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Mahabharata's war was the greatest war ever fought, but which battle / duel was the greatest duel inside it?. Many critics / scholars consider Karna vs Arjuna's battle - as the climax of the Great war. It was not only the greatest duel but the most fiercest also.
I know people might ask that why isn't Abhimanyu's battle best?, why isn't Drona or Bhishma's battle the best?, the answer is simple - It was not as fierce and as deadly as Karna vs Arjuna. Almost every known Divyastra was fired in this battle.
Below I tried to summarize on what happened in the Greatest Duel ever fought. I know SP MB wont show this, they will most probably show a talk show between these two greatest warriors.
The moderators can feel free to divert this thread to the Kurekshetra war thread, I thought of not posting this there since that thread is mostly in-active.
The Duel Begins :-
The Duel started - Karna and Arjuna resembled Indra himself, they were very fierce. Both pierced each other with fierce shafts, Arjuna then invoked the Agneyastra and other warrior clothes started burning due to the heat of the Astra, Arjuna fired it but Karna quenched Arjuna's Agneyastra with Varunastra.
"..The son of Indra then sped at Karna a fiery weapon capable of slaying all foes. Covering the earth and the welkin and the ten points of the compass and the very course of the sun with its effulgence, it caused his own body also to blaze up with light. The robes of all the warriors took fire, at which they fled away. Loud sounds also arose there, like what is heard when a forest of bamboos in a wilderness is on fire. Beholding that fiery weapon acting on all sides, the suta's son Karna of great valour shot in that encounter the varunastra for quenching it.."
The clouds caused by Karna's Varunastra were dispelled by Arjuna's vayavyastra. Arjuna invoked Indrastra and many Anjalika and Nalika weapons and pierced Karna's limbs, his horses, his bow, the yoke and the wheels.
"..After this,Dhananjaya, incapable of being over-mastered by foes inspired gandiva, its string, and his shafts, withmantras, and invoked into existence another weapon that was the favourite of the chief of the celestialsand that resembled the thunder in energy and prowess. Then razor-headed arrows, and anjalikas, andcrescent-shaped shafts, and nalikas, and cloth-yard shafts and those equipped with heads like the boar'sear, all keen and sharp, issued from gandiva in thousands, endued with the force and impetuosity of thethunder. Possessed of great might and great energy, those impetuous and keen shafts equipped withvulturine feathers piercing all the limbs, the steeds, the bow, the yoke, the wheels, and the standard of Karna.."
Karna in wrath fired Bhargavastra which nullified Arjuna's Indrastra, Karna killed thousands of elephants and foot soldiers through Bhargavastra. Karna started causing carnage through Bhargavastra, Karna then laughed at Krishna and Arjuna and slayed many Panchala warriors. Bhima then asked Arjuna how Karna can baffle his shafts and kill Panchala warriors in his sight.
Arjuna then, in wrath, fired the Brahmastra, Karna however nullifed the Brahmastra of Arjuna. Bhima, beholding Arjuna's Brahmastra nullified, told Arjuna to fire the high Brahmastra, Arjuna's Brahmastra caused carnage, Karna then fired thousands of arrows which also caused carnage, Karna then peirced Bhima, Krishna and Arjuna with shafts, Arjuna fired many arrows which caused carnage and killed thousands of soldiers. Karna too killed thousands and thousands of Panchala and Pandava warriors and peirced Arjuna, Bhima and Krishna with thousands of arrows. Meanwhile Yudisthira came to the field to have a gaze at the magnificent battle. Arjuna in anger strecthed his bow string and a noise like thunder was heard, in the meantimes of Arjuna strecthing his bow-string, Karna pierced Arjuna with 100 arrows and peirced Krishna with 60, Karna peirced Arjuna again with 8 shafts, Karna then peirced Bhima with thousand upon thousands of arrows. Thousands upon thousands of warrior were slain by Karna and Arjuna.
All of the troops regarded the two Krishna's to be brought under Karna's sway, Arjuna then in wrath baffled all of the shafts shot by Karna, Arjuna then pierced Shalya and Karna, Arjuna peirced Karna with 19 shafts and Shalya with 10. Karna bathed in blood due to Arjuna's shafts. Karna then sped 5 snake arrows which were 5 snakes from the Khandav- Dahan and pierced Krishna with those. Arjuna got very angry seeing Krishna's limbs mangled, Arjuna pierced Karna in all his vital limbs, Karna felt great pain. The troops supporting Karna were killed by Arjuna and remaining fled leaving Karna alone.
Karna baffled all of Arjuna's arrows in the air, they continued to duel and pierce each other, sometimes Karna prevailed over Arjuna and sometimes Arjuna prevailed over Karna. While they were peircing each other and devouring each other armies, Aswasena, whose mother was killed by Arjuna in the Khandav-Dahan, entered Karna's quiver, Karna realized that he cant gain advantage over Arjuna by normal shafts, he needs a divine weapon, Karna then fixed on his bow-string a golden arrow which lay singly in the quiver, Karna had worshiped that arrow from many long years (Seems like Aswasena entered the arrow Karna worshiped), Shalya then advised Karna that this arrow wont cut Arjuna's head - aim it at his chest he adviced, Karna refused saying that he does not him one arrow twice, Karna let that shaft towards Arjuna but Krishna, seeing Arjuna in a distress, pressed the chariot six cubits into the earth, the shaft took Arjuna's diadem-decked crown instead of his head. Aswasena requested Karna to fire him again, Karna refused that he does not need anyone's help to kill even 100's of Arjuna. Aswasena in anger went to kill Arjuna but Arjuna cut off his body with his shafts.
"..Stretching his bow-string to his ear, Karna fixed that shaft of fierce energy and blazing
splendour, that ever-worshipped weapon which lay within a golden quiver amid sandal dust, and aimed it at Partha. Indeed, he aimed that blazing arrow, born in Airavata's race, for cutting off Phalguna's headin battle. All the points of the compass and the welkin became ablaze and terrible meteors, andthunderbolts fell. When that snake of the form of an arrow was fixed.."
"..Madhava, with great speed and the greatest ease, pressed down with his feet that
excellent car, causing it to sink about a cubit deep. At this, the steeds, white as the rays of the moon anddecked in trappings of gold, bending their knees, laid themselves down on the ground. Indeed, seeingthat snake (in the form of an arrow) aimed by Karna, Madhava, that foremost of all persons endued withmight, put forth his strength and thus pressed down with his feet that car into the earth.."
"..Sanjaya continued, Then Jishnu, turning his face in rage, cut off, with six keen shafts, that snake in the welkin as the latter was coursing in a slanting direction. His body thus cut off, he fell down on the earth.After that snake had been cut off by Arjuna.."
Arjuna then pierced Karna in all his vital limbs, Karna in return pierced Arjuna and Krishna and gave a loud roar, Arjuna could not brook it, Arjuna then broke Karna's ear-rings and armour, Arjuna kept on piercing Karna in all of his vital limbs, Karna felt great pain, he set his aside bow, Karna stood in-active, Arjuna did not attack Karna when he was in shock, Krishna told Arjuna to attack his enemy no matter what, Arjuna accepted and started attacking Karna, Karna too started piercing Karna.
"..Then the Suta's son, casting aside his bow that resembled the very bow of Sakra, as also his quiver, felt great pain, and stood inactive, stupefied, and reeling, his grasp loosened and himself in great anguish.The virtuous Arjuna, observant of the duty of manliness, wished not to slay his enemy while fallen intosuch distress.."
"..Saying, "So be it, O Krishna!" and worshipping Janardana, Arjuna, that foremost of all persons in Kuru's race once more quickly pierced Karna with many excellent arrows like the ruler of heaven, piercing the Asura, Samvara.."
When the hour of Karna's death came - the Brahman's curse came into effect, the High Brahmastra escaped from Karna's memory, Karna's car wheel also began to sink. Karna continued fighting. Karna invoked Brahmastra and Arjuna invoked Aindraastra, Karna baffled Arjuna Aindrastra, Krishna told Arjuna to fire higher weapons since Karna is baffling all of them, Arjuna invoked Brahmastra. Karna then with a number of arrows broke Arjuna's bow string, Karna cut off 11 strings of Arjuna's bow, Arjuna though continued to string his bow quicxkly, Karna was seeing having a upperhand at this point of time, Arjuna then fixed two celestial weapons in one, Raudra weapon and Agneyastra, Karna in the meantime made an effort to remove his wheel, Karna raised the earth four fingers breadths while trying to take out his wheel. Karna asked Arjuna to wait and let him remove his wheel, Krishna recounted Karna's past sins and declined.
"..Trembling at the shock, Karna then displayed his activity to the utmost of his power. Steadying himself by a powerful effort he invoked the brahmastra. Beholding the brahmastra, Arjuna invoked the Aindra weapon with proper mantras. Inspiring gandiva,its string, and his shafts also, with mantras, that scorcher of foes poured showers like Purandara pouringrain in torrents. Those arrows endued with great energy and power, issuing out of Partha's car, wereseen to be displayed in the vicinity of Karna's vehicle. The mighty car-warrior Karna baffled all thoseshafts displayed in his front.."
"..Arjuna then fixed the brahmastra on his string, and shrouding all the points of the compass with arrows, Partha struck Karna (with many) arrows.."
"..Then Karna, with a number of whetted shafts endued with great energy, cut off the string of Arjuna's bow. Similarly he cut off the second string, and then the third, andthen the fourth, and then the fifth. The sixth also was cut off by Vrisha, and then the seventh, then theeighth, then the ninth, then the tenth, and then at last the eleventh. Capable of shooting hundreds uponhundreds of arrows, Karna knew not that Partha had a hundred strings to his bow. Tying another stringto his bow and shooting many arrows, the son of Pandu covered Karna with shafts that resembled snakesof blazing mouths. So quickly did Arjuna replace each broken string that Karna could not mark when itwas broken and when replaced. The feat seemed to him to be exceedingly wonderful. The son of Radhabaffled with his own weapons those of Savyasaci. Displaying also his own prowess, he seemed to get thebetter of Dhananjaya at that time..."
Karna then started fighting, Karna quickly invoked the Brahmastra and alighted from his car to take out his wheel. Arjuna baffled Karna's Brahmastra with his own. Arjuna quickly fired Agniastra but Karna quenched it with Varunastra. Arjuna used Vayavastra to clear the clouds, Karna then took a shaft and when that shaft was fixed on the bowstring, violent winds started to blow, the pandavas gave up the hope of Arjuna's life, Karna fired the shaft and that shaft peuirced Arjuna and the latter dropped his Gandiva and fell unconscious, Karna quickly jumped from his car to take out his wheel, Arjuna regained consciousness and picked up hid Gandiva, Krishna told Arjuna to kill Karna before his gets up on his chariot, Arjuna then fixed on his bow the Anjalika weapon and united the weapon with one more mighty celestial weapon, Arjuna first broke Karna's standard while the latter was busy taking out his wheel, Karna then fired the weapon and the weapon decapitated Karna thus ending Karna's life.
"..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 favorite 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 he 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. His grasp became loosened, at which his bow Gandiva dropped from his hand. He trembled like the prince of mountains in an earthquake.."
"..The wielder of Gandiva then fixed on his bow that unrivaled arrow, uniting it with a high
and mighty weapon.."
"..Thus sped by that mighty warrior, that shaft endued with the energy of the sun caused all the points of the compass to blaze up with light. With that weapon Arjuna struck off his enemy's head like Indra striking off the head of Vritra with his thunder. Indeed, O king, with that excellent Anjalika weapon inspired with mantras into a mighty weapon, the son of Indracut off the head of Vaikartana in the afternoon.."
I know people might ask that why isn't Abhimanyu's battle best?, why isn't Drona or Bhishma's battle the best?, the answer is simple - It was not as fierce and as deadly as Karna vs Arjuna. Almost every known Divyastra was fired in this battle.
Below I tried to summarize on what happened in the Greatest Duel ever fought. I know SP MB wont show this, they will most probably show a talk show between these two greatest warriors.
The moderators can feel free to divert this thread to the Kurekshetra war thread, I thought of not posting this there since that thread is mostly in-active.
The Duel Begins :-
The Duel started - Karna and Arjuna resembled Indra himself, they were very fierce. Both pierced each other with fierce shafts, Arjuna then invoked the Agneyastra and other warrior clothes started burning due to the heat of the Astra, Arjuna fired it but Karna quenched Arjuna's Agneyastra with Varunastra.
"..The son of Indra then sped at Karna a fiery weapon capable of slaying all foes. Covering the earth and the welkin and the ten points of the compass and the very course of the sun with its effulgence, it caused his own body also to blaze up with light. The robes of all the warriors took fire, at which they fled away. Loud sounds also arose there, like what is heard when a forest of bamboos in a wilderness is on fire. Beholding that fiery weapon acting on all sides, the suta's son Karna of great valour shot in that encounter the varunastra for quenching it.."
The clouds caused by Karna's Varunastra were dispelled by Arjuna's vayavyastra. Arjuna invoked Indrastra and many Anjalika and Nalika weapons and pierced Karna's limbs, his horses, his bow, the yoke and the wheels.
"..After this,Dhananjaya, incapable of being over-mastered by foes inspired gandiva, its string, and his shafts, withmantras, and invoked into existence another weapon that was the favourite of the chief of the celestialsand that resembled the thunder in energy and prowess. Then razor-headed arrows, and anjalikas, andcrescent-shaped shafts, and nalikas, and cloth-yard shafts and those equipped with heads like the boar'sear, all keen and sharp, issued from gandiva in thousands, endued with the force and impetuosity of thethunder. Possessed of great might and great energy, those impetuous and keen shafts equipped withvulturine feathers piercing all the limbs, the steeds, the bow, the yoke, the wheels, and the standard of Karna.."
Karna in wrath fired Bhargavastra which nullified Arjuna's Indrastra, Karna killed thousands of elephants and foot soldiers through Bhargavastra. Karna started causing carnage through Bhargavastra, Karna then laughed at Krishna and Arjuna and slayed many Panchala warriors. Bhima then asked Arjuna how Karna can baffle his shafts and kill Panchala warriors in his sight.
Arjuna then, in wrath, fired the Brahmastra, Karna however nullifed the Brahmastra of Arjuna. Bhima, beholding Arjuna's Brahmastra nullified, told Arjuna to fire the high Brahmastra, Arjuna's Brahmastra caused carnage, Karna then fired thousands of arrows which also caused carnage, Karna then peirced Bhima, Krishna and Arjuna with shafts, Arjuna fired many arrows which caused carnage and killed thousands of soldiers. Karna too killed thousands and thousands of Panchala and Pandava warriors and peirced Arjuna, Bhima and Krishna with thousands of arrows. Meanwhile Yudisthira came to the field to have a gaze at the magnificent battle. Arjuna in anger strecthed his bow string and a noise like thunder was heard, in the meantimes of Arjuna strecthing his bow-string, Karna pierced Arjuna with 100 arrows and peirced Krishna with 60, Karna peirced Arjuna again with 8 shafts, Karna then peirced Bhima with thousand upon thousands of arrows. Thousands upon thousands of warrior were slain by Karna and Arjuna.
All of the troops regarded the two Krishna's to be brought under Karna's sway, Arjuna then in wrath baffled all of the shafts shot by Karna, Arjuna then pierced Shalya and Karna, Arjuna peirced Karna with 19 shafts and Shalya with 10. Karna bathed in blood due to Arjuna's shafts. Karna then sped 5 snake arrows which were 5 snakes from the Khandav- Dahan and pierced Krishna with those. Arjuna got very angry seeing Krishna's limbs mangled, Arjuna pierced Karna in all his vital limbs, Karna felt great pain. The troops supporting Karna were killed by Arjuna and remaining fled leaving Karna alone.
Karna baffled all of Arjuna's arrows in the air, they continued to duel and pierce each other, sometimes Karna prevailed over Arjuna and sometimes Arjuna prevailed over Karna. While they were peircing each other and devouring each other armies, Aswasena, whose mother was killed by Arjuna in the Khandav-Dahan, entered Karna's quiver, Karna realized that he cant gain advantage over Arjuna by normal shafts, he needs a divine weapon, Karna then fixed on his bow-string a golden arrow which lay singly in the quiver, Karna had worshiped that arrow from many long years (Seems like Aswasena entered the arrow Karna worshiped), Shalya then advised Karna that this arrow wont cut Arjuna's head - aim it at his chest he adviced, Karna refused saying that he does not him one arrow twice, Karna let that shaft towards Arjuna but Krishna, seeing Arjuna in a distress, pressed the chariot six cubits into the earth, the shaft took Arjuna's diadem-decked crown instead of his head. Aswasena requested Karna to fire him again, Karna refused that he does not need anyone's help to kill even 100's of Arjuna. Aswasena in anger went to kill Arjuna but Arjuna cut off his body with his shafts.
"..Stretching his bow-string to his ear, Karna fixed that shaft of fierce energy and blazing
splendour, that ever-worshipped weapon which lay within a golden quiver amid sandal dust, and aimed it at Partha. Indeed, he aimed that blazing arrow, born in Airavata's race, for cutting off Phalguna's headin battle. All the points of the compass and the welkin became ablaze and terrible meteors, andthunderbolts fell. When that snake of the form of an arrow was fixed.."
"..Madhava, with great speed and the greatest ease, pressed down with his feet that
excellent car, causing it to sink about a cubit deep. At this, the steeds, white as the rays of the moon anddecked in trappings of gold, bending their knees, laid themselves down on the ground. Indeed, seeingthat snake (in the form of an arrow) aimed by Karna, Madhava, that foremost of all persons endued withmight, put forth his strength and thus pressed down with his feet that car into the earth.."
"..Sanjaya continued, Then Jishnu, turning his face in rage, cut off, with six keen shafts, that snake in the welkin as the latter was coursing in a slanting direction. His body thus cut off, he fell down on the earth.After that snake had been cut off by Arjuna.."
Arjuna then pierced Karna in all his vital limbs, Karna in return pierced Arjuna and Krishna and gave a loud roar, Arjuna could not brook it, Arjuna then broke Karna's ear-rings and armour, Arjuna kept on piercing Karna in all of his vital limbs, Karna felt great pain, he set his aside bow, Karna stood in-active, Arjuna did not attack Karna when he was in shock, Krishna told Arjuna to attack his enemy no matter what, Arjuna accepted and started attacking Karna, Karna too started piercing Karna.
"..Then the Suta's son, casting aside his bow that resembled the very bow of Sakra, as also his quiver, felt great pain, and stood inactive, stupefied, and reeling, his grasp loosened and himself in great anguish.The virtuous Arjuna, observant of the duty of manliness, wished not to slay his enemy while fallen intosuch distress.."
"..Saying, "So be it, O Krishna!" and worshipping Janardana, Arjuna, that foremost of all persons in Kuru's race once more quickly pierced Karna with many excellent arrows like the ruler of heaven, piercing the Asura, Samvara.."
When the hour of Karna's death came - the Brahman's curse came into effect, the High Brahmastra escaped from Karna's memory, Karna's car wheel also began to sink. Karna continued fighting. Karna invoked Brahmastra and Arjuna invoked Aindraastra, Karna baffled Arjuna Aindrastra, Krishna told Arjuna to fire higher weapons since Karna is baffling all of them, Arjuna invoked Brahmastra. Karna then with a number of arrows broke Arjuna's bow string, Karna cut off 11 strings of Arjuna's bow, Arjuna though continued to string his bow quicxkly, Karna was seeing having a upperhand at this point of time, Arjuna then fixed two celestial weapons in one, Raudra weapon and Agneyastra, Karna in the meantime made an effort to remove his wheel, Karna raised the earth four fingers breadths while trying to take out his wheel. Karna asked Arjuna to wait and let him remove his wheel, Krishna recounted Karna's past sins and declined.
"..Trembling at the shock, Karna then displayed his activity to the utmost of his power. Steadying himself by a powerful effort he invoked the brahmastra. Beholding the brahmastra, Arjuna invoked the Aindra weapon with proper mantras. Inspiring gandiva,its string, and his shafts also, with mantras, that scorcher of foes poured showers like Purandara pouringrain in torrents. Those arrows endued with great energy and power, issuing out of Partha's car, wereseen to be displayed in the vicinity of Karna's vehicle. The mighty car-warrior Karna baffled all thoseshafts displayed in his front.."
"..Arjuna then fixed the brahmastra on his string, and shrouding all the points of the compass with arrows, Partha struck Karna (with many) arrows.."
"..Then Karna, with a number of whetted shafts endued with great energy, cut off the string of Arjuna's bow. Similarly he cut off the second string, and then the third, andthen the fourth, and then the fifth. The sixth also was cut off by Vrisha, and then the seventh, then theeighth, then the ninth, then the tenth, and then at last the eleventh. Capable of shooting hundreds uponhundreds of arrows, Karna knew not that Partha had a hundred strings to his bow. Tying another stringto his bow and shooting many arrows, the son of Pandu covered Karna with shafts that resembled snakesof blazing mouths. So quickly did Arjuna replace each broken string that Karna could not mark when itwas broken and when replaced. The feat seemed to him to be exceedingly wonderful. The son of Radhabaffled with his own weapons those of Savyasaci. Displaying also his own prowess, he seemed to get thebetter of Dhananjaya at that time..."
Karna then started fighting, Karna quickly invoked the Brahmastra and alighted from his car to take out his wheel. Arjuna baffled Karna's Brahmastra with his own. Arjuna quickly fired Agniastra but Karna quenched it with Varunastra. Arjuna used Vayavastra to clear the clouds, Karna then took a shaft and when that shaft was fixed on the bowstring, violent winds started to blow, the pandavas gave up the hope of Arjuna's life, Karna fired the shaft and that shaft peuirced Arjuna and the latter dropped his Gandiva and fell unconscious, Karna quickly jumped from his car to take out his wheel, Arjuna regained consciousness and picked up hid Gandiva, Krishna told Arjuna to kill Karna before his gets up on his chariot, Arjuna then fixed on his bow the Anjalika weapon and united the weapon with one more mighty celestial weapon, Arjuna first broke Karna's standard while the latter was busy taking out his wheel, Karna then fired the weapon and the weapon decapitated Karna thus ending Karna's life.
"..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 favorite 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 he 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. His grasp became loosened, at which his bow Gandiva dropped from his hand. He trembled like the prince of mountains in an earthquake.."
"..The wielder of Gandiva then fixed on his bow that unrivaled arrow, uniting it with a high
and mighty weapon.."
"..Thus sped by that mighty warrior, that shaft endued with the energy of the sun caused all the points of the compass to blaze up with light. With that weapon Arjuna struck off his enemy's head like Indra striking off the head of Vritra with his thunder. Indeed, O king, with that excellent Anjalika weapon inspired with mantras into a mighty weapon, the son of Indracut off the head of Vaikartana in the afternoon.."
