KARNA vs BHIMA - Highlights of the True story & real power of Bhim

The story of that day's battle between
Bhima and Karna reads very much like a
chapter from the narrative of a modern war.
Bhima did not desire to fight Karna or remain
long engaged with him. He was eager to
reach where Arjuna was. But Radheya would,
by no means, permit him to do this. He
showered his arrows on Bhimasena and
stopped him from proceeding.
The contrast between the two warriors was
striking. Karna's handsome lotus-like face
was radiant with smiles when he attacked
Bhima saying: "Do not show your back,"
"Now, do not flee like a coward," and so on.
Bhima was all anger when taunted in this
manner. He was maddened by Karna's
smiles. The battle was fierce but Karna did
everything with a smiling air of ease whereas
Bhima's face glowed with rage and his
movements were violent.
Karna would keep at a distance and send his
well-aimed shafts but Bhima would disregard
the arrows and javelins failing thick upon him
and always try to close with Karna.
Radheya did everything he did, calmly and
with graceful ease, whereas Bhimasena
fumed and fretted with impatience, as he
showed his amazing strength of limb.
Bhima was red with bleeding wounds all over
and presented the appearance of an Asoka
tree in full blossom. But he minded them not,
as he attacked Karna cutting bows in twain
and smashing his chariot.
When Karna had to run for a fresh chariot,
there was NO SMILE on his face. For anger
rose in him, like the sea on a full moon day,
as he attacked Bhima. Both showed the strength of tigers and the speed of eagles
and their anger was now like that of serpents
in a fury.
Bhima brought before his mind all the insults
and injuries which he and his brothers and
Draupadi had suffered, and fought
desperately, caring not for life.
The two cars dashed against each other and
the milk white horses of Karna's chariot and
Bhimasena's black horses jostled in the
combat like clouds in a thunderstorm.
Karna's bow was shattered and his charioteer
reeled and fell. Karna then hurled a javelin at
Bhima. But Bhima parried it and continued
pouring his arrows on Karna, who had taken
up a fresh bow.
Again and again did Karna lose his chariot.
Duryodhana saw Karna's plight and calling
his brother Durjaya said: "This wicked
Pandava will kill Karna. Go at once and attack
Bhima and save Karna's life."
Durjaya went as ordered and attacked Bhima
who, in a rage sent seven shafts which sent
Durjaya's horses and his charioteer to the
abode of Yama and Durjaya himself fell
mortally wounded.
Seeing his bleeding body wriggling on the
ground like a wounded snake, Karna was
overwhelmed with grief and circled round the
hero, paying mournful honor to the dead.
Bhima did not stop but continued the
fight and greatly harassed Karna.
Karna once again had to find a fresh
chariot. He sent well aimed shafts and
hit Bhima who in a fury hurled his
mace at Karna and it crashed on
Karna's chariot and killed his
charioteer and horses and broke the
flagstaff. Karna now stood on the
ground with bent bow.

Duryodhana now sent another brother to
relieve Karna. Durmukha went accordingly
and took Karna on his chariot.
Seeing yet another son of Dhritarashtra come
to offer himself up to death, Bhima licked his
lips in gusto and sent nine shafts on the
newly arrived enemy. And, even as Karna
climbed up to take his seat in the chariot,
Durmukha's armor was broken and he fell
lifeless.
When Karna saw the warrior bathed in blood
and lying dead by his side, he was again
overwhelmed with grief and stood motionless
for a while.
Bhima relentlessly continued his attack on
Karna. His sharp arrows pierced Karna's coat
of armor and he was in pain.
But he too at once returned the attack and
wounded Bhima all over.
Still the Pandava would not stop and
attacked Karna furiously. The sight of so
many of Duryodhana's brothers dying for his
sake one after another was too much for
Karna.
This, and the physical pain of his own
wounds made him lose courage and he
turned away defeated. But, when Bhima
stood up on the field of battle red with
wounds all over like a flaming fire and
emitted a triumphant yell, he could not brook
it but returned to the combat.

DHRITARASHTRA, hearing of the slaughter of
his sons and the check received by Karna,
was desolate. "O Sanjaya, like moths falling
in the fire, my sons are being destroyed. The
stubborn Duryodhana has led the lads
Durmukha and Durjaya, to their doom. Alas, I
have lost these boys! The fool said: 'Karna,
unrivalled among men for courage and the
accomplishment of war, is on our side. Who
then can defeat us? Even the gods cannot
win a battle against me when Karna is on my
side. What can these Pandavas do to me?'
But now he has seen Karna beating a retreat
when Bhimasena attacked him. Has he seen
wisdom at least now? Alas, Sanjaya, my son
has earned the undying hatred of the son of
Vayu, Bhima, who has the strength of the god
of death! We are indeed ruined!"

After thus admonishing the blind king,
Sanjaya proceeded to tell him what
happened. Five sons of Dhritarashtra,
Durmarsha, Dussaha, Durmata,
Durdhara and Jaya, when they saw
Karna put to flight by Bhima at once
rushed on the latter.
When Karna saw this, he was heartened and
turned back to resume his attack. Bhimasena
at first ignored the sons of Dhritarashtra and
concentrated on Karna.
But they became so violent in their
assault that Bhima got incensed and,
turning his attentions on them,
disposed of all five of them. They lay
dead on the field, with their horses
and their charioteers.

When Karna saw another batch of princes
slaughtered for his sake he fought more
grimly than ever before. Bhima too was more
violent than before, thinking of all the evil that
Karna had wrought against the Pandavas.
The two combatants clashed like clouds in a
thunderstorm. Kesava, Satyaki and Arjuna
were filled with admiration and joy as they
watched Bhima fighting.

Bhurisravas, Kripacharya, Aswatthama, Salya,
Jayadratha and many other warriors of the
Kaurava army also broke into exclamations,
astonished at the way in which Bhima fought.
Duryodhana was stung to the quick and
burned with anger. Karna's plight caused him
extreme anxiety. He feared Bhima would kill
Radheya that day, and sent seven more of his
brothers directing them to surround Bhima
and attack him simultaneously.
The seven brothers sent by Duryodhana
attacked Bhima. But fell one after another,
struck down by his arrows.

Seeing Duryodhana's brothers, who came to
help him, slain one after another in this
manner, Karna was overwhelmed by anguish.
He leant back on his seat in the chariot and
closed his eyes unable to bear the sight.
Then recovering control over his emotions he
hardened his heart and began again his
attack on Bhima. Bow after bow was broken
up by Bhimasena's shaft, but Karna kept the
battle.
Eighteen times he had to take up a fresh
bow. Karna had long ago discarded his smile
and his face showed savage anger even as
Bhima's. They now glared fiercely at each
other as they fought.
Yudhishthira now heard Bhima's roar rise
above the tumult of battle, and heartened by
it, he fought Drona with increased vigor.
In the renewed and fierce battle between
Bhima and Karna, Bhima lost his horses and
charioteer. Soon his chariot also was
smashed to pieces. Then, Bhima hurled his
spear at Karna who was in his chariot and as
Karna parried it with his shaft, Bhima
advanced with sword and shield.
But Karna broke the shield at once with his
shafts. Then, Bhima whirled his sword and
hurled it, and it cut Karna's bow into two and
fell on the ground. But Karna took up yet
another bow and assailed Bhima with arrows
more fiercely than before.
Bhima, in a fit of uncontrollable rage, sprang
upon Karna. Radheya took cover behind his
flagstaff and escaped destruction.
Thereupon, Bhima jumped out of Karna's car
down into the field of battle where, deprived
of all arms, he used the elephants lying dead
on the ground to protect himself from
Karna's arrows and continued the fight.
He picked up anything he could lay hands
upon, wheels of broken chariots, the limbs of
horses and elephants that were lying about,
and hurling them at Karna, kept him engaged
without interval. But this could not long
continue and Bhima was soon at a great
disadvantage.


Karna is a great all round warrior but he was only able to stop Bhima after only he become weapon less.
Later Arjun intervened between the two.

@Ajinkya Parab well done. Good to meet a Bheema admirer like you. Go to Navi Arjun AT and you will feel good to read about Bheem Arjun bonding.

Thanks Nonnie & ltelidevara.
Thanks for appreciation.

Originally posted by: ajinkya_parab16

Thanks Nonnie & ltelidevara.
Thanks for appreciation.