where they abide. Who can encounter Karna the son of Radha in fight, except Rama or Drona, or