Source: http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07016.htm
Quote (description of the fight):
Virata, aided by his Matsya warriors of great energy, resisted Vikartana's son in that battle. And that feat (of the Matsya king) seemed highly wonderful. Even this was regarded as an act of great valour on the part of the Suta's son, in that, he singly resisted that whole force by means of his straight shafts.
Analysis:
This passage is the complete description of their fight. It shows that Karna was alone so he had no one to back him up, but Virata on the other-hand is mentioned as being assisted by his warriors. So this is a group attack on Karna. But so what? Group attacks are very common, it happened all the time. And if Karna were truly such a great warrior than he should be able to defeat Virata and his warriors with ease right? If Karna defeated the five Pandavas (this is a claim made by Karna's fanatics i myself don't believe this but karna's fanatics do so this is addressing their absurd claims) then he should have no problem dealing with Virata & his group. Moreover Virata was scared of Kichaka and his 105 suta brothers. So Virata was even weaker than them. Against such a weak warrior (Virata) Karna should not have had any difficulties. But still it was never stated whether Karna won or Virata won. But based on the rest of the evidence of their encounter, it shows that Karna may have lost this fight.
Quote 2 (what Karna was doing):
And with Bhima and Karna and Kripa and Drona and Drona's son and Prishata's son and Satyaki, the field of battle looked resplendent like the all-destructive sun that rises at the end of the Yuga. The battle that took place between those mighty men engaged with mighty antagonists and all smiting one another was fierce in the extreme, resembling that (of yore) between the Danavas and the gods. Then Yudhishthira's host, uttering a shout, loud as that of the surging sea, began to slaughter thy troops, the great car-warriors of thy army having fled away. Beholding the (Kaurava) host broken and excessively mangled by the foe, Drona said, 'Ye heroes, ye need not fly away.' Then he (Drona) owning red steeds, excited with wrath and resembling a (fierce) elephant with four tusks, penetrated into the Pandava host and rushed against Yudhishthira.
Analysis:
Prishata's son could refer to either Drupada or Dhrishtadyumna. I'm pretty sure that ("great car-warriors") includes Karna. Drona had to reassure Karna to stop fleeing. This clearly implies Karna fled here and their from the warriors he was fighting that day. Drona attacked Yudhishthira to boost the morale of his fleeing team, Karna was clearly stated as being a part of the group. Hence this has got to be another loss of Karna. Only problem is that Karna was not fighting Virata over here because Virata was not mentioned. Karna was running away from one of the big three (
Bhima, Prishata's son, Satyaki)
or perhaps all of them. The possibilities are endless here so you can never be too sure, but one thing is for sure and that fact is that karna ran away from the opponents he was fighting.
Quote 3 (what Virata was doing after all of that):
And piercing Sikhandin with twelve arrows, and Uttamaujas with twenty, and Nakula with five, and Sahadeva with seven, and Yudhishthira with twelve, and each of the (five) sons of Draupadi with three, and Satyaki with five, and the ruler of Matsyas with ten arrows, and agitating the entire host in that battle, he rushed against one after another of the foremost warriors (of the Pandavas). And then he advanced against Kunti's son, Yudhisthira, from a desire of seizing him. Then Yugandhara, O king, checked Bharadwaja's son, that mighty car-warrior, filled with rage and resembling the very ocean lashed into fury by the tempest. Bharadwaja's son, however, having pierced Yudhishthira with many straight arrows, felled Yugandhara with a broad-headed shaft from his niche in the car. Then, Virata and Drupada, and the Kaikeya princes, and Satyaki, and Sivi, and Vyaghradatta, the prince n the Panchalas, and the valiant Singhasena, these, and many others, p. 37 desirous of rescuing Yudhishthira, surrounded Drona on all sides and impeded his way, scattering countless arrows.
Analysis:
It should be crystal clear what Virata was doing. Virata was attacked by Drona, and got thrown by the wayside until Drona got to Yudhishthira. That's when for the despite of rescuing their king (Yudhishthira) Virata and others ganged up on Drona and did a group attack on him. Note that "the ruler of Matsyas" means Virata (as he was the king of the Matsya clan). Their was no mention of Karna over here. Perhaps his defeat was skipped....... just like Bhima & Satyaki's were on the 17th day (according to karna fans).
Source 1:
http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07014.htm
Source 2: http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07016.htm
- 12th day (Samsaptakabadha Parva)
Quote:
Karna resisted with showers of arrows the five Kekaya brothers, owning red standards, as they proceeded towards Drona. Scorched with the arrowy showers of Karna, those five brothers covered Karna with their arrows. Karna, in return, repeatedly covered them with showers of arrows. Covered with arrows, neither Karna nor the five brother could be seen with their steeds, charioteers, standards, and cars.
Analysis:
Over here Karna attacked the Kekaya brothers without any warning, they were unprepared. Karna fans claim that Arjuna attacked Karna without a warning in the Draupadi Swayamvara incident. So over here Karna did not even fight a fair battle he took the opportunity, he cheated. These Kekayas were proceeding towards Drona. This battle was a stalemate and had no result, because neither side was shown as prevailing over another. No one was winning. Karna successfully resisted a group attack. But if we use the logic of karna fans then he just cheated.
Quote 1:
Vrikodara, however, could not brook that slaughter of his army. He struck Valhika with sixty and Karna with ten arrows. Drona then, desirous of slaying Bhima, quickly struck the latter, in his very vitals, many straight and whetted shafts of keen edge. Desirous again of allowing no time, he once more struck him with, six and twenty shafts whose touch resembled that of fire and which were all like snakes of virulent poison. Then Karna pierced him with a dozen shafts, and Aswatthaman with seven, and king Duryodhana also with six. The mighty Bhimasena, in return, pierced them all. He struck Drona with fifty shafts, and Karna with ten. And piercing Duryodhana with a dozen shafts, and Drona with eight, he engaged in that battle uttering a loud shout. In that encounter in which the warriors fought reckless of their lives and in which death was easy of attainment, Ajatasattru despatched many warriors, urging them to rescue Bhima. Those heroes of immeasurable energy, viz., the two son of Madri and Pandu, and others headed by Yuyudhana, quickly proceeded to Bhimasena's side. And those bulls among men, filled with rage and uniting together, advanced to battle, desirous of breaking the army of Drona that was protected by many foremost of bowmen. Indeed, those great car-warriors of mighty energy, viz., Bhima and others, fell furiously upon Drona's host.
Analysis: So here is the first time we can say for sure that Bhima and Karna come face to face in the Kurukshetra war. Bhima is fed up with seeing his army being slaughtered so he attacks the Kurus and Karna is the second person who becomes a target of Bhima's arrows. Bhima was all alone and faced 4 warriors including Karna together at the same time. Karna fought back against Bhima but even with the help of the other three, Vasusena still failed to gain any advantage over Bhima in this fight. Karna broke the so-called rules of war. Yudhishthira sent warriors to rescue Bhima. It was a group attack on Bhima, when Bhima is the only one out their on the front, fighting against the enemy of course he needs help. Yudhishthira cares about his younger brothers, it doesn't suggest that Bhima lost.
Quote 2:
Then Dhristadyumna and Bhima and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, all approached Karna, and each of them pierced in with three straight shafts. The son of Radha, however, checking Arjuna's weapons by his own arrowy showers, cut off with three sharp shafts the bows of those three warriors. Their bows cut off, they looked like snakes without poison. Hurling darts at their foe from their respective cars, they uttered loud leonine shouts. Those fierce darts of great splendour and great impetuosity, looking like snakes, hurled from those mighty arms, coursed impetuously towards Karna's car. Cutting each of those darts with three straight arrows and speeding many arrows at the same time at Partha, the mighty Karna uttered a loud shout.
Analysis: All karna did was just cut off some darts & bows then uttered a shout. That doesn't mean that Karna defeated his opponents. The fight was not even close to being over yet. Is it harder to cut off a weapon or pierce a car-warrior? Because Bhima pierced Karna with arrows throughout this day but never cut off his bow or any weapons of Karna. Where-areas Karna cut off the weapons of Bhima but never managed to pierce him (Bhima).
Quote 3:
Then Bhima, jumping down from his own car, like a second Garuda, slew with his excellent sword five and ten combatants amongst those that supported Karna.
Mounting once more on his car and taking up another bow, he pierced Karna with ten shafts and his charioteer and steeds with five.
Analysis: Compare this to karna who could not do anything besides cutting off a dart and a bow of Bhima's. Can he only harm Bhima's weapons? He can't even harm Bhima, he never wounded Bhima. Leave aside Bhima, Karna could not even kill any of Bhima's comrades but Bhima killed 15 of Karna's comrades, 0 (Karna) to 15 (Bhima).
Quote 4:
And foot-soldiers and steeds and cars and elephants, belonging to thy army and numbering by hundreds, all accomplished in smitting rushed to the spot where Karna was frightening (his assailants). Then Dhrishtadyumna, and Bhima and Subhadra's son, and Arjuna himself, and Nakula, and Sahadeva, began to protect Satyaki in that battle. Even thus went on that fierce battle for the destruction of bowmen belonging to thy army and of the enemy's. All the combatants fought, reckless of their very lives.
Analysis: The reason karna's assailants may have been frightened is because Karna's comrades were just killed, they were probably afraid that Karna will go to any means necessary to avenge them.
Quote:
Then Dhristadyumna and Bhima and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, all approached Karna, and each of them pierced in with three straight shafts. The son of Radha, however, checking Arjuna's weapons by his own arrowy showers, cut off with three sharp shafts the bows of those three warriors. Their bows cut off, they looked like snakes without poison. Hurling darts at their foe from their respective cars, they uttered loud leonine shouts. Those fierce darts of great splendour and great impetuosity, looking like snakes, hurled from those mighty arms, coursed impetuously towards Karna's car. Cutting each of those darts with three straight arrows and speeding many arrows at the same time at Partha, the mighty Karna uttered a loud shout.
Analysis: Once again all Karna did was cut off the weapons of Satyaki, he did not pierce Satyaki, he did not kill any of Satyaki's comrades either. He cut off the bow, so what? Even other warriors have cut off Satyaki's bow it's nto a victory or a defeat of anyone.
Quote 2:
Sini's grandson also, of splendour equal to that of Indra himself, taking up another bow pierced Suta's son with four and sixty shafts and roared like a lion. And cutting off Karna's bow with a couple of well-shot shafts, he once more pierced Karna on the arms and the chest with three arrows. The king Duryodhana, and Drona and Jayadratha, rescued Karna from the Satyaki-ocean, as the former was about to sink into it.
Analysis: Satyaki was like an ocean that Karna was sinking into. Over here it's written that Suyodhana, Drona & Jayadratha rescued Karna. This claim of karna being rescued holds more weight than the claims of Bhima being rescued and Satyaki being protected. Because over here the person who was being rescued (Karna) was actually being harmed and wounded. Karna was made weaponless here and Satyaki started to use him for archery practice, so he had to be rescued.
Quote 3:
And foot-soldiers and steeds and cars and elephants, belonging to thy army and numbering by hundreds, all accomplished in smitting rushed to the spot where Karna was frightening (his assailants). Then Dhrishtadyumna, and Bhima and Subhadra's son, and Arjuna himself, and Nakula, and Sahadeva, began to protect Satyaki in that battle. Even thus went on that fierce battle for the destruction of bowmen belonging to thy army and of the enemy's. All the combatants fought, reckless of their very lives.
Analysis: The fact that six warriors started to protect Satyaki in that battle doesn't mean that Satyaki was being defeated, he was just being protected because they all obviously care about him. They don't want to lose such a warrior. Even Karna was protected by the Kourava brothers because they did not want to lose him. Everything was going great for Satyaki, he was perfectly capable of defending himself. The text also says all combatants fought reckless of their very lives" all has to include Karna right? So karna was fighting without caring about his death. This means that he was not even trying to protect himself.
Source:
http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07030.htm
Quote 4:
"Dhritarashtra said, 'Unvanquished by Drona, and Radha's son and Vikarna and Kritavarman, how could the heroic Satyaki, never before checked in battle, having after his promise to Yudhishthira crossed the ocean of the Kaurava troops, being humiliated by the Kuru warrior Bhurisravas and forcibly thrown on the ground?'
Analysis: Dhritarashtra also agrees that Satyaki was never defeated by karna. Radha's son is Karna. The only son of Radha that fought against Satyaki is Karna.
Source:
http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07140.htm
Quote 1:
Then Dhristadyumna and Bhima and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, all approached Karna, and each of them pierced in with three straight shafts. The son of Radha, however, checking Arjuna's weapons by his own arrowy showers, cut off with three sharp shafts the bows of those three warriors. Their bows cut off, they looked like snakes without poison. Hurling darts at their foe from their respective cars, they uttered loud leonine shouts. Those fierce darts of great splendour and great impetuosity, looking like snakes, hurled from those mighty arms, coursed impetuously towards Karna's car. Cutting each of those darts with three straight arrows and speeding many arrows at the same time at Partha, the mighty Karna uttered a loud shout.
Analysis: Dhristadyumna pierced Karna with three shafts, the latter was fighting Arjuna simultaneously so Dhristadyumna interfered in Karna's fight. Karna still managed to cut off the bow of Dhristadyumna, and the dart of Dhristadyumna. Karna uttered a shout and he started to roar once again. But just cutting off the weapons of a warriors and countering a weapon doesn't mean a victory on the battlefield. It's no victory of Karna, such feats have been achieved by many characters.
Quote 2:
Dhrishtadyumna also taking up a sword and a bright shield; despatched Charmavarman and also Vrihatkshatra, the ruler of the Naishadhas. The Panchala prince then, mounting upon his own car and taking up another bow, pierced Karna with three and seventy shafts, and uttered a loud roar.
Analysis: Karna just took those shafts and did not try to even fight back against Dhrishtadyumna. What type of warrior just stands their and lets his enemy pierce him not just once but 73 times. Why didn't he fight back? Maybe Karna just could not fight back because he didn't have the skills. f he can counter Arjuna's arrows then he can counter Dhrishtadyumna's without a doubt. But the fact remains that he didn't counter them. Karna could not even protect his comrades (Charmavarman & Vrihatkshatra
). How could all of this have happened in-front of Karna's eyes? He is supposed to be the best right? Wrong he's not the best, he is overrated. Karna was pierced by 73 arrows yet he never tried to counter even one of them? Pathetic.
Quote 3:
And foot-soldiers and steeds and cars and elephants, belonging to thy army and numbering by hundreds, all accomplished in smitting rushed to the spot where Karna was frightening (his assailants).
Then Dhrishtadyumna, and Bhima and Subhadra's son, and Arjuna himself, and Nakula, and Sahadeva, began to protect Satyaki in that battle. Even thus went on that fierce battle for the destruction of bowmen belonging to thy army and of the enemy's. All the combatants fought, reckless of their very lives.
Analysis: Dhrishtadyumna started to protect Satyaki in the battle. He was also reckless of his life and fought not caring about his own safety. The text says that karna was frightening his assailants, so that should be the only credit he (Karna
) gets.
Source:
http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07030.htm
Quote:
Deprived of their cars and filled with wonder, almost all the Kauravas, turning away from the field, uttered cries of Oh and Alas and called upon Karna (for protection). Hearing that din made by the Kurus, desirous of protection, Adhiratha's son (Karna), loudly assuring the troops with the words 'Do not fear' proceeded to face Arjuna. Then (Karna) that foremost of Bharata car-warriors, that delighter of all the Bharatas, that first p. 75 of all persons acquainted with weapons, invoked into existence the Agneya weapon.
Dhananjaya, however, baffled by means of his own arrowy downpours the flights of arrows shot by Radha's son, that warrior of the blazing bow, that hero of bright shafts. And similarly, Adhiratha's son also baffled the shafts of Arjuna of supreme energy. Resisting Arjuna's weapons thus by his own, Karna uttered loud shouts and shot many shafts at his antagonist.
Analysis: Now finally Karna mans up and fights his arch-enemy Arjuna. But he was their yesterday to, maybe Karna only fought against Arjuna because the Kurus called upon him for protection this time. Karna automatically relied on weapons of mass destruction and called upon his Agneyastra. This weapon failed because Arjuna baffled it using some ordinary arrows. This passage calls Karna a warrior of the blazing bow, is it possible that Karna was using the Vijaya bow? Or perhaps a different celestial bow. And then Karna roared as always roaring like a chutiya. Anyways Karna did succeed in baffling the shafts (arrows) of Arjuna. He resisted Arjuna's astras (weapons) but he did not baffle them, he could only baffle arrows.
Quote 2:
The son of Radha, however, checking Arjuna's weapons by his own arrowy showers, cut off with three sharp shafts the bows of those three warriors.
Analysis: Over here Karna is mentioned as checking Arjuna's weapons. Means he just equaled Arjuna, he failed to surpass him or get the better of him. "Weapons" is often used as a synonym for Astras in the Mahabharata.
Quote 3:
Cutting each of those darts with three straight arrows and speeding many arrows at the same time at Partha, the mighty Karna uttered a loud shout. Then Arjuna piercing Karna with seven shafts, despatched the latter's younger brother by means of his sharp shafts. Slaying Satrunjaya thus with six arrows, Partha, with a broad-headed shaft, struck off Vipatha's head as the latter stood on his car. In the very sight of the Dhritarashtras, therefore, as also of the Suta's son, the three uterine brothers of the latter were despatched by Arjuna unaided by any one.
Analysis: Over here 3 brothers of Karna were killed by Arjuna alone in a solo performance. But did Karna kill even one comrade of Arjuna this day? No, he did not.
Quote 4:
And foot-soldiers and steeds and cars and elephants, belonging to thy army and numbering by hundreds, all accomplished in smitting rushed to the spot where Karna was frightening (his assailants). Then Dhrishtadyumna, and Bhima and Subhadra's son, and Arjuna himself, and Nakula, and Sahadeva, began to protect Satyaki in that battle. Even thus went on that fierce battle for the destruction of bowmen belonging to thy army and of the enemy's. All the combatants fought, reckless of their very lives.
Analysis: The reason Arjuna went to protect Satyaki is that Arjuna made a vow that he would always protect those warriors on his side as long as they are in his reach and he fulfilled. Nothing wrong with Arjuna keeping his promises. And Satyaki is after the supreme pupil of Arjuna. The text says that karna was frightening his assailants, so that should be the only credit towards him.
Source:
http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07030.htm
Quote:
Then Drona and Kripa, and Karna and Drona's son, and king Jayadratha, and Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, and Salya, received those heroes. Those irresistible and invincible warriors, however, viz., the Panchalas and the Pandavas, inspired by noble sentiments, did not, though afflicted with shafts, avoid Drona. Then Drona, excited with great rage, shot hundreds of shafts, and caused a great carnage amongst the Chedis, the Panchalas, and the Pandavas. The twang of his bowstring and the slaps of his palms, were, O sire, heard on all sides. And they resembled the roar of thunder and struck fear into the hearts of all.
Analysis:
Karna teamed up with many powerful men (Drona, Kripa, Asvathamman, Jayadratha, Vinda, Anuvinda & Shalya) to fight Panchalas and the Pandavas. Karna afflicted them with his shafts and despite all these attempts Karna still failed to make his opponents avoid Drona. Karna did not lose over here but he did fail to put a stop to the attacks of his enemy's despite getting so many extra hands (warriors) for his support. No one was defeated but no one gained any victory either here. Karna was afraid of the twang of Drona's bowstring though. Drona was the most active in this passage not Karna. This proves that during the initial days of Karna's entry into the Kurukshetra war, he lived under the shadow of Drona. If the rat (Karna) has the shelter of the tiger (Drona), then even the rat (Karna) can prove fatal and live to fight another day.
Source:
http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07030.htm
- 13th day (Abhimanyu-badha Parva)
- Karna vs Abhimanyu part 1
Quote:
Then many grateful and mighty warriors, having Duryodhana's good at heart, and always graced with victory, inspired with fear, surrounded thy son. And Drona, and Drona's son, and Kripa and Karna and Kritavarman and Suvala's son, Vrihadvala, and the ruler of the Madras, and Bhuri, and Bhurisravas, and Sala, and Paurava and Vrishasena, shooting sharp shafts, checked Subhadra's son by means of those arrowy showers. Confounding him with those showers of shafts, they rescued Duryodhana. The son of Arjuna, however, brooked not that act of snatching a morsel from his mouth. Covering those mighty car-warriors, their charioteers, and steeds with thick showers of arrows and causing them to turn back, the son of Subhadra uttered a leonine roar.
Analysis: Karna had Duryodhana's good in his heart, Karna was inspired with fear, Karna surrounded Duryodhana. Karna along with twelve other warriors together checked Abhimanyu, and succeeded in saving Duryodhana, but then Abhimanyu covered Karna and his comrades with thick showers of arrows and caused all of them including Karna to turn back and run away like cowards. This is just his first encounter with Abhimanyu. See what happens next.
Source:
http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07035.htm
- Karna vs Abhimanyu part 2
Quote:
Then Karna and Kripa, and Drona and Drona's son, and the ruler of the Gandharas, and Sala and Salya, and Bhurisravas and Kratha, and Somadatta, and Vivinsati, and Vrishasena, and Sushena, and Kundavedhin, and Pratardana, and Vrindaraka and Lalithya, and Pravahu, and Drighalochana, and angry Duryodhana, showered their arrows upon him. Then Abhimanyu, excessively pierced by those great bowmen with their straight shafts, shot shafts at Karna which was capable of piercing through every armour and body. That shaft, piercing through Karna's coat of mail and then his body, entered the earth like a snake piercing through an anthill. Deeply pierced, Karna felt great pain and became perfectly helpless. Indeed, Karna began to tremble in that battle like a hill during an earthquake. Then with three other shafts of great sharpness, the mighty son of Arjuna, excited with rage, slew those three warriors, viz., Sushena, Drighalochana, and Kundavedhin. Meanwhile, Karna (recovering from the shock) pierced Abhimanyu with five and twenty shafts. And Aswatthaman struck him with twenty, and Kritavarman with seven. Covered all over with arrows, that son of Sakra's son, filled with rage, careered over the field. And he was regarded by all the troops as Yama's self armed with the noose.
Analysis: So after being defeated badly in the previous fight, now Karna decided to team up with 18 other warriors and launch another group attack against a lone warrior (Abhimanyu). Abhimanyu pierced Karna with just a few arrows and helpless Karna trembled like a hill would during an earthquake. Then when Karna recovered shortly thereafter he teamed up with another group. Karna's actions are like a group of wolves trying to attack a single lone tiger. His opponent Abhimanyu was regarded as Yama the god of death etc. This can be counted as a defeat of Karna or rather Karna being overpowered once again!
- Karna vs Abhimanyu part 3
Quote:
Mounted upon his car, Abhimanyu, with great daring, showered his arrows on the warriors of thy army mounted on their cars, all of whom were chastisers of foes, endued with great courage. Careering with great speed like a circle of fire, he pierced Drona and Karna, and Kripa, and Salya and Drona's son, and Kritavarman of the Bhoja race, and Vrihadvala, and Duryodhana, and Somadatta, and mighty Sakuni, and diverse kings and diverse princes and diverse bodies of troops. While engaged in slaying his foes by means of superior weapons, the valiant son of Subhadra, endued with mighty energy, seemed, O Bharata, to be present everywhere. Beholding that conduct of Subhadra's son of immeasurable energy, thy troops trembled repeatedly. Seeing that warrior of great proficiency in battle, Bharadwaja's son of great wisdom, with eyes expanded in joy, quickly came towards Kripa, and addressing him said, as if crushing (by that speech of his) the very vitals of thy son, O Bharata, the following words, 'Yonder cometh the youthful son of Subhadra at the head of the Parthas, delighting all his friends, and king Yudhishthira, and Nakula, and Sahadeva, and Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, and all his kinsmen, and relatives by marriage, and all who are watching the battle as spectators p. 88 without taking any part in it. I do not regard any bowman to be his equal in battle. If only he entertains the wish, he can slay this vast host. It seems, that for some reason or other, he doth not entertain that wish.'
Analysis: Over here it is clearly written that it is Karna and that it was a king who was pierced. So a pathetic excuse like it's Gandhari's son etc etc or a different Karna will not work here. Even Karna's own guru (Drona) said that he does not regard any archers to be the equal of Abhimanyu. He also said that if Abhimanyu wanted then he could kill Karna, but just spared him instead. In this above quote it was said that Abhimanyu pierced Karna who was backed up by 9 other car-warriors (who were the best of the best) Abhimanyu showered all of them with shafts. What could Karna do? Nothing.
- Karna vs Abhimanyu part 4
Quote:
Thus addressed, Karna with rage and desirous of doing good to thy son, rained showers of sharp arrows on the invincible Abhimanyu. And the heroic Karna, as if in contempt of his antagonist, also pierced the latter's followers on the field of battle, with many excellent shafts of great sharpness. The high-souled Abhimanyu, however, O king, desirous of proceeding against Drona, quickly pierced Radha's son with three and seventy shafts. No car-warrior of thy army succeeded at that time in obstructing the progress towards Drona, of Abhimanyu, who was the son of Indra's son and who was afflicting all the foremost car-warriors of the Kaurava host. Then Karna, the most honoured of all bowmen, desirous of obtaining victory, pierced the son of Subhadra with hundreds of arrows, displacing his best weapons. That foremost of all persons conversant with weapons, that valiant disciple of Rama, by means of his weapons, thus afflicted Abhimanyu who was incapable of being defeated by foes. Though afflicted in battle by Radha's son with showers of weapons, still Subhadra's son who resembled a very celestial (for prowess) felt no pain. With his shafts whetted on stone and furnished with sharp points, the son of Arjuna, cutting off the bows of many heroic warriors, began to afflict Karna in return. With shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison and shot from his bow drawn to a circle, Abhimanyu quickly cut off the umbrella, standard, the charioteer, and the steeds of Karna, smiling the while. Karna then shot five straight arrows at Abhimanyu. The son of Phalguna, however, received them fearlessly. Endued with great valour and courage, the latter then, in a moment, with only a single arrow, cut off Karna's bow and standard and caused them to drop down on the ground. Beholding Karna in such distress, his younger brother, drawing the bow with great force, speedily proceeded against the son of Subhadra. The Parthas then, and their followers uttered loud shouts and beat their musical instruments and applauded the son of Subhadra [for his heroism].
Analysis: Karna could not cause any pain to Abhimanyu. Karna was enraged, and had the desire of victory in his heart during this fight. So to make an excuse like Karna was holding back, karna was mild etc is completely ludicrous. It was also said that Karna was being afflicted by Abhimanyu over here. Again it was even said that Karna failed (he could not succeed as he was unsuccessful) in stopping Abhimanyu from getting to Drona. Karna could not even protect his generalissimo. Tsk tsk.
People (karna's fans) say Karna pierced Abhimanyu's followers over here, well here's the thing it doesn't matter if he did pierce them, he didn't kill them. It proves that karna failed to kill the followers of Abhimanyu. And the presence of Abhimanyu's followers is very doubtful since they were only mentioned in barely half of one line of text.
Oh and also. Here poor Karna could not save his bow from the well show arrow of Abhimanyu. It's a clear defeat, as Karna had failed in all of his goals here.
- Karna vs Abhimanyu part 5
Quote:
Then the younger brother of Karna, uttering loud roars, bow in hand, and repeatedly stretching the bow-string, quickly placed himself between those two illustrious warriors. And Karna's brother, with ten shafts, pierced invincible Abhimanyu and his umbrella and standard and charioteer and steeds, smiling the while. Beholding Abhimanyu thus afflicted with those arrows, although he had achieved those superhuman feats in the manner of his sire and grandsire, the warriors of thy army were filled with delight. Then Abhimanyu, forcibly bending the bow and smiling the while, with one winged arrow cut off his antagonist's head. That head, severed from the trunk, fell down on the earth. Beholding his brother slain and overthrown, like a Karnikara tree shaken and thrown down by the wind from the mountain top, Karna, O monarch, was filled with pain. Meanwhile, the son of Subhadra, causing Karna by means of his arrows to turn away from the field, quickly rushed against the other great bowmen. Then Abhimanyu of fierce energy and great fame, filled with wrath, broke that host of diverse forces abounding with elephants and steeds and cars and infantry. As regards Karna, afflicted by Abhimanyu with countless shafts, he fled away from the field borne by swift steeds. The Kaurava array then broke.
Analysis: Over here Karna fled away from the battlefield. That's a clear sign of defeat. Only losers do that. Karna fans can argue that Karna ran away at first but came back alter as he fights Abhimanyu again in the future sections of the same day but in this situation he doesn't have any excuse to run away. He (Karna) had all the equipment (cars, arrows, shafts, weapons, steeds, horses, bows, standards, flags, flagstaffs etc) that was required with him to fight. Not only that but also he had just seen his own brother get killed by Abhimanyu, yet he still chose to turn away instead of fighting his enemy like a man and taking revenge for the death of his brother? A brother that he spent his whole entire life with? What a pathetic warrior was this Karna?
- Karna vs Abhimanyu part 6
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Then Drona, and Kripa, and Karna, and Drona's son and Vrihadvala, and Kritavarman, the son of Hridika,--these six car-warriors,---encompassed Abhimanyu. Piercing them with sharp arrows and beating them off from him, the son of Arjuna fell with great speed and fury upon the vast forces of Jayadratha. Thereupon, the Kalingas, the Nishadas, and the valiant son of Kratha, all clad in mail, cut off his path by encompassing him with their elephant-division. The battle then that took place between Phalguni's son and those warriors was obstinate and fierce. Then the son of Arjuna began to destroy that elephant-division as the wind coursing in every direction destroys vast masses of gathering clouds in the welkin.
Analysis: Over here Karna and five other warriors circled valiant Abhimanyu. But the latter pierced Karna and his comrades with arrows and beat them off of him with ease. This is another defeat of Karna as Abhimanyu beat him off.
- Karna vs Abhimanyu part 7
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And the son of Arjuna pierced Aswatthaman with ten arrows equipped with golden wings, endued with great speed and shot from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch. And the son of Phalguni pierced Karna, in the midst of his foes, in one of his cars, with a bright, well-tempered, and bearded arrow of great force. Felling the steeds yoked to Kripa's car, as also both his Parshni charioteers, Abhimanyu pierced Kripa himself in the centre of the chest with ten arrows. The mighty Abhimanyu, then, in the very sight of thy heroic sons, slew the brave Vrindaraka, that enhancer of the fame of the Kurus. While Abhimanyu was thus engaged in fearlessly slaying one after another the foremost warriors among his enemies, Drona's son Aswatthaman pierced him with five and twenty small arrows. The son of Arjuna, however, in the very sight of all the Dhartarashtras quickly pierced Aswatthaman in return, O sire, with many whetted shafts. Drona's son, however, in return, piercing Abhimanyu. with sixty fierce arrows of great impetuosity and keen sharpness, failed to make him tremble, for the latter, pierced by Aswatthaman, stood immovable like the Mainaka mountain. Endued with great energy, the mighty Abhimanyu then pierced his antagonist with three and seventy straight arrows, equipped with wings of gold. Drona then, desirous of rescuing his son, pierced Abhimanyu with a hundred arrows. And Aswatthaman pierced him with sixty arrows, desirous of rescuing his father. And Karna struck him with two and twenty broad-headed arrows and Kritavarman struck him with four and ten. And Vrihadvala pierced him with fifty such shafts, and Saradwata's son, Kripa, with ten. Abhimanyu, however, pierced each of these in return with ten shafts. The ruler of the Kosala struck Abhimanyu, in the chest with a barbed arrow. Abhimanyu, however, quickly felled on the earth his antagonist's steeds and standard and bow and charioteer. The ruler of the Kosalas, then, thus deprived of his car, took up a sword and wished to sever from Abhimanyu's trunk his beautiful head, decked with ear-rings. Abhimanyu then pierced king Vrihadvala, the ruler of the Kosalas, in the chest, with a strong arrow. The latter then, with riven heart, fell down. Beholding this, ten thousand illustrious kings broke and fled.
Analysis: Karna could have been among those ten thousand kings that fled. Here Karna was supported by his Preceptor Drona, Contemporary Asvathamman, yet still failed to gain any advantage over his opponent. Karna could not defeat one warrior (Abhimanyu) despite having the support of thousands of warriors fighting a this side simultaneously. Karna was clearly an insect compared to Arjuna and Abhimanyu.
- Karna vs Abhimanyu part 8
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Phalguni's son once more pierced Karna in the car with a barbed arrow, and for angering him still further, he pierced him with fifty other shafts. The son of Radha pierced Abhimanyu in return with as many shafts. Covered all over with arrows, Abhimanyu, then, O sire, looked exceedingly beautiful. Filled with rage, he caused Karna also to be bathed in blood. Mangled with arrows and covered with blood, the brave Karna also shone greatly. 2 Both of them pierced with arrows, both bathed in blood, those illustrious warriors then resembled a couple of flowering Kinsukas. The son of Subhadra then slew six of Karna's brave counsellors, conversant with all modes of warfare, with their steeds and charioteers and cars. As regards other great bowmen Abhimanyu fearlessly pierced each of them in return, with ten arrows. That feat of his seemed highly wonderful.
Analysis: Karna fans only talk about how Karna bathed Abhimanyu in blood but forget that the same feat has been performed by Abhimanyu countless times before and after. Abhimanyu also bathed Karna in blood. Here Abhimanyu killed not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, but six! Six counselors of Karna were killed in a few seconds by Abhimanyu right in-front of Karna's eyes. and he could do nothing to stop this event from happening.
- Karna vs Abhimanyu part 9
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The preceptor then, slowly and with a smile, said unto Karna, 'Abhimanyu is young, his prowess is great. His coat of mail is impenetrable. This one's father had been taught by me the method of wearing defensive armour. This subjugator of hostile towns assuredly knoweth the entire science (of wearing armour). With shafts well shot, you can, however, cut off his bow, bow-string, the reins of his steeds, the steeds themselves, and two Parshni charioteers. O mighty bowman, O son of Radha, if competent, do this. Making him turn back from the fight (by this means), strike him then. With his bow in hand he is incapable of being vanquished by the very gods and the Asuras together. If you wish, deprive him of his car, and divest him of his bow.'. Hearing these words of the preceptor, Vikartana's son Karna quickly cut off, by means of his shafts, the bow of Abhimanyu, as the latter was shooting with great activity. He, of Bhoja's race (viz., Kritavarman) then slew his steeds, and Kripa slew his two Parshni charioteers. The others covered him with showers of arrows after he had been divested of his bow. Those six great car-warriors, with great speed, when speed was so necessary, ruthlessly covered that carless youth, fighting single-handed with them, with showers of arrows.
Analysis: Despite having the help of six great warriors, still Karna was unable to even cut off the bow of Abhimanyu in a fair fight. Some comedian karna fans say that Karna cut the bow face to face but that is just their desperate weeping, Drona (guru of Karna) literally says making Abhimanyu turn back, so that means cut Abhimnayu's bow from behind. The text also says that Karna cut the bow of Abhimanyu while the latter was shooting arrows at other foes. Abhimanyu wreaked so much havoc and Karna was defeated so many times by him. Karna did not fight a fair fight.
- Karna vs Abhimanyu part 10
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Displaying great strength and great activity, p. 103 and describing the tracks called Kausika and others, the son of Arjuna fiercely coursed through the sky, like the prince of winged creatures (viz., Garuda.). 'He may fall upon me sword in hand,' with such thoughts, those mighty bowmen, were on the lookout for the laches of Abhimanyu, and began to pierce him in that battle, with their gaze turned upwards. Then Drona of mighty energy, that conqueror of foes with a sharp arrow quickly cut off the hilt, decked with gems, of Abhimanyu's sword. Radha's son Karna, with sharp shafts, cut off his excellent shield. Deprived of his sword and shield thus, he came down, with sound limbs, from the welkin upon the earth.
Analysis: Karna was among the mighty bowmen who were afraid that Abhimanyu would attack him with a sword. Drona had to rescue Karna and cut of the hilt of Abhimanyu's sword, without Drona Karna could not even dream of cutting off the shield of Abhimanyu. After this encounter their is no fight between Abhimanyu and Karna, Abhimanyu eventually fights the son of Duhsasana and dies due to exhaustion, wounds, and violation of the laws of combat.
- 14th day (Jayadratha-Vadha Parva)
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Bhurisravas, and Sala and Karna, and Vrishasena, and Jayadratha, and Kripa. and the ruler of the Madras, and that foremost of car-warriors, viz., the son of Drona. these eight great car-warriors, as if devouring the skies (as they proceeded) illuminated the ten points of the compass with their splendid cars, cased in tiger-skins and decked with golden moons. Clad in mail, filled with wrath and mounted upon their cars the rattle of which resembled the roar of masses of clouds, they covered Arjuna on every side with a shower of sharp shafts. Beautiful steeds of the best breed, endued with great speed, bearing those great car-warriors, looked resplendent as they illumined the points of the compass. Their cars drawn by foremost steeds of great fleetness were of diverse countries and of diverse species, some bred in mountainous regions, some in rivers, and some in the country of the Sindhus, many foremost of car-warriors among the Kurus desirous, O king, of rescuing thy son quickly rushed towards Dhananjaya's car from every side. Those foremost of men, taking up their conchs blew them, filling O king, the welkin and the earth with her seas (with that blare). Then those foremost ones among the gods, viz., Vasudeva and Dhananjaya, also blew their foremost of conchs on earth.
Analysis: Over here it's 8 vs 1. Arjuna is all alone while useless Karna teams up with 7 others, as wolves only attack in packs. But lions (Arjuna) hunt alone. It just had them rushing towards Arjuna, so no defeat or victory.
Then, Duryodhana and those eight great car-warriors appointed for the protection of Jayadratha all surrounded the son of Pandu. The son of Drona struck Vasudeva with three and seventy shafts, and Arjuna himself with three broad-headed shafts, and his standard and (four) steeds with five others. Beholding Janardana pierced, Arjuna, filled with rage, struck Aswatthaman with hundred shafts. Then piercing Karna with ten arrows and Vrishasena with three, the valiant Dhananjaya cut off Salya's bow with arrows fixed on the string, at the handle. Salya then, taking up another bow, pierced the son of Pandu. And Bhurisravas pierced him with three arrows whetted on stone, and equipped with golden wings. And Karna pierced him with two and thirty arrows, and Vrishasena with seven. And Jayadratha pierced Arjuna with three and seventy shafts and Kripa pierced him with ten. And the ruler of the Madras also pierced Phalguna in that battle with ten arrows. And the son of Drona pierced him with sixty arrows. And he, once more, pierced Partha with five arrows, and Vasudeva with twenty. Then the tiger among men, viz., Arjuna owning white steeds and having Krishna for his driver, pierced each of those warriors in return, displaying the lightness of his hand. Piercing Karna with a dozen shafts and Vrishasena with three, Partha cut off Salya's bow at the handle.
Analysis: Over here it's 9 vs 1. Is it a fair fight? No. Yet still Arjuna wounds Karna with 22 arrows and save himself.
Then those mighty car-warriors headed by Duryodhana (on one side) and that bull amongst the Pandavas on the other, uttered loud roars and began the encounter. And the feat that Kunti's son, having Krishna for his charioteer, achieved there, was highly wonderful, inasmuch as, alone, he encountered fearlessly all those warriors united together. And that mighty-armed hero looked resplendent as he stretched his bow Gandiva, desirous of vanquishing all those tigers among men for slaying the ruler of the Sindhus. With his shafts shot in thousands, that tiger among men, viz., Arjuna, that scorcher of foes, made all those warriors invisible (by means of his arrowy showers). On their side, those tigers among men, those mighty car-warriors, also made Partha invisible by means of their clouds of shafts shot from all sides. Beholding Arjuna, that bull of Kuru's race covered by those lions among men with their shafts, loud was the uproar made by thy troops.'
Analysis: Read the whole entire section, and you will see that in page 211 of Drona Parva among the warriors that are led by Duryodhana. Karna and his name are also mentioned, so he has to be included among them. Such a important warrior who was trusted to protect Jayadratha would have clearly group attacked Arjuna then and their. During the next section it just switches to the other side of the battlefield (the one that doesn't include Arjuna & Karna in it their).
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He never becomes cheerless under any burden howsoever heavy. Those warriors that are opposed to him, viz., the Sauvirakas, the Sindhava-Pauravas, they from the north, they from the south, and they, O king, headed by Karna, that are regarded as foremost of car-warriors, do not together come up to a sixteenth part of Arjuna.
Analysis: Notice that Satyaki said warriors headed by Karna not Karna himself, meaning that only the warriors that were headed by karna are regarded as foremost. And this clearly means that Arjuna was doing just fine against all of them, against Karna and his group of warriors. After this Satyaki goes in and defeats the army of Karna but not Karna himself.
Indeed, the mighty Karna, desirous of battle, displayed his strength and checked Bhima's course like a tall tree withstanding tempest. The heroic Bhima also, beholding Vikartana's son before him, suddenly blazed up in wrath and sped at him with great force many shafts whetted on stone. Karna received all those shafts and sped many in return. At that encounter between Bhima and Karna, hearing the sounds of their palms, the limbs of all the struggling combatants, car-warriors, and horsemen, began to tremble. Indeed, hearing the terrible roars of Bhimasena on the field of battle, even all the foremost of Kshatriyas regarded the whole earth and the welkin to be filled with that noise.
Analysis: Now is the start of Bhima vs Karna. It is written clearly that Karna wanted to fight and that he checked Bhima's course. This incident was just a stalemate.
The welkin was covered with flights of vultures and Kankas during that terrific encounter between Bhima and Karna. Then Karna struck Bhima with twenty arrows, and quickly pierced the latter's charioteer also with five. Smiling the while, the mighty and active Bhima then, in that battle, quickly sped at Karna four and sixty arrows. Then Karna, O king, sped four shafts at him. Bhima, by means of his straight shafts, cut them into many fragments, O king, displaying his lightness of hand. Then Karna covered him with dense showers of arrows. Thus covered by Karna, the mighty son of Pandu, however, cut off Karna's bow at the handle and then pierced Karna with ten straight arrows. The Suta's son then, that mighty car-warrior of terrible deeds, taking up another bow and stringing it quickly, pierced Bhima in that battle (with many shafts). Then Bhima, excited with rage, struck the Suta's son with great force on the chest with three straight shafts. With those arrows sticking at his breast, Karna looked beautiful, O bull of Bharata's race, like a mountain with three tall summits. Thus pierced with mighty shafts, blood began to flow from his wounds, like torrents of liquid red-chalk down the breast of a mountain. Afflicted with those shafts shot with great force, Karna became agitated a little. Fixing an arrow then on his bow, he pierced p. 276 [paragraph continues] Bhima, again, O sire! And once more he began to shoot arrows by hundreds and thousands. Suddenly shrouded with shafts by that firm bowman, viz., Karna, the son of Pandu, smiling the while, cut off Karna's bow-string. And then with a broad-headed arrow, he despatched Karna's charioteer to the abode of Yama. And that mighty car-warrior, viz., Bhima, deprived the four steeds also of Karna of their lives. The mighty car-warrior Karna then speedily jumping down, O king, from his steedless car, mounted the car of Vrishasena. The valiant Bhimasena then, having vanquished Karna in battle, uttered a loud shout deep as the roar of the clouds. Hearing that roar, O Bharata, Yudhishthira became highly gratified, knowing that Karna had been vanquished by Bhimasena.
Analysis: Over here it is clearly mentioned that Karna was defeated. Yudhishthira's reaction to this incident also proves that it was Bhima's victory and Karna's defeat. Bhima defeated Karna over here in-front of everyone. Bhima killed all four horses of Karna, did Karna succeed in killing even one horse of Bhima? No. Karna failed to kill any of Bhima's supporters. The only feats that Karn achieved over here are piercing Bhima with many shafts/arrows, and running away like Usain bolt.
'Leaving Radha's son, that foremost of car-warriors Bhimasena, desired to proceed to the place where those two heroes, viz., Krishna and Dhananjaya were. The son of Radha, however, rushing towards him as he proceeded, covered him, O king, with dense showers of arrows, like a cloud pouring, torrents of rain on a mountain. The mighty son of Adhiratha, his face beautiful as a full-blown lotus, lighted up with a smile, challenged Bhimasena to battle, as the latter was proceeding. And Karna said, 'O Bhima, I dreamt not that thou knowest how to fight. Why then dost thou show me thy back from desire of meeting with Arjuna? O delighter of the Pandavas, this is scarcely fit for a son of Kunti. Staying, therefore, where thou art, cover me with thy arrows.' Bhimasena, hearing that challenge of Karna, brooked it not, but wheeling his car a little, began to fight with the Suta's son. The illustrious Bhimasena showered clouds of straight shafts. Desiring also to arrive at the end of those hostilities by slaying Karna, Bhima began to weaken that hero conversant with every weapon and clad in mail, and staying before him for engaging in a single combat. Then mighty Bhima, that scorcher of foes, that wrathful son of Pandu, having slain numerous Kauravas, shot diverse showers of p. 280 fierce shafts at Karna, O sire!
The Suta's son, endued with great strength,
swallowed, by means of the power of his own weapons, all those showers of arrows shot by that hero, possessed of the tread of an infuriated elephant. Duly favoured by knowledge, that great bowman,
viz., Karna, began in that battle, O monarch, to career like a preceptor (Of Military science).
The wrathful son of Radha, smiling the while, seemed to mock Bhimasena as the latter was battling with great fury. The son of Kunti
brooked not that smile of Karna in the midst of many brave warriors witnessing from all sides that fight of theirs. Like a driver striking a huge elephant with a hook, the mighty Bhima, excited with rage, pierced Karna whom he had obtained within reach, with many calf-toothed shafts in the centre of the chest. And once more,
Bhimasena pierced the Suta's son of variegated armour with three and seventy well-shot and keen arrows equipped with beautiful wings and eased in golden armour, each with five shafts. And soon, within the twinkling of the eye, was seen a network of shafts about Bhima's car caused by Karna. Indeed, O monarch, those shafts shot from Karna's bow completely shrouded that car with its standard and driver and the Pandava himself. Then
Karna pierced the impenetrable armour of Bhima with four and sixty arrows. And excited with rage
he then pierced Partha himself with many straight shafts capable of penetrating into the very vitals. The
mighty-armed Vrikodara, however, disregarding those shafts shot from Karna's bow fearlessly struck the
Suta's son. Pierced with those shafts, resembling snakes of virulent poison, shot from Karna's bow,
Bhima, O monarch, felt no pain in that battle.
Analysis: Karna shot as many arrows as he could. Shafts that were capable of penetrating into the very vitals of Bhima's body were shot by karna. Yet not one shaft that Karna shot could make Bhima feel any pain in the fight. Initially Bhima was going to a different direction (cause he had already defeated Karna previously) the result of this current fight is just a stalemate, their was no result but Karna failed to gain any advantage against Bheema. Karna's not mild over here fools, Karna is pierced with 73 arrows from BIMA's bow, if you get hit seventy three times then you would certainly have retaliated. But Karn failed to.
The valiant Bhima then, in that encounter, pierced Karna with two and thirty broad-headed shafts of keen points and fierce energy, Karna, however, with the greatest indifference, covered, in return, with his arrows, the mighty-armed Bhimasena who was desirous of Jayadratha's slaughter. Indeed, the son of Radha, in that encounter, fought mildly with Bhima, while Bhima, remembering his former wrongs, fought with him furiously. The wrathful Bhimasena could not brook that disregard by Karna. Indeed, that slayer of foes quickly shot showers of arrows at Radha's son. Those arrows, sped in that encounter by Bhimasena, fell on every limb of Karna like cooing birds. Those arrows equipped with golden wings and keen points, shot from Bhimasena's bow, covered the son of Radha like a flight of insects covering a blazing fire. Karna, however, O king, shot showers of fierce shafts in return, O Bharata. Then Vrikodara cut off, with Many broad-headed arrows, those shafts resembling thunderbolts, shot by that ornament of battle, before they could come at him. That chastiser of foes, viz., Karna, the son of Vikartana, once more, O Bharata, covered Bhimasena with his arrowy showers. We then, O Bharata, beheld Bhima so pierced in that encounter with arrows as to resemble a porcupine with its quilts erect on its body. 1 Like the sun holding his own rays, the heroic p. 281 [paragraph continues] Bhima held in that battle all those shafts, whetted on stone and equipped with wings of gold, that were shot from Karna's bow. All his limbs bathed in blood, Bhimasena looked resplendent like an Asoka tree in spring adorned with its flowery burthen. The mighty-armed Bhima could not brook that conduct, in battle, of the mighty-armed Karna. Rolling his eyes ill wrath, he pierced Karna with five and twenty long shafts. Thereupon, Karna looked like a white mountain with many snakes of virulent poison (hanging from its sides). And once more, Bhimasena, endued with the prowess of a celestial, pierced the Suta's son who was prepared to lay down his life in battle, with six and then with eight arrows. And, again, with another arrow, the valiant Bhimasena quickly cut off Karna's bow, smiling the while. And he slew also with his shafts the four steeds of Karna and then his charioteer, and then pierced Karna himself in the chest with a number of long shafts endued with the effulgence of the sun. Those winged shafts, piercing through Karna's body, entered the earth, like the rays of the sun piercing through the clouds. Afflicted with arrows and his bow cut off, Karna, though proud of his manliness, felt great pain and proceeded to another car.'"
Analysis: The argument of some Karna fans is that the text does not say that Karna was defeated, just that he proceeded to another car and switched chariots, well in case some geniuses did not figure it out yet but this post isn't about his defeats it's about Karna's military career in the Kurukshetra war! Now to actually analyze over here Bima overpowered Karna again and very easily. He slayed the horses & charioteer of Karna, he cut off Karna's bow using archery, over here he proved he is a better archer than Karna. And he did all of this with a smile on his face (now who's mild)........ While Karna on the other-hand failed to do the same to Bheema even once.
'Mounting upon another car that was duly equipped Karna once more proceeded against the son of Pandu, with the fury of the Ocean tossed by the tempest. Beholding Adhiratha's son excited with rage, thy sons, O king, regarded Bhimasena to be already poured as a libation on the (Karna) fire. With furious twang of bowstring and terrible sounds Of his palms, the son of Radha shot dense showers of shafts towards Bhimasena's car. And once more, O monarch, a terrible encounter took Place between the heroic Karna and the high-souled Bhima. Both excited with wrath, both endued with mighty arms, each desirous of slaying the other, those two warriors looked at each other, as if resolved to burn each O her with their (wrathful) glances. The eyes of both were red in rage, and both breathed fiercely, like a couple of snakes. Endued with great heroism, those two chastisers of foes approached and mangled each other. Indeed, they fought with each other like two hawks endued with great activity, or like two Sarabhas excited with wrath.
Analysis: After this above quote Bhima just has a flashback thinks to himself about all the crimes Karna has done and all the past incidents of his childhood. That is the reason why i only included this much of the text for the quote, because this round ends here. And also over here it was stated that both warriors were desiring to kill each-other. Yet Karna failed to kill his brother Bima.
Pritha as veritable straw, the virtuous Bhima that slayer of foes, remembering these and all the woes he had suffered since his childhood, became reckless of his very life. Stretching his invincible and formidable bow, the back of whose staff was decked with gold, Vrikodara, that tiger of Bharata's race, utterly reckless of his life, rushed against Karna. Shooting dense showers of bright arrows whetted on stone, Bhima shrouded the very light of the sun. Adhiratha's son, however, smiling the while, quickly baffled, by means of his own winged arrows whetted on stone, that arrowy downpour of Bhimasena. Endued with great strength and mighty arms, that mighty car-warrior, the son of Adhiratha, then pierced Bhima with nine keen arrows. Struck with those arrows, like an elephant struck with the hook. Vrikodara fearlessly rushed against the Suta's son. Karna, however, rushed against that bull among the Pandavas who was thus rushing towards him with great impetuosity and might, like an infuriated elephant against an infuriated compeer. Blowing his conch then, whose blast resembled the sound of a hundred trumpets, Karna cheerfully agitated the force that supported Bhima, like the raging sea. Beholding that force of his consisting of elephants and steeds and cars and foot-soldiers, thus agitated by Karna, Bhima, approaching the former, covered him with arrows. Then Karna caused his own steeds of the hue of swans to be mingled with those of Bhimasena's of the hue of bears, and shrouded the son of Pandu with his shafts. Beholding those steeds of the hue of bears and fleet as the wind, mingled with those of the hue of swans, cries of oh and alas arose from among the troops of thy sons. Those steeds, fleet as the wind, thus mingled together, looked exceedingly beautiful like white and black clouds, O monarch, mingled together in the firmament. Beholding Karna and Vrikodara to be both excited with wrath, great car-warriors of thy army began to tremble with fear. The field of battle where they fought soon became awful like the domain of Yama. Indeed, O best of Bharatas, it became as frightful to behold as the city of the dead. The great car, p. 283 warriors of thy army, looking upon that scene, as if they were spectators of a sport in an arena, beheld not any of the two to gain any advantage over the other in that dreadful encounter. They only beheld, O king, that mingling and clash of the mighty weapons of those two warriors, as a result, O monarch, of the evil policy of thyself and thy son. Those two slayers of foes-continued to cover each other with their keen shafts. Both endued with wonderful prowess, they filled the welkin with their arrowy downpours. Those two mighty car-warriors shooting at each other keen shafts from desire of taking each other's life, became exceedingly beautiful to behold like two clouds pouring torrents of rain. Those two chastisers of foes, shooting gold-decked arrows, made the welkin look bright, O king, as if with blazing meteors. Shafts equipped with vulturine feathers, shot by those two heroes, looked like rows of excited cranes in the autumn sky. Meanwhile, Krishna and Dhananjaya, those chastisers of foes, engaged in battle with the Suta's son, thought the burthen too great for Bhima to bear. As Karna and Bhima for baffling each other's shafts, shot these arrows at each other, many elephants and steeds and men deeply struck therewith, fell down deprived of life. And in consequence of those falling and fallen creatures deprived of life counting by thousands, a great carnage, O king, took place in the army of thy sons. And soon, O bull of Bharata's race, the field of battle became covered with the bodies of men and steeds and elephants deprived of life.
Analysis: Over here Bhima's arrows blot out the sun (who some funny people claim to be the father of Karna). In this fight Karna accidentally killed his own troops (the army of the Kurus is the army of karna here). The statement of Sanjaya (that Krishna and Arjuna battled Karna & thought the fight was too much for Bheema to handle) is an interpolation. Because it makes no sense for Arjuna to be their next to Bhima (at that moment) when he is still focused on killing Jayadratha before sunset (in order to fulfill his vow). Such one liners cannot be trusted. And Karna killed his own men this time, he delivered friendly fire to his own armed forces. Also this fight was not a defeat or a stalemate it was all just one skirmish, where no one won or lost. But it would be logical to declare this a defeat of Karna (as in the end only karna suffered while Bima was still all good), his army was harmed, Bima was unscathed. After Bima started covering Karna with his arrows, the force that was supporting Bima is not mentioned, so their existence is questionable.
Analysis: Dritarashtra (father of Karna's best friend Duryodhana) also considers the above incident to be a defeat of Karna.
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O Suta, obtaining Karna in battle, my son Suyodhana always ventures to vanquish the sons of Pritha with Govinda and the Satwatas. Hearing, however, of the repeated defeat in battle of Karna by Bhimasena of terrible deeds, a swoon seems to come upon me, I think, the Kauravas to be already slain, in consequence of evil policy of p. 284 my son.
'Hear, O king, how the battle took place between Karna and Bhima which resembled an encounter between two elephants in the forest, desirous of slaying each other. The son of Vikartana, O king, excited with rage and putting forth his prowess, pierced that chastiser of foes, viz., the angry Bhima of great prowess with thirty shafts. Indeed, O chief of Bharata's race, Vikartana's son struck Bhima with many arrows of keen points, decked with gold, and endued with great impetuosity. Bhima, however, with three sharp shafts cut off the bow of Karna, as the latter was engaged in striking him. And with a broad-headed arrow, the son of Pandu then felled on the earth Karna's charioteer from his niche in the car. The son of Vikartana, then desirous of slaying Bhimasena, seized a dart whose shaft was adorned with gold and stones of lapis lazuli. Grasping that fierce dart, which resembled a second dart of death, and uplifting and aiming it, the mighty son of Radha hurled it at Bhimasena with a force sufficient to take away Bhima's life. Hurling that dart, like Purandara hurling the thunderbolt, Radha's son of great strength uttered a loud roar. Hearing that roar thy sons became filled with delight. Bhima, however, with seven swift arrows, cut off in the welkin that dart endued with the effulgence of the sun or fire, hurled from the hands of Karna. Cutting off that dart, resembling a snake just freed from its slough, Bhima, O sire, as if on the lookout for taking the life-breath of the Suta's son, sped, in great wrath, many shafts in that battle that were equipped with peacock-feathers and golden wings and each of which, whetted of' stone, resembled the rod of Yama. Karna also of great energy, taking up another formidable bow, the back of whose staff was adorned with gold, and drawing it with force, shot many shafts. The son of Pandu, however, cut off all those arrows with nine straight arrows of his own. Having cut off, O ruler of men those mighty shafts shot by Vasushena, Bhima, p. 285 [paragraph continues] O monarch, uttered a loud roar like that of a lion. Roaring at each other like two mighty bulls for the sake of a cow in season, or like two tigers for the sake of the same piece of meat, they endeavoured to strike each other, each being desirous of finding the other's laches. At times they looked at each other with angry eyes, like two mighty bulls in a cow-pen. Then like two huge elephants striking each other with the points of their tusks, they encountered each other with shafts shot from their bows drawn to the fullest stretch. Scorching each other, O king, with their arrowy showers, they put forth their prowess upon each other, eyeing each other in great wrath. Sometimes laughing at each other, and sometimes rebuking each other, and sometimes blowing their conchs, they continued to fight with each other. Then Bhima once more cut Karna's bow at the handle, O sire, and despatched by means of his shafts the latter's steeds, white as conchs, to the abode of Yama, and the son of Pandu also felled his enemy's charioteer from his niche in the car. Then Karna, the son of Vikartana, made steedless and driverless, and covered in that battle (with shafts), became plunged into great anxiety. Stupefied by Bhima with his arrowy showers, he knew not what to do. Beholding Karna placed in the distressful plight, king Duryodhana, trembling with wrath, commended (his brother) Durjaya, saying, 'Go, O Durjaya! There the son of Pandu is about to devour the son of Radha! Slay that beardless Bhima soon, and infuse strength into Karna!' Thus addressed, the son Durjaya, saying unto Duryodhana, 'So be it', rushed towards Bhimasena engaged (with Karna) and covered him with arrows. And Durjaya struck Bhima with nine shafts, his steeds with eight, his driver with six, his standard with three, and once more Bhima himself with seven. Then Bhimasena, excited with wrath, piercing with his shafts the very vitals of Durjaya, and his steeds and driver, despatched them of Yama's abode. Then Karna, weeping in grief, circumambulated that son of thine, who, adorned with ornaments, lay on the earth, writhing like a snake. Bhima then, having made that deadly foe of his, viz., Karna, carless, smiling by covered him with shafts and made him look like a Sataghni with numberless spikes on it. The Atiratha Karna, however, that chastiser of foes, though thus pierced with arrows, did not yet avoid the enraged Bhima in battle.'
Analysis: Here also both warriors were being mentioned as wanting to slay each other. Over here Bima cut off the bow of Karna, who failed to do the same to Bima here. Karna also could not succeed in killing any horses of Bima. Who killed the fresh brand new horses of Karna. Bheema's dominance of the fight is so evident that Duryodhana (best friend of karna) orders his brother to rescue Karna. The battlefield is no place to be crying, it is a place for fighting battles, yet Karna is over here crying over spilled milk, over the loss of his comrades, as if this has not happened before. I think karna had his own rescue team.
Then Karna, striking Bhimasena with showers p. 286 of shafts, uttered a loud roar, and once more pierced him in the chest. Bhima, however, in return, pierced Karna with ten straight arrows and once more with twenty straight arrows. Then Karna, piercing Bhima, O king, with nine arrows in the centre of the chest, struck the latter's standard with a sharp shaft. The son of Pritha then pierced Karna in return with three and sixty arrows, like a driver striking a mighty elephant with the hook, or a rider striking a steed with a whip. Deeply pierced, O king, by the illustrious son of Pandu, the heroic Karna began to lick with his tongue the corners of his mouth, and his eyes became red in rage. Then, O monarch, Karna, sped at Bhimasena, for his destruction, a shaft capable of piercing everybody, like Indra hurling his thunderbolt. That shaft equipped with beautiful feathers sped from the bow of the Suta's son, piercing Partha in that battle, sank deep into the earth. Then the mighty-armed Bhima, with eyes red in wrath, hurled without a moment's reflection, at the Suta's son, a heavy six-sided mace, adorned with gold measuring full four cubits in length, and resembling the bolt of Indra in force. Indeed, like Indra slaying the Asuras with his thunderbolt, that hero of Bharata's race, excited with wrath, slew with that mace the well-trained steeds of the foremost breed, of Adhiratha's son. Then, O bull of Bharata's race, the mighty-armed Bhima, with a couple of razor-faced arrows, cut off the standard of Karna. And then he slew, with a number of shafts his enemy's charioteer. Abandoning that steedless and driverless and standardless car, Karna. O Bharata, cheerlessly stood on the earth, drawing his bow. The prowess that we then beheld of Radha's son was extremely wonderful, inasmuch as that foremost of car-warriors, though deprived of car, continued to resist his foe. Beholding that foremost of men, viz., the son of Adhiratha, deprived of his car, Duryodhana, O monarch, said unto (his brother) Durmukha, 'There, O Durmukha, the son of Radha hath been deprived of his car by Bhimasena. Furnish that foremost of men, that mighty car-warrior with a car.' Hearing these words of Duryodhana, thy son Durmukha, O Bharata, quickly proceeded towards Karna and covered Bhima with his shafts. Beholding Durmukha desirous of supporting the Suta's son in that battle, the son of the Wind god was filled with delight and began to lick the corners of his mouth. Then resisting Karna the while with his shafts, the son of Pandu quickly drove his car towards Durmukha. And in that moment, O king, with nine straight arrows of keen points, Bhima despatched Durmukha to Yama's abode, Upon Durmukha's slaughter, the son of Adhiratha mounted upon the car of that prince and looked resplendent, O king, like the blazing sun. Beholding Durmukha lying prostrate on the field, his very vital pierced (with shafts) and his body bathed in blood, Karna with tearful eyes abstained for a moment from the fight. Circumambulating the fallen prince and leaving him there, the heroic Karna began to breathe long and hot breaths and knew not what to do. Seizing that opportunity, O king, Bhimasena shot at the Suta's son four and ten long shafts equipped with vulturine feathers. Those blood-drinking shafts of golden wings, endued with great p. 287 force illuminating the ten points as they coursed through the welkin, pierced the armour of the Suta's son, and drank his life-blood, O king, and passing through his body, sank into the earth and looked resplendent like angry snakes, O monarch, urged on by Death himself, with half their bodies inserted within their holes. Then the son of Radha, without reflecting a moment, pierced Bhima in return with four and ten fierce shafts adorned with gold. Those fierce-winged arrows, piercing through Bhima's right arms, entered the earth like birds entering a grove of trees. Striking against the earth, those arrows looked resplendent, like the blazing rays of the sun while proceeding towards the Asta hills. Pierced in that battle with those all-piercing arrows, Bhima began to shed copious streams of blood, like a mountain ejecting streams of water. Then Bhima pierced the Suta's son in return with three shafts endued with the impetuosity of Garuda and he pierced the latter's charioteer also with seven. Then, O king, Karna thus afflicted by Bhima's might, became exceedingly distressed. And that illustrious warrior then fled, forsaking the battle, borne away by his fleet steeds.
Analysis: Over here Karna was daydreaming after getting wounded by Bheema's arrows. However we should not disregard that Karn achieved some feats against Bima by shooting arrows that pierced right through his arms. It was not a fair fight as it became two on one. But yet still Bhima defeated Karna, Karna was made car less. His steeds and horse were killed by Bheem. Karna did not what he was supposed to do, it is stated clearly. Karn was highly wounded by the blood sucking arrows of Bima. He killed Karna's charioteer but Karna failed to do the same to Bhima. Yudhishthira never sends any backup warriors for Bheema's support yet Duryodhana does (for Karn) as Karna was useless.
- Confirmation of Karna's defeat
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Tell me therefore, O Sanjaya, what Duryodhana said, beholding that Karna defeated and looking like a snake deprived of its poison and flying away from battle.
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It seems that Suta's son, the mighty p. 288 armed Karna alone, relying on the prowess of his own arms, fought in battle with Bhimasena, disregarding the latter. That son of Pandu who vanquished Karna in battle like Purandara vanquishing an Asura, is capable of being vanquished by anybody in fight. Who is there that would, hopeful of life, approach that Bhima who, in Arjuna's quest, alone entered my host, having ground Drona himself?
Analysis: Dhritarashtra clearly considers part 8 as a defeat of Karna. And he's the father of Karna's best friend Duryodhana, so he is no biased reporter.
Beholding thy sons advancing against Bhimasena, Radha's son, Karna rushed against that mighty warrior, shooting arrows of keen points that were equipped with golden wings and whetted on stone. Bhima, however, quickly rushed against Karna, though resisted by thy sons. Then the Kurus, surrounding Karna, covered Bhimasena with showers of straight shafts. With five and twenty arrows, O king, Bhima, armed with his formidable bow, despatched all those bulls among men to Yama's abode with their steeds and charioteers. Falling down from their cars along with their charioteers, their lifeless forms looked like large trees with their weight of variegated flowers uprooted by the tempest. The prowess that we then beheld of Bhimasena was exceedingly wonderful, inasmuch as, resisting Adhiratha's son the while, he slew those sons of thine. Resisted by Bhima with whetted arrows on all sides, the Suta's son, O king, only looked at Bhima. Bhimasena also, with eyes red in wrath, began to cast angry glances on Karna, stretching his formidable bow the while.
Analysis: Over here Karna just looked at Bheema. He could only just stare not even try to counter his attacks. Here Bhima clearly has the upper hand he kills the warriors that came for Karna's help and Karna is unable to turn things around, has he even killed one supporter of Bima yet? No. This is still not a defeat of Karna as Bhima did not wound him over here and Karna did not run away, no one called this a defeat so yeah, verdict for this part is no result.
Then Bhimasena, recollecting the wrongs formerly inflicted by Karna, became filled with rage and began with deliberate care to pierce Karna with many keen arrows. Then Karna, piercing Bhima with five arrows, smiling the while, once more pierced him with seventy arrows, equipped with golden wings and whetted on stone. Disregarding these shafts shot by Karna, Vrikodara pierced the son of Radha in that battle with a hundred straight shafts. And once more, piercing him in his vitals with five keen arrows, Bhima, O sire, cut off with a broad-headed arrow the bow of the Suta's son. The cheerless Karna then, O Bharata, taking up another bow shrouded Bhimasena on all sides with his arrows. Then Bhima, slaying Karna's steeds and charioteer, laughed a laugh, having thus counteracted Karna's feats. Then that bull amongst men, viz., Bhima, cut off with his arrows the bow of Karna. That bow, O king, of loud twang, and the back of whose staff was decked with gold, fell down (from his hand). Then the mighty car-warrior Karna alighted from his car and taking up a mace in that battle wrathfully hurled it at Bhima. Beholding that mace, O king, impetuously p. 290 coursing towards him, Vrikodara resisted it with his arrows in the sight of all thy troops. Then the son of Pandu, gifted with great prowess and exerting himself with great activity, shot a thousand arrows at the Suta's son, desirous of taking the latter's life. Karna, however, in the dreadful battle, resisting all those shafts with his own, cut off Bhima's armour also with his arrows. And then he pierced Bhima with five and twenty small shafts in the sight of all the troops. All this seemed exceedingly wonderful. Then, O monarch, Bhima, excited with rage, sped nine straight shafts at the Suta's son. Those keen shafts, piercing through Karna's coat of mail and right arm, entered the earth like snakes into an ant-hill. Shrouded with showers of shafts shot from Bhimasena's bow, Karna once more turned his back upon Bhimasena. Beholding the Suta's son turn back and flying away on foot, covered all over with the arrows of Kunti's son, Duryodhana said, 'Go ye quickly from all sides towards the car of Radha's son.'
Analysis: Over here Karna clearly ran away so he was defeated i mean he ran on foot this time not just leaping to different chariots. So we already know that Bhima won. But who shot more arrows? Bhima did, he proved he is a far better archer than Karna. Bheema shot over a thousand arrows while Karna shot barely a hundred. This is proof that Bima was of a whole different skill level that Karna was not in. even though both warriors are called Atiratha still Karna is far inferior to Bhima. He even cut off the bow of Karna twice here.
Deprived of life, they fell down on the earth like trees uprooted by a tempest. Beholding those sons of thine, all mighty car-warriors, O king, thus slain, Karna, with tearful face, recollected the word of Vidura. Mounting upon another car that was duly equipped, Karna, endued with great prowess, quickly proceeded against the son of Pandu in battle. Piercing each other with whetted arrows, equipped with wings of gold, the two warriors looked resplendent like two masses of clouds penetrated by the rays of the sun. Then the son of Pandu, excited with rage, cut off the armour of Suta's son with six and thirty broad-headed arrows of great sharpness and fierce energy. The mighty-armed Suta's son also, O bull of Bharata's race, pierced the son of Kunti with fifty straight arrows. The two warriors then, smeared with red sandal-paste with many a wound caused by each other's arrows, and covered also with gore, looked resplendent like the risen sun and the moon. Their coats of mail cut off by means of arrows, and their bodies covered with blood, Karna and Bhima then looked like a couple of snakes just freed from their sloughs. Indeed, those two tigers among men mangled each other with their arrows, like two tigers mangling each other with their teeth. The two heroes incessantly showered their shafts, like two masses of clouds pouring torrents of rain. Those two chastisers of foes tore each other's body with their arrows, like two elephants tearing each other with the points of their tusks. Roaring at each other and showering their arrows upon each other, causing their cars to trace beautiful circles. They resembled a couple of mighty bulls roaring at each other in the presence of a cow in her season. Indeed, those two lions among men then looked like a couple of mighty lions endued with p. 291 eyes red in wrath, these two warriors endued with great energy fought on like Sakra and Virochana's son (Prahlada). Then, O king, the mighty-armed Bhima, as he stretched his bow with his two hands, looked like a cloud charged with lightning. Then mighty Bhima-cloud, having the twang of the bow for its thunder and incessant showers of arrows for its rainy downpour, covered, O king, the Karna-mountain. And once more Pandu's son, Bhima of terrible prowess, O Bharata, shrouded Karna with a thousand shafts shot from his bow. And as he shrouded Karna with his winged shafts, equipped with Kanka feathers, thy sons witnessed his extra ordinary prowess. Gladdening Partha himself and the illustrious Kesava, Satyaki and the two protectors of (two) wheels (of Arjuna's car), Bhima fought even thus with Karna. Beholding the perseverance of Bhima who knew his own self, thy sons, O monarch, all became cheerless.
Analysis: Over here both warriors had no armor on their bodies to protect themselves from harm. Those who favored Karna (and wanted him to win) became cheerless while those who favored Bheema got delighted, this is sufficient proof that Bima had the upper hand over Karna in this part. Even over here Karna was crying with a tearful face while Bhima was all happy and good.
With eyes red as copper, and sighing in wrath like a mighty snake, Karna then, as he shot his arrows, looked resplendent like the sun scattering his rays. 1 Indeed, O bull of Bharata's race, Vrikodara was then covered with the arrows, resembling the spreading rays of the sun that were shot from Karna's bow. The beautiful shafts, equipped with peacock-feathers, shot from Karna's bow, penetrated into every part of Bhima's body, like birds into a tree for roosting there. Indeed, the arrows, equipped with wings of gold, shot from Karna's bow falling incessantly, resembled continuous rows of cranes. So numerous were the shafts shot by Adhiratha's son that, these seemed to issue not from his bow alone but from his standard, his umbrella, and the shaft and yoke and bottom of his car also. Indeed, Adhiratha's son shot his sky-ranging shafts of impetuous energy, decked with gold and equipped with vulturine feathers, in such a way as to fill the entire welkin with them. Beholding him (thus) excited with fury and rushing towards him like the Destroyer himself, Vrikodara, becoming utterly reckless of his life and prevailing over his foe, pierced him with p. 292 nine shafts. 1 Beholding the irresistible impetuosity of Karna as also that dense shower of arrows, Bhima, endued as he was with great prowess, quailed not in fear. The son of Pandu then counteracting that arrowy downpour of Adhiratha's son, pierced Karna himself with twenty other sharp shafts. Indeed, as Pritha's son himself had before been shrouded by the Suta's son, even so was the latter now shrouded by the former in that battle. Beholding the prowess of Bhimasena in battle, thy warriors, as also the Gharanas, filled with joy; applauded him. Bhurisravas, and Kripa, and Drona's son, and the ruler of the Madras, and Uttamaujas and Yudhamanyu, and Kesava, and Arjuna,--these great car-warriors: O king, among both the Kurus and the Pandavas,--loudly cheered Bhima, saying, 'Excellent, Excellent,' and uttered leonine roars. When that fierce uproar, making the hair stand on end rose, thy son Duryodhana, O king, quickly said unto all the kings and princes and particularly his uterine brothers, these words, 'Blessed be ye, proceed towards Karna for rescuing him from Vrikodara, else the shafts shot from Bhima's bow will slay the son of Radha. Ye mighty bowmen, strive ye to protect the Suta's son.' Thus commanded by Duryodhana, seven of his uterine brothers, O sire, rushing in wrath towards Bhimasena, encompassed him on all sides.
Analysis: Again Karna fails. Seven brothers of Duryodhana have to break up the fight again and save Karna from further embarrassment. everyone was cheering for Bheema (including Karna's own comrades they all cheered for BIMA). Although let's be fair and give Karna some props and praise for his performance, the speed in which he fired his arrows was commendable.
Indeed, O king, Karna and Bhima, both endued with great prowess, continued in that battle to pour their arrowy showers like two rain-charged clouds. The arrows, winged with gold and whetted on stone and marked with Bhima's name, approaching Karna, penetrated into his body, as if piercing into his very life. Similarly, Bhima also, in that battle was shrouded with the shafts of Karna in hundreds and thousands, resembling snakes of virulent poison. With their arrows, O king, failing on all sides, an agitation was produced among the troops resembling that of the very ocean. Many were the combatants, O chastiser of foes, in thy host that were deprived of life by arrows, resembling snakes of virulent poison shot from Bhima's bow. Strewn with fallen elephants and steeds mixed with the bodies of men, the field of battle looked like one covered with trees broken by a tempest. Slaughtered in battle with the arrows from Bhima's bow, thy warriors fled away, 'saying, What is this?' Indeed, that host of the Sindhus, the Sauviras, and the Kauravas, afflicted with the impetuous shafts of both Karna and Bhima, was removed to a great distance. The remnant of those brave soldiers, with their steeds and elephants killed, leaving the vicinity of both Karna and Bhima, fled away in all directions.
Analysis: Over here fool Karna killed his own army, read the above text it clearly says that the Kaurava troops were being slaughtered by both warriors shafts, not just Bima's. The word "their" was used, "their arrows", so it means both Karna and Bheema.
'Then Karna, O king, piercing Bhima with three arrows, poured countless beautiful arrows upon him. The mighty-armed Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, though thus struck by the Suta's son, showed no signs of pain but stood immovable like a hill pierced (with arrows). In return, O sire, in that battle, he deeply pierced Karna in the ear with a barbed arrow, rubbed with oil, of great keenness, and of excellent temper. (With that arrow) he felled on the earth the large and beautiful ear-ring of Karna. And it felled down, O monarch, like a blazing luminary of great effulgence from the firmament. Excited with wrath, Vrikodara, then, smiling the while, deeply pierced the Suta's son in the centre of the chest with another broad-headed arrow. And once again, O Bharata, the mighty-armed Bhima quickly shot in that battle ten long shafts that looked like snakes of virulent poison just freed from their sloughs. Shot by Bhima, those shafts, O sire, striking Karna's forehead, entered it like snakes entering an ant-hill. With those shafts sticking to his forehead, the Suta's son looked beautiful, as he did before, while his brow had been encircled with a chaplet of blue lotuses. Deeply pierced by the active son of Pandu, Karna, supporting himself on the Kuxara of his car, closed his eyes. Soon, however, regaining consciousness, Karna, that scorcher of foes, with his body bathed in blood, became mad with rage. 3 Infuriated with rage in consequence of his being thus afflicted by p. 296 that firm bowman Karna, endued with great impetuosity, rushed fiercely towards Bhimasena's car. Then, O king, the mighty and wrathful Karna, maddened with rage, shot at Bhimasena, O Bharata, a hundred shafts winged with vulturine feathers. The son of Pandu, however, disregarding his foe and setting at nought his energy, began to shoot showers of fierce arrows at him.
Analysis: Karna fans always talk about how Abhimanyu's body was bathe din blood by Karna. but never speak about how Bheema bathed Karna in blood with his arrows. Nonetheless in the beginning of this text it looks like Karna was blessing Bima by showering arrows on him lol. But over here Karna was maddened with rage yet he still failed to achieve victory, he could not gain any upper hand in this fight. Karna was also knocked unconscious by Bima's deadly arrow. It should also be noted that Bheema, though struck with the shafts of Karna, still felt no pain. Over here Karn failed to make Bima even move. But Bheema made everyone of his arrows count against Karna. And Bima was just smiling over here! It was like he was playing with Karna. I find it odd that although Karna was struck in his forehead the shafts did not go through his brain. If karna still had his kundalas on his body/ears then one of them was cut off on the 14th day by Bima.
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Then Karna, O king, excited with rage, O scorcher of foes, struck the son of Pandu, that embodiment of wrath with nine arrows in the chest. Then both those tigers among men (armed with arrows and, therefore), resembling a couple of tigers with fierce teeth, poured upon each other, in that battle, their arrowy showers, like two mighty masses of clouds. They sought to frighten each other in that battle, with sounds of their palms and with showers of arrows of diverse kinds. Excited with rage, each sought in that battle to counteract the other's feat. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the mighty-armed Bhima, O Bharata, cutting off, with a razor-faced arrow, the bow of the Suta's son, uttered a loud shout. Casting off that broken bow, the Suta's son, that mighty car-warrior, took up another bow that was stronger and tougher. Beholding that slaughter of the Kuru, the Sauvira, and the Sindhu heroes, and marking that the earth was covered with coats of mail and standards and weapons lying about, and also seeing the lifeless forms of elephants, foot-soldiers and horsemen and car-warriors on all sides, the body of the Suta's son, from wrath, blazed up with effulgence. Stretching his formidable bow, decked with gold, Radha's son, O king, eyed Bhima with wrathful glances. Infuriated with rage, the Suta's son, while shooting his arrows, looked resplendent, like the autumnal sun of dazzling rays at mid-day. While employed with his hands in taking up an arrow, fixing it on the bow-string, stretching the string and letting it off, none could notice any interval between those acts. And while Karna was thus engaged in shooting his arrows right and left, his bow incessantly drawn to a circle, like a terrible circle of fire. The keen pointed arrows, equipped with wings of gold, shot from Karna's bow, covered, O king, all the points of the compass, darkening the very light of the sun. Countless flights were seen, in the welkin, of those shafts equipped with wings of gold, shot from Karna's bow. Indeed, the shafts shot from the bow of Adhiratha's son, looked like rows of cranes in the sky. The arrows that Adhiratha's son shot were all equipped with vulturine feathers, whetted on stone, decked with gold, endued with great impetuosity, and furnished with blazing points. Impelled by the force of his bow, those arrows urged by Karna, while coursing in thousands through the welkin looked beautiful like successive flights of locusts. The arrows shot from the bow of Adhiratha's son, as they coursed through the welkin, looked like one long continuously drawn arrow in the sky. Like a cloud covering a mountain with torrents of rain, Karna in rage, covered Bhima with showers of arrows. Then thy sons, O Bharata, with their troops, beheld the might, energy, prowess and perseverance of Bhima, for the latter, disregarding that arrowy downpour, resembling the raging sea, rushed in wrath against Karna, Bhima, O monarch, was armed with a p. 297 formidable bow, the back of whose staff was decked with gold. He stretched it so quickly that it seemed, like a second bow of Indra, incessantly drawn to a circle. Shafts issued continuously from it seemed to fill the welkin. With those straight arrows, equipped with wings of gold, shot by Bhima, a continuous line was made in the sky that looked effulgent like a garland of gold. Then those showers of (Karna's) arrows spread in the welkin, struck by Bhimasena with his shafts, were scattered in portions and fell down on the earth.
Analysis: Encase you haven't realized by now but the suta's son is Karna. Anyways over here both warriors were excited with rage, no one was mild. Yet still Bima cut off Karna's bow and cut all of his arrows. Bheema withstood literally thousands of arrows of Karna. But i guess Karna deserves some props over here for accomplishing the feat of taking up an arrow on his bowstring so fast that no one could see him.
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Then the sky was covered with those showers of gold-winged and swiftly-coursing arrows, of both Karna and Bhimasena, that produced sparks of fire as they clashed against each other. The very sun was then shrouded, and the very wind ceased to blow. Indeed, when the welkin was thus covered with those arrowy showers, nothing could be seen. Then the Suta's son, disregarding the energy of the high-souled Bhima, completely shrouded Bhima with other arrows and endeavoured to prevail over him. Then, O sire, those arrowy showers shot by both of them, seemed to clash against each other like two opposite currents of wind. And in consequence of that clash of the arrowy showers of those two lions among men, a conflagration, O chief of the Bharatas, seemed to be generated in the sky. Then Karna, desirous of slaying Bhima, shot at him in rage many whetted arrows equipped with wings of gold and polished by the hands of the smith. Bhima, however, cut off with his own shafts every one of those arrows into three fragments, and prevailing over the Suta's son, he cried out, 'Wait, Wait.' And the wrathful and mighty son of Pandu, like an all-consuming conflagration, once more shot in rage showers of fierce shafts. And then in consequence of their leathern fences striking against their bow-strings, loud sounds were generated. And loud also became the sound of their palms, and terrible their leonine shouts, and fierce the rattle of their car-wheels and the twang of their bow-strings. And all the combatants, O king, ceased to fight, desirous of beholding the prowess of Karna and of the son of Pandu, each of whom was desirous of slaying the other. And the celestial Rishis and Siddhas and Gandharvas, applauded them, saying, 'Excellent, Excellent!' And the tribes of Vidyadharas rained flowery showers upon them. Then the wrathful and mighty-armed Bhima of fierce prowess, baffling with his own weapons the weapons of his foe, pierced the Suta's son with many shafts. Karna also, endued with great might, baffling the shafts of Bhimasena, sped at him nine long shafts in that battle. Bhima, however, with as many arrows, cut off those shafts of Suta's son in the welkin and addressed him, saying, 'Wait, Wait!' Then the mighty-armed and heroic Bhima, excited with rage, shot at Adhiratha's son an arrow resembling the rod of Yama or Death himself. Radha's son, however, smiling, cut off that arrow, O king, of Pandu's son, however, of great Prowess, with three arrows of his, as it coursed towards him through the welkin. The son of Pandu then once more shot showers of fierce shafts. Karna, however, fearlessly received all those arrows of Bhima. Then excited with rage, the Suta's son, Karna, by the power of his weapons, with his p. 298 straight arrows, cut off in that encounter the couple of quivers and the bow-string of fighting Bhima, as also the traces of his steeds. And then slaying his steeds also, Karna pierced Bhima's charioteer with five shafts. The charioteer, quickly running away, proceeded to Yudhamanyu's car. Excited with rage, the son of Radha then, whose splendour resembled that of the Yuga-fire, smiling the while, cut off the flag-staff of Bhima and felled his banner. Deprived of his bow, the mighty-armed Bhima then seized a dart, such as car-warriors may use. Excited with wrath, he whirled it in his hand and then hurled it with great force at Karna's car. The son of Adhiratha then, with ten shafts, cut off, as it coursed towards him with the effulgence of a large meteor, the gold-decked dart thus hurled (by Bhima). 1 Thereupon, that dart fell down, cut off into ten fragments by those sharp shafts of the Suta's son, Karna, that warrior conversant with every mode of warfare, then battling for the sake of his friends.
Analysis: Over here it is written that Karna was desirous of slaying Bima. Yet Bheema cut off all of karna's arrows initially. Although Karna did cut off Bima's dart, bow-string, and killed his horses that is not any great achievement for Karna, it doesn't make him superior at all. It's not a defeat of Bima either as in the text that follows this incident Bheema simply resorted to using the corpses of the dead as his weapons. Karna was desirous of killing Bheema, yet still failed to kill Bheema.
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Then, the son of Kunti took up a shield decked with gold and a sword, desirous of obtaining either death or victory, Karna, however, O Bharata, smiling the while, cut off that bright shield of Bhima with many fierce shafts. Then, car-less, Bhima, O king, deprived of his shield, became mad with rage. Quickly, then, he hurled his formidable sword at Karna's car. That large sword, cutting off the stringed bow of the Suta's son, fell down on the earth, O king, like an angry snake from the sky. Then Adhiratha's son, excited with rage in that battle, smilingly took up another bow destructive of foes, having a stronger string, and tougher than the one he had lost. Desirous of slaying the son of Kunti, Karna then began to shoot thousands of arrows, O king, equipped with wings of gold and endued with great energy. Struck by those shafts shot from Karna's bow, the mighty Bhima leaped into the sky, filling Karna's heart with anguish. Beholding the conduct of Bhima, in battle desirous of victory, the son of Radha beguiled him by concealing himself in his car. Seeing Karna concealing himself with an agitated heart on the terrace of his car, Bhima catching hold of Karna's flagstaff, waited on the earth. All the Kurus and the Charanas highly applauded that attempt of Bhima of snatching Karna away from his car, like Garuda snatching away a snake. His bow cut off, himself deprived of his car, Bhima, observant of the duties of his order, stood still for battle, keeping his (broken) car behind him. The son of Radha, then, from rage, in that encounter, proceeded against the son of Pandu who was waiting for battle. Then those two mighty warriors, O king, challenging as they approached each other, those two bulls among men, roared at each other, like clouds at the close of summer. And the passage-at-arms that then took place between those two engaged lions among men that could not brook each other in battle resembled that of old between the gods and the Danavas. The son of Kunti, however, whose stock of weapons was exhausted, was (obliged to turn back) pursued by Karna.
Analysis: Over here a legendary scene is created, Karna squirms in fear. Although with only a handful of weapons, Bima still managed to cut the bow-string of Karna. The only victory of Karna over here is that he shot at dead animals and soldiers, Bima may have turned back but that was ot get more weapons for a fair fight. He did not have an endless amount of back up like Karna was given by Duryodhana. Fact remains that Karna was scared of Bima, and hid under his chariot like a p u s s y.
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Approaching that multitude of elephants and getting into the midst of that fastness which was inaccessible to a car, the son of Pandu, desirous of saving his life, refrained from striking the son of Radha. Desirous of shelter, that subjugator of hostile cities viz., the son of Pritha, uplifting an elephant that had been slain by Dhananjaya with his shafts, waited there, like Hanumat uplifting the peak of Gandhamadana. 1 Karna, however, with his shafts, cut off that elephant held by Bhima. The son of Pandu, thereupon, hurled at Karna the fragments of that elephant's body as also car-wheels and steeds. In fact, all objects that he saw lying there on the field, the son of Pandu, excited with rage, took up and hurled at Karna. Karna, however, with his sharp arrows, cut off every one of those objects thus thrown at him. Bhima also, raising his fierce fists that were endued with the force of the thunder, desired to slay the Suta's son. Soon, however, he recollected Arjuna's vow. The son of Pandu, therefore, though competent, spared the life of Karna, from desire of not falsifying the vow that Savyasachin had made. The Suta's son, however, with his sharp shafts, repeatedly caused the distressed Bhima, to lose the sense. But Karna, recollecting the words of Kunti, took not the life of the unarmed Bhima. Approaching quickly Karna touched him with the horn of his bow. As soon, however, as Bhimasena was touched with the bow, excited with rage and sighing like a snake, he snatched the bow from Karna and struck him with it on the head. Struck by Bhimasena, the son of Radha, with eyes red in wrath, smiling the while, said unto him repeatedly these words, viz., 'Beardless eunuch, ignorant fool and glutton.' And Karna said, 'Without skin in weapons, do not fight with me. Thou art but a child, a laggard in battle!
Analysis: Bhima took the shelter of corpses over here, but Karna fans fail to understand that it is Karna who was hiding underneath his own chariot previously like a scared mouse. And over here it is written clearly that Bheema spared Karna's life from the desire of not falsifying Arjuna's words. And shameless Karna starts to insult him after that. So this incident can easily be seen as a draw, a stalemate, not a defeat or victory. the incident that is seen as Karna sparing Bima can easily be seen the other way around as BIMA spared Karna.
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Indeed, having made Bhima carless, Karna, O king, reproved him in such boastful language in the sight of that lion among the Vrishnis (viz., Krishna) and of the high-souled Partha. Then the ape-bannered (Arjuna), urged by Kesava, shot at the Suta's son, O king, many shafts whetted on stone. Those arrows adorned with gold, shot by Partha's arms and issuing out of Gandiva, entered Karna's body, like cranes into the Krauncha mountains. With those arrows shot from Gandiva which entered Karna's body like so many snakes, Dhananjaya drove the Suta's son from Bhimasena's vicinity. His bow cut off by Bhima, and himself afflicted with the arrows of Dhananjaya, Karna quickly fled away from Bhima on his great car. Bhimasena also, O bull among men, mounting upon Satyaki's car, proceeded in that battle in the wake of his brother Savyasachin, the son of Pandu. Then Dhananjaya, with eyes red in wrath, aiming at Karna, quickly sped a shaft like the Destroyer urging forward Death's self. That shaft shot from Gandiva, like Garuda in the welkin in quest of a mighty snake, quickly coursed towards Karna. The son of Drona, however, that mighty car-warrior, with a winged arrow of his, cut it off in mid-air, desirous of rescuing Karna from fear of Dhananjaya.
Analysis: Karna made Bhima carless one time but Bheema however made Karna carless many (possibly ten) times before this, so karna making him car less is not a great feat. I don't consider it and achievement. And it is clear like water that this was a defeat of Karna not Bima. As it is Karna ran away once again. Karna fans will argue that it is because of Arjuna that Bima won in the end, but think about this, Karna had the support of twenty (20) Kaurava brothers yet he was still repeatedly pushed back by Bheema, does Bima not hold the right to at-least have the support of one warrior fighting by his side? Or was Arjuna just too much for Karna to handle? Karna is inferior without a doubt and this defeat was completely fair.
Then, Drona's son pierced him with five and twenty arrows, and Vrishasena with seven, and Duryodhana pierced him with twenty, and Karma and Salya each with three. And all of them roared at him and continued to pierce him frequently, and shaking their bows, they surrounded him on all sides. And soon they caused their cars to be drawn up in a serried line around Arjuna. Desirous of the (speedy) setting of the sun, those mighty car-warriors of the Kaurava army, endued with great activity, began to roar at Arjuna, and shaking their bows, covered him with showers of keen arrows like cloud pouring rain on a mountain. Those brave warriors, with arms resembling heavy clubs, also discharged on that occasion, O king, on Dhananjaya's body celestial weapons. Having caused an immense slaughter in thy army, the mighty and invincible Dhananjaya, of prowess incapable of being baffled came upon the ruler of the Sindhus. Karna, however, O king, with his arrows, resisted him in that battle in the very sight, O Bharata, of Bhimasena and Satwata. The mighty-armed Partha, in the very sight of all the troops, pierced the Suta's son, in return, with ten arrows, on the field of battle. Then Satwata, O sire, pierced Karna with three arrows. And Bhimasena pierced him with three arrows, and Partha himself, once more, with seven. The mighty car-warrior, Karna, then pierced each of those three warriors with sixty arrows. And thus, O king, raged that battle between Karna alone (on one side) and the many (on the other). The prowess, O sire, that we then beheld of the Suta's son was wonderful in the extreme, since, excited with wrath in battle, he singly resisted those three great car-warriors. Then the mighty-armed Phalguna, in that battle, pierced Karna, the son of Vikartana, in all his limbs with a hundred arrows. All his limbs bathed in blood, the Suta's son of great prowess and bravery, pierced Phalguna in return with fifty arrows. Beholding that lightness of hand displayed by him in battle, Arjuna brooked it not. Cutting off his bow, that hero, viz., Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, quickly pierced Karna in the centre of the chest with nine arrows, Then Dhananjaya, with great speed at a time, when speed was necessary shot in that battle a shaft of solar effulgence for the destruction of Karna. Drona's son, however, with a crescent-shaped arrow, cut off that shaft as it coursed impetuously (towards Karna). Thus cut off by p. 317 [paragraph continues] Aswatthaman, that shaft fell down on the earth.
Analysis: Useless Karna and his gang are overwhelmed by prince Arjuna. Asvathama had to save Karna. All of Karna's limbs were bathed in blood. The argument that Arjuna had supporters like Bheema & Satyaki by his side will not stand, even Karna had the help of Salya, Vrishasena, Duryodhana, Jayadratha, Kripa. It was like a team vs a team and the odds were stacked up against Arjuna. They even used celestial weapons on Arjuna but their weapons were useless just like Karna! Nowhere over here did i find a quote that had Vishwakarman's illusions, Hanuman's roars to dampen energy, Krishna saving Arjuna etc, Gandiva increasing Arjuna's fire rate the nandi ghosh chariot giving him any advantage, as some fools claim. So it was a completely fair fight. If 6 (Karna) vs 3 (Arjuna) sounds fair to karnians.
Endued with great prowess, the Suta's son, then, O king, took up another bow, and covered the son of Pandu with several thousands of arrows. Partha, however, like the wind dispersing flight of locusts, dispelled with his own arrows that extraordinary shower of arrows issuing out of Karna's bow. Then Arjuna, displaying his lightness of hands, covered Karna, in that battle, with his arrows, in the very sight of all thy troops. Karna also, that slayer of hosts, desirous of counteracting Arjuna's feat, covered Arjuna with several thousands of arrows. Roaring at each other like two bulls, those lions among men, those mighty car-warriors, shrouded the welkin with clouds of straight shafts. Each rendered invisible by the other's arrowy showers, they continued to strike each other. And they roared at each other and pierced each other with their wordy darts, saying, 'I am Partha, wait'--or, 'I am Karna, wait', O Phalguna! Indeed these two heroes fought with each other wonderfully, displaying great activity and skill. And the sight they presented was such that other warriors became witnesses of that battle. And applauded by Siddhas, Charnas and Pannagas, they fought with each other, O king, each desirous of slaying the other. Then Duryodhana, O king addressing thy warriors, said, 'Carefully protect the son of Radha! Without slaying Arjuna he would not abstain from battle. Even this is what Vrisha told me.' Meanwhile, O monarch, beholding the prowess of Karna, Arjuna, of white steeds, with four shafts shot from the bow-string drawn to the ear, despatched the four steeds of Karna to Yama's domain. And he also felled with a broad-headed arrow, Karna's charioteer from his niche in the car. And he covered Karna himself with clouds of shafts in the very sight of thy son. Thus shrouded with arrows the steedless and driverless Karna, stupefied by that arrowy shower, knew not what to do. Beholding him made carless, Aswatthaman, O king, caused him to ride on his car, and continued to fight with Arjuna.
Analysis: The argument that Karna can not fight without his chariot is ludicrous. Arjuna fought on foot without his chariot the same exact day that this incident happened. No one tried to protect Arjuna over here but only Karna was protected over here, because only Karna needed that protection. Karna had outside help to save him while Arjuna did not. Aswathamman skipped the defeat of Karna by causing him to ride with him. Also if Karna could ride the chariot of Aswathamman then why didn't he just do so on the 17th day when his so-called curse took place?
Indeed, O king, thus creating a perfect confusion in thy host consisting of four kinds of forces, the son of Kunti proceeded towards Jayadratha, And he pierced the son of Drona. with fifty shafts and Vrishasena with three. And the son of Kunti mildly struck Kripa with nine arrows, and he struck Salya with sixteen arrows and Karna with two and thirty.
Analysis: Karna was attacked 32 times with arrows by Arjuna yet he didn't even retaliate? Shaking my head. Karna proves that he is a coward and that he is afraid to fight back.
Thus addressed by Kesava the valiant son of Pandu began to slaughter thy host with his arrows resembling the sun or fire in splendour. And he pierced Kripa with twenty arrows and Karna with fifty. And he struck Salya and Duryodhana each with six. And he pierced Vrishasena with eight arrows and the ruler of the Sindhus himself with sixty.
Analysis: After this Karna is not mentioned for a whole page, so i don't know what he was doing after getting fifty arrows stuck in his rectum by Arjuna.
Routing thy host thus, O king, Dhananjaya began to strike with terrible p. 323 shafts the protectors of the ruler of the Sindhus with his arrowy showers, Karna and Drona's son and Kripa and Salya and Vrishasena and Duryodhana. So quick was he in the use of weapons that no one could mark when Arjuna took out his arrows, when he fixed them on the bowstring, when he stretched---the bow and let them off. Indeed, while striking the foe, his bow was seen incessantly drawn to a circle. His arrows also were seen incessantly issuing out of his bow and scattered in all directions. Then cutting off Karna's bow as also of Vrishasena's, Arjuna felled Salya's driver from his niche in the car, with a broad-headed arrow. With many arrows that foremost of victors, viz., Dhananjaya, then deeply pierced in that battle Kripa and Aswatthaman, related as uncle and nephew to each other. Sorely afflicting those mighty car-warriors of thy army thus, the son of Pandu took up a terrible arrow of fiery splendour.
Analysis: Over here again Arjuna was alone, while Karna on the other hand had the full support and backup of mighty warriors. It was like one lion vs 6 lions. Useless Karna could not defeat Arjuna even though he was fighting beside guru Kripa, Asvathama, Duryodhana, Vrishasena, Salya etc. Karna's new bow was cut off by Arjuna.
The gods, the Gandharvas, and the Danavas, in the welkin, intently watched that battle between Karna and the grandson of Sini. Both of them endued with great might, each challenging the other, those two warriors put forth their prowess for the sake of their friends. Karna who looked like a celestial, and Yuyudhana, O king, rained upon each other showers of shafts. Indeed, Karna ground the grandson of Sini with his arrowy downpours, unable to put up with the slaughter (by Satyaki) of the Kuru hero, Jalasandha. Filled p. 328 with grief and sighing like a mighty snake, Karna, casting angry glances on the grandson of Sini in that battle, and as if burning him therewith, rushed at him furiously again and again, O Chastiser of foes! Beholding him filled with rage, Satyaki pierced him in return, shooting dense showers of arrows, like an elephant piercing (with his tusks) a rival elephant. Those two tigers among men, endued with the activity of tigers and possessed of incomparable prowess, mangled each other furiously in that battle. The grandson of Sini, then, with shafts made entirely of iron, repeatedly pierced Karna, that chastiser of foes, in all his limbs. And he also felled, with a broad-headed arrow, the charioteer of Karna from his niche in the car. And with his keen shafts, he slew the four steeds, white in hue, of Adhiratha's son. And then cutting into a hundred fragments the standard of Karna with a hundred arrows, that bull among men made Karna carless in the very sight of thy son.
Analysis: Satyaki and Karna were fighting a one on one battle, over here i did not find that Satyaki had any unfair advantage, Satyaki did not use any dirty tricks. Another argument would be that Karna was badly wounded and exhausted after his battles against Bheema & Arjuna so that is why he failed against Satyaki. Kritavarman, Drona, Vikarna, Duryodhana, Sudarsana, Duhsasana, Jalasandha, Bhurishravas etc all of these people were fought by Satyaki before he fought Karna that day. So Satyaki would be without a doubt out of stamina way more than Karna. Satyaki was more exhausted and Karna wasn't! Karna made no promise to Satyaki's mother that he would spare him yet Karna was defeated, why? Karna could not save his new charioteer and new horses from Satyaki's lethal arrows. What a pathetic warrior, what a pathetic archer.
Source: http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07143.htm
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Then a confusion set in, and nothing could be seen. Indeed, when the heroic Karna was made carless by Satyaki, cries of Oh and Alas arose, among all thy troops. Karna also, O king, pierced by Satwata with his arrows and exceedingly weakened ascended the car of Duryodhana, sighing deeply, remembering his friendship for thy son from his childhood and having striven to realise the promise he had made about the bestowal of sovereignty on Duryodhana. After Karna hath been made carless, thy brave sons, headed by Duhsasana, O king, were not slain by the self-restrained Satyaki because the latter wished not to falsify the vow made by Bhimasena. Desirous also of not falsifying the vow formerly made by Partha (about the slaughter of Karna), Satyaki simply made those warriors carless and weakened them exceedingly, but did not deprive them of life. It is Bhima that hath vowed the slaughter of thy sons, and it is Partha that, at the time of the second match at dice, vowed the slaughter of Karna. Although all those warriors headed by Karna made strong efforts for slaying Satyaki, yet those foremost of car-warriors, failed to slay him. Drona's son and Kritavarman and other mighty car-warriors, as also hundreds of foremost Kshatriyas, were all vanquished by Satyaki with only one bow. That hero fought, desirous of benefiting king Yudhishthira the Just, and of attaining to heaven. Indeed, Satyaki, that crusher of foes, is equal to either of the two Krishnas in energy. Smiling the while, he vanquished all thy troops, O best of men!
Analysis: Karna made many strong efforts for killing Satyaki but he had failed miserably. In the end he has his life spared by Satyaki. Karna had help from Aswathama, Kritavarman, Duryodhana, many sons of Dritarashtra headed by Duhsasana (so more than 5 warriors were fighting alongside Karna). Yet they all failed in their efforts. Why was their performance so pathetic today? It was never written that Satyaki's chariot and charioteer gave him any advantage. Satyaki beat them fair and square. Karna was just a big loser.
Source: http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07143.htm
Confirmation of Karna's defeat.
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By good luck, Karna hath been vanquished in battle with barbed shafts.
Analysis: Arjuna declared that Karna had been defeated. He said it was cause of good luck.
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He, relying upon whom I have been engaged in this passage-at-arms in battle, alas, that Karna hath been defeated in battle and Jayadratha slain. That Karna relying upon whose energy I regarded Krishna as straw who came to sue me for peace, alas, that Karna hath been vanquished in battle.
Analysis: Karna's best friend Duryodhana admitted twice here that Karna had been defeated, they all saw these defeats of Karna. Mahabharata characters can judge what a defeat is better than us. They were their to witness this while we weren't.
Dragging Jayarata then with his left arm, while, employed in roaring, he slew that warrior with a slap of his palm in the very sight of Karna. Then Karna hurled at the son of Pandu, a dart decked with gold. The Pandava, however, smiling the while, seized with his hand that dart. And the invincible Vrikodara in that battle hurled that very dart back at Karna. Then Sakuni, with a shaft that had drunk oil, cut off that dart as it coursed towards Karna. Having achieved these mighty feats in battle, Bhima, of wonderful prowess, came back to his own car and rushed against thy troops. And while Bhima was thus advancing, slaughtering (thy troops) like the Destroyer himself in rage, thy sons, O monarch, attempted to resist that mighty-armed hero. Indeed, those mighty car-warriors covered him with a dense shower of arrows. Then Bhima, smiling the while, despatched in that battle, with his shafts, the driver and the steeds of Durmada unto the abode of Yama. Durmada, at this, quickly mounted upon the car of Dushkarna. Then those scorchers of foes, viz., the two brothers, riding oh the same car, both rushed against Bhima in the front rank of battle, like the Regent of the waters and Surya rushing against Taraka, that foremost of Daityas. Then thy sons, Durmada and Dushkarna, mounting on the same car, pierced Bhima with shafts. Then in the very sight of Karna, of Aswatthaman, of Duryodhana, of Kripa, of Somadatta, and of Valhika, the son of Pandu, that chastiser of foes, by a stamp of his foot, caused that car of the heroic Durmada and Dushkarna to sink into the earth. Filled with rage, Bhima struck with his fists those mighty and brave sons of thine, viz., Durmada and Dushkarna, and crushed them therewith and roared aloud. Then cries of Oh and Alas arose among the troops. And the kings, beholding Bhima said, 'That is Rudra who is fighting in Bhima's form among the Dhartarashtras.' Saying these words, O Bharata, all the kings fled away, deprived of their senses and urging the animals they rode to their greatest speed.
Analysis: It says all kings and karna was clearly a king so he must have also run away. Also Bhima killed Jayarata right in-front of Karna.
- Karna defeated by Rakshasas
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Terrified by the leonine roar uttered by Ghatotkacha, elephants began to eject urine and the kings began to tremble. Then, thrown by the Rakshasas who had become more powerful in consequence of the night, there began to fall on the field of battle a thick shower of stones. And a ceaseless shower of iron wheels and Bhundis and darts and lances and spears and Sataghnis and axes also fell there. Beholding that fierce and awful battle, the kings, thy sons, and Karna, also exceedingly pained, fled away. Only the proud son of Drona, ever boastful of his might in arms, stood fearlessly.
Analysis: Karna fled away, it was written that everyone fled away only Aswathama stayed their. And to this day people say that Karna never fled from any battles. Fleeing the battlefield is a trait of Karna. These Rakshasas had defeated Karna.
Uttering such words, great Kshatriya car-warriors, urged by Pandu's son, rushed towards him, covering him with a dense shower of arrows, for slaying him. Beholding all those mighty Pandavas thus (advancing), the Suta's son, trembled not, nor experienced any fear. Indeed, seeing that wonderful sea of troops, resembling Death himself, that benefactor of thy sons, viz., the mighty and fight-handed Karna, never vanquished in battle, O bull of Bharata's race, began, with clouds of shafts, to resist that force on all sides. The Pandavas p. 364 also fought with the foe, shooting showers of shafts. Shaking their hundreds and thousands of bows they fought with Radha's son, like the Daityas of old fighting with Sakra. The mighty Karna, however, with a dense arrowy shower of his own dispelled that downpour of arrows caused by those lords of earth on all sides. The battle that took place between them, and in which each party counteracted the feats of the other,' resembled the encounter between Sakra and the Danavas in the great battle fought of yore between the gods and the Asuras. The lightness of arm that we then behold of the Suta's son was wonderful in the extreme, inasmuch as, all his foes, fighting resolutely, could not strike him in that battle. Checking the clouds of arrows shot by the (hostile) king, that mighty car-warrior, viz., Radha's son, sped terrible arrows marked with his own name at the yokes, the shafts, the umbrellas, the cars, and the steeds (of his foes). Then those kings, afflicted by Karna and losing their coolness, began to wander on the field like a herd of kine afflicted with cold. Struck by Karna, large numbers of steeds and elephants and car-warriors were seen there to drop down deprived of life. The whole field, O king, became strewn with the fallen heads and arms of unreturning heroes. With the dead, the dying, and the wailing warriors, the field of battle, O monarch, assumed the aspect of Yama's domain. Then Duryodhana, O king, witnessing the prowess of Karna, repaired to Aswatthaman and addressing him, said, 'Behold, Karna, clad in mail, is engaged with all the (hostile) kings. Behold, the hostile army, afflicted with the arrows of Karna, is being routed like the Asura army overwhelmed with the energy of Kartikeya. Seeing his army vanquished in battle by that intelligent Karna, yonder cometh Vibhatsu from desire of slaying the Suta's son. Let such steps, therefore, be taken as may prevent the son of Pandu from slaying that mighty car-warrior viz., Suta's son, in the very sight of us all.'
Analysis: Over here it was just a few nameless kings that were defeated and slain by Karna. It's no big achievement. Those kings were clearly nowhere on par with the Pandavas in might.
Source:
http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07155.htm
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'Beholding the son of Pandu rushing towards him like an elephant towards a rival elephant, Karna fearlessly proceeded p. 365 against Dhananjaya. Partha, however, soon covered Karna who was thus advancing with great impetuosity, with showers of straight shafts, equipped with wings of gold. Karna also covered Vijaya with his shafts. The son of Pandu then once more shrouded Karna with clouds of arrows. Then Karna, filled with rage, pierced Arjuna with three shafts. The mighty car-warrior, Arjuna, beholding Karna's lightness of hand, could not brook it. That scorcher of foes shot at the Suta's son thirty straight shafts, whetted on stone and equipped with blazing points. Endued with great might and energy, he also pierced him, in rage, with another long arrow on the wrist of his left arm, smiling the while. Karna's bow then dropped from that arm of his, which had thus been pierced with great force. Then the mighty Karna, taking up that bow within the twinkling of an eye, once more covered Phalguna with clouds of shafts, displaying great lightness of hard. Dhananjaya then, O Bharata, smiling the while, baffled with his own shafts, that arrowy shower shot by the Suta's son. Approaching each other, those two great bowmen, desirous of counteracting each other's feats, continued to cover each other with showers of shafts. The battle that took place between them, viz., Karna and the son of Pandu, became exceedingly wonderful, like that between the two wild elephants for the sake of a she-elephant in her season. Then the mighty bowman Partha, beholding Karna's prowess, quickly cut of the latter's bow at the handle. And he also despatched the four steeds of the Suta's son to Yama's abode with a number of broad-headed shafts. And that scorcher of foes also cut off from the trunk the head of Karna's driver. Then, the son of Pandu and Pritha pierced the bowless, the steedless, and the driverless Karna with four shafts. Then that bull among men Karna, afflicted with those shafts, specially jumping down from that steedless car, mounted upon that of Kripa. Beholding the son of Radha vanquished, thy, warriors, O bull of Bharata's race, fled away in all directions.
Analysis: Please note this, right after this incident Karna's best friend Duryodhana chose to fight Arjuna himself, seeing Karna exposed again. Anyways Arjuna disarmed Karna of his bow twice in this incident. Over here Karna wanted to counter Arjuna but ended up losing again. Useless Karna defeated by Prince Arjuna. It's the duty of Karna to protect his charioteer yet he fails to do so in every instance.
- Karna kills his own army again
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And during the progress, O lord, of that terrible carnage of car-warriors and elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers 1, those heroes, viz., Drona and Karna and Kripa, and Bhima and Prishata's son and Satwata, afflicted one another and the troops of either party, O bull of Bharata's race. The combatants of both armies, oppressed all around by those foremost of car-warriors, during the hour of darkness, fled away on all sides. Indeed, the warriors, broke and fled away in all directions with hearts perfectly cheerless. And as they fled away in all directions, they underwent a great carnage. Thousands of foremost car-warriors also, O king, slaughtered one another in that battle. Unable to see anything in the dark, the combatants became deprived of their senses.
Analysis: For all the fools of Karna's fan base that think Karna could fight better in the dark you are all wrong! Karna became an enemy of his own army because of this darkness.
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Karna, the son of Vikartana, O king, resisted that mighty car-warrior, viz., Pandu's son, Sahadeva, as the letter advanced for getting at Drona.
Analysis: Karna merely countered the attacks of Sahadeva as it is stated, Sahadeva was going towards Drona and he was resisted by Karna. Karna was playing defense here.
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'Karna, the son of Vikartana, 1 O king, resisted the mighty car-warrior Sahadeva in that battle, who advanced from desire of getting at Drona. Piercing the son of Radha with nine shafts, Sahadeva once more pierced that warrior with nine straight arrows. Karna then pierced Sahadeva in return with a hundred straight shafts, and displaying great lightness in hand, cut off the latter's stringed bow. Then the valiant son of Madri, taking up another bow, pierced Karna with twenty arrows. This feat of his seemed exceedingly wonderful. Then Karna, slaying Sahadeva's steeds with many straight shafts, speedily despatched the latter's driver with a broad-headed shaft, to Yama's abode. This carless Sahadeva then took up a sword and a shield. Even those weapons were cut off by Karna smiling the while. Then the mighty Sahadeva, in that encounter, sped towards the car of Vikartana's son, a heavy and terrible mace decked with gold. Karna, then with his shafts, quickly cut off that mace which hurled by Sahadeva, coursed towards him impetuously, and caused it to fall down on the earth. Beholding his mace cut off, Sahadeva quickly hurled a dart at Karna. That dart also was cut off by Karna. The son of Madri, then, quickly jumping down from his excellent car, and blazing with wrath upon beholding Karna stationed before him, took up a car-wheel and hurled it at the son of Adhiratha. The Suta's son, however, with many thousands of arrows, cut off that wheel coursing towards him like the uplifted wheel of Death. When that wheel had been cut off, Sahadeva, O sire, aiming at Karna, hurled at him the shafts of his car, the traces of his steeds, the yokes of his cars, the limbs of elephants and p. 384 steeds and dead human bodies. Karna cut off all these with his shafts. Seeing himself deprived of all weapons, Madri's son, Sahadeva, struck by Karna with many shafts, left the battle. Pursuing him for a while, the son of Radha, O bull of Bharata's race, smilingly addressed Sahadeva and said these cruel words, 'Do not, O hero, fight in battle with those that are superior to thee. Fight with thy equals, O son of Madri! Do not mistrust my words.'
Analysis 2: He was the first Pandava defeated by Karna. But this victory doesn't mean anything. Sahadeva didn't even give Karna that much of a fight. Karna was in control the whole entire time.
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Beholding that terrible shaft, the gods, the Gandharvas, and the Danavas. said these words, O king, viz., p. 391 [paragraph continues] 'Prosperity to Drona!' Karna, however, O king, displaying great lightness of hand cut off into dozen fragments that shaft as it coursed towards the preceptor's car. Thus cut off into many fragments, O king, that shaft of Dhrishtadyumna, O sire, quickly fell down on the earth like a snake without poison. Having cut off with his own straight shafts those of Dhrishtadyumna in that battle, Karna then pierced Dhrishtadyumna himself with many sharp arrows. And Drona's son pierced him with five, and Drona himself with five, and Salya pierced him with nine, and Duhsasana with three. And Duryodhana pierced him with twenty arrows and Sakuni with five. Indeed, all those mighty car-warriors quickly pierced the prince of the Panchalas. Thus was he pierced by these seven heroes in that battle exerting themselves for the rescue of Drona. The prince of the Panchalas, however, pierced every one of these heroes with three arrows. Indeed, O king, Dhrishtadyumna, in that dreadful battle, quickly pierced Drona himself, and Karna, and Drona's son, and thy son. Thus pierced by that bowman, those warriors, fighting together, pierced Dhrishtadyumna again in that encounter, uttering loud roars the while. Then Drumasena, excited with wrath, O king, pierced the Panchala prince with a winged arrow, and once again quickly with three other arrows. And addressing the prince, he said, 'Wait! Wait!' Dhrishtadyumna then pierced Drumasena in return with three straight arrows, in the encounter, which were equipped with wings of gold, steeped in oil, and capable of taking the life of him at whom they are sped. With another broad-headed shaft, the prince of the Panchalas then, in that battle, cut off from Drumasena's trunk the latter's head decked with bright ear-rings of gold. That head, with (the lower) lip bit (in rage), fell on the ground like a ripe palmyra fruit separated from the stalk by the action of a strong wind. Once again, piercing all those warriors with keen shafts, that hero, with some broad-headed shafts, cut off the bow of Radha's son, that warrior conversant with all modes of warfare. Karna could not book that cutting off of his bow, like a fierce lion incapable of brooking the cutting off of his tail. Taking up another bow, Karna, with eyes red in rage, and breathing hard, covered mighty Dhrishtadyumna with clouds of arrows. Beholding Karna excited with rage, those heroes, viz., those six bulls among car-warriors, quickly encompassed the prince of the Panchalas from desire of slaying him. Seeing the latter in front of those six foremost warriors of thy side, all thy troops, O lord, regarded him to be already within the jaws of the Destroyer.
Analysis: Know that Radha's son is Karna. Over here it was an unfair battle, Karna had the backing of seven other warriors with him while Dhrishtadyumna was just all alone. Dhrishtadyumna fought fairly and succeeded in cutting off Karna's bow, Karna fought unfairly and failed to even cut off a single bow of Dhrishtadyumna.
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Meanwhile, Satyaki, of the Dasarha race, scattering his shafts as he proceeded, reached the spot where, the valiant Dhrishtadyumna was battling. Beholding that invincible warrior of the Satwata race advancing, Radha's son pierced him in that battle with ten arrows. Satyaki, then, O king, pierced Karna with ten shafts in the very sight of all those heroes, and addressing him, said, 'Do not fly away but stay before me.' The encounter then, that took place between mighty Satyaki and the industrious Karna, resembled, O king, that between Vali and Vasava (in p. 392 the days of yore). That bull among Kshatriyas, viz., Satyaki, terrifying all the Kshatriyas with the rattle of his car, pierced the lotus-eyed Karna in return (with many arrows). Making the earth tremble with the twang of his bow, the mighty son of the Suta, O monarch, contended with Satyaki. Indeed, Karna pierced the grandson of Sini in return with hundreds of long, and barbed, and pointed, and tall-toothed, and razor-headed arrows and diverse other shafts. Similarly, that foremost one of Vrishni's race, Yuyudhana, in that battle, shrouded Karna with his arrows. For a time that battle proceeded equally. Then thy son, O monarch, placing Karna at their head, all pierced Satyaki from every side with keen arrows.
Analysis: Inmost of this fight Karna was alone against just Satyaki. However at the end of the paragraph, Karna was not alone he got a team of dhritarashtra's sons, their is more than one son of Dritarashtra helping karna as the text says "placing Karna at their head,". So it has to be more than one. Anyways in this fight Satyaki scored the most blows on Karna, the latter who resorted to dirty tactics to fight against Satyaki. But Sanjaya said that this battle was proceeding equal so we can its a stalemate, but only because Kauravas saved Karna.
- Karna & Vrishasena vs Satyaki
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Resisting with his own weapons those of them all and of Karna also, O lord, Satyaki quickly pierced Vrishasena in the centre of the chest. Pierced with that arrow, the valiant Vrishasena, of great splendour, quickly fell down on his car, casting aside his bow. Then Karna, believing that mighty car-warrior, viz., Vrishasena, slain, became scorched with grief on account of the death of his son and began to afflict Satyaki with great force. Thus afflicted by Karna, the mighty car-warrior Yuyudhana, with great speed, repeatedly pierced Karna with many shafts. Once more piercing Karna with ten arrows, and Vrishasena with five, the Satwata hero cut off the leathern fences and the bows of both sire and son. Then those two warriors, stringing two other bows, capable of inspiring enemies with terror, began to pierce Yuyudhana from every side with keen shafts. During the progress of that fierce conflict that was so destructive of heroes the loud twang of Gandiva, O king, was heard over every other sound.
Analysis: Here Karna was enraged about the death of his son so he would certainly be baying for Satyaki's blood. Yet who proved better? Clearly Satyaki did. Satyaki cut off the leathern fence and bow of Karna, he almost killed Karna's son, did Karna ever accomplish the same feats against Satyaki here? No. It should be clear who had the upper hand in this battle, oh and after this incident Karna went over to Duryodhana and suggested a group attack on Satyaki.
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Then the great bowman, Drona, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, excited with rage, quickly pierced (Satyaki), that bull amongst the Sinis, with ten arrows. And Karna pierced him with ten arrows, and thy son with seven, and Vrishasena pierced him with ten, and Suvala's son with seven. In that impervious wall of Kauravas around the grandson of Sini, these also stationed themselves, encompassing him.
Analysis: This was another group attack on Satyaki that Karna participated in. Crook Karna proved how much of a coward he is again. He doesn't have the courage to face Satyaki one on one. No result of this fight though as it is not mentioned, but even if Satyaki was defeated then it was through fraud. Karna cheated.
- Karna and Drona rout the Panchalas
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Those mighty car-warriors, viz., Drona and Karna, O king, pursued the flying host, scattering numerous shafts. Seeing the Panchalas slaughtered and routed, Janardana becoming cheerless, said these words unto Phalguna, 'Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki, accompanied by the Panchalas, had proceeded against those great bowmen, viz., Drona and Karna, shooting many shafts. This large host of ours hath been broken and routed (by them) with showers of arrows. Though their flight is sought to be checked, they are still incapable of being rallied, O son of Kunti!--Beholding the host fly away, through fear, ye Pandava warriors, cast away your fears! Accompanied by all the forces and arraying then, in good order, both of us, with uplifted weapons, are even now proceeding against Drona and the Suta's son for withstanding them.'
Analysis: Karna's greatest feat here was not slaughtering/routing Panchalas but it was making Krishna (Janardana) himself cheerless. Dhristadyumna & Satyaki were fighting with Karna and Drona, it is unclear who defeated who.
Source: http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07169.htm
- Karna vs Dhrishtadyumna again
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Then Karna, that slayer of hostile heroes, beholding Prishata's son in battle, struck him on the chest with ten shafts capable of penetrating into the very vitals. Dhrishtadyumna quickly pierced Karna in return in that great battle, with five shafts, and addressing him, said, Wait! Wait!' Shrouding each other in that dreadful combat with showers of arrows, O king, they once more pierced each other with keen shafts, sped from bows drawn to their fullest stretch. Then Karna, in that battle, despatched to Yama's abode the driver and the four steeds or Dhrishtadyumna, that foremost warrior among the Panchalas. He then cut off his enemy's foremost bow with keen arrows, and felled, with a broad-headed shaft the latter's driver from his niche in the car. Then the valiant Dhrishtadyumna, deprived of car, steeds, and driver, quickly jumped down from his car and took up a mace. Though struck all the while with straight shafts by Karna, the Panchala prince, approaching Karna, slew the four steeds of the latter. Turning back with great speed, that slayer of hosts, viz., the son of Prishata, quickly ascended the car of Dhananjaya. Mounting upon that car, the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna desired to proceed towards Karna. Dharma's son (Yudhishthira), however, bade him desist.
Analysis: Dristadyumna is on Arjuna's car so what does he have to fear? Yudhishthira is just scared of Karna's skills that's all. If it wasn't for the order of his king Yudhishthira then Dristadyumna would have certainly taught Karna a lesson! The argument that he turned back with great speed to Arjuna's chariot after slaying the horses of karna won't stand. If Dristadyumna was so scared then he would never gotten so close to Karna as to kill his horses.
- Karna destroys Srinjayas & Panchalas
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Then Karna endued with great energy, mingling his leonine shouts with it twanged his bow loudly and blew his conch with great force. Beholding Prishata's son vanquished in battle, those mighty car-warriors, viz., the Panchalas and the Somakas, excited with rage, and taking up all kinds of weapons, proceeded, making death itself their goal, towards Karna, from desire of slaughtering him. Meanwhile, Karna's driver had yoked other steeds unto his master's car, that were white as conchs, endued with great speed, of the Sindhu breed, and well-broken. Then Karna of sure aim, contending with vigour, afflicted those mighty car-warriors among the Panchalas with his shafts like a cloud pouring torrents of rain upon a mountain. The Panchala host, thus afflicted by Karna, fled away in fear, like a doe frightened by a lion. Horsemen were seen falling from their horses, and elephant-riders from their elephants, O monarch, and car-warriors from cars, all around. In that dreadful battle, Karna cut off with razor-faced arrows the arms of flying combatants and heads decked with car-rings. And he cut off, O king, the thighs of others that were on elephants or on the back of steeds, or on the earth, O sire! Many mighty car-warriors, as they fled away, felt not their loss of limbs or the injury in their animals, in that battle. Slaughtered by terrible shafts, the Panchalas and the Srinjayas took the motion of even a straw for Karna (so great was their fright). Deprived of their senses, the warriors took their flying friends for Karna and fled away from these in fear. Karna pursued the broken and retreating host, O Bharata, shooting his shafts on all sides. Indeed, in that battle, the retreating warriors, deprived of their senses, were slaughtered p. 399 with mighty weapons by that illustrious hero, Karna.
Analysis: Destroying the Srinjayas & Pancalas is no cause for celebration. This is no great feat. And all these warriors that were retreating were most likely weaponless they were killed in cold blood by karna. That is murder of helpless men that Karna committed.
Source: http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07170.htm
- Karna vs Ghatotkaca part 1
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'Beholding the mighty-armed Ghatotkacha, O king, proceeding towards the car of Suta's son, Karna for slaughtering him in battle, thy son Duryodhana addressing Duhsasana, said these words, 'The Rakshasa, seeing the prowess of Karna in battle, is speedily advancing against him. Resist that mighty car-warrior. Surrounded by a mighty force proceed to that spot where the mighty Karna, the son of Vikartana, is contending with the Rakshasa in battle. O giver of honours, surrounded by troops and exerting thyself vigorously, protect Karna in battle. Let not the terribleRakshasa slay Karna in consequence of our carelessness. Meanwhile, O king, Jatasura's mighty son, that foremost of smiters, approaching Duryodhana, said unto him, 'O Duryodhana, commanded by thee, I desire to slay, with their followers, thy foes of celebrity, viz., the Pandavas, those warriors incapable of being easily defeated in battle. My father was mighty Jatasura, that foremost of Rakshasa. Formerly, having performed some Rakshasa slaying incantations, the despicable sons of Pritha slew him. I desire to worship my dead sire by offering him the blood of his foes, and their flesh, O monarch! it behoveth thee to grant me permission.' The king, thus addressed, became exceedingly delighted and said unto him repeatedly, 'Aided by Drona and Karna and others, I am quite competent to vanquish my foes. Commanded, however, by me, O Rakshasa, go thou to battle and slay Ghatotkacha in the fight--that Rakshasa of fierce deeds, born of man, ever devoted to the welfare of the Pandavas, and always slaying our elephants and steeds and car-warriors in battle, himself all the while staying in the welkin, O, despatch him to Yama's abode.' Saying, 'so be it,' and summoning Ghatotkacha to the fight, Jatasura's son shrouded the son of Bhimasena with diverse kinds of weapons.
Analysis: Duryodhana first wanted Duhsasana to rescue Karna. But then Alamvusha (another rakshasa) appears and offers to save Karna. upon seeing Ghatotkaca rushing towards useless Karna, his friends all already knew that useless Karna would be slain by Ghatotkaca.
- Karna & Alamvusha vs Ghatotkaca
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The son of Hidimva, however, alone and unsupported began, to grind Alamvusha and Karna and the vast Kuru host, like the tempest crushing a mass of clouds. Seeing then the power of (Ghatotkacha's) illusion, the Rakshasa Alamvusha covered Ghatotkacha with showers of diverse kinds of arrows. Having pierced Bhimasena's son with many shafts, Alamvusha, without losing any time, began to afflict the Pandava host with his arrows. Thus afflicted by him, O Bharata, the Pandava troops, at dead of night, broke and fled away like clouds dispersed by a tempest. Similarly, thy host also, mingled with the shafts of Ghatotkacha, p. 402 fled away at dead of night, O king, in thousands, throwing down their torches. Alamvusha then, excited with great wrath, struck Bhimasena's son in that dreadful battle with many shafts, like a driver striking an elephant. Then Ghatotkacha cut off into minute fragments the car, the driver, and all the weapons of his foe and laughed frightfully. Then, like the clouds pouring torrents of rain on the mountains of Meru, Ghatotkacha poured showers of arrows on Karna, Alamvusha and all the Kurus. Afflicted by the Rakshasa, the Kuru host became exceedingly agitated. The four kinds of forces, of which thy army consisted, began to press and crush one another.
Analysis: Over here Karna was supported by not only Alamvusha but also the Kurus (unclear if it's army or brothers of Duryodhana). Yet although alone against many including Karna), Ghatotkaca was still able to grind all of his opponents. After this text it becomes Ghatotkaca vs just Alamvusha alone until the latter dies so i didn't include that part of the text because it has nothing to do with Karna. But over here it's quite clear that Ghatotkaca had the upperhand over Karna despite the odds being against him. We always see Ghatotkaca wounding Karna but never the opposite, never vice versa, never has Karna been able to wound Ghatotkaca.
Source: http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07171.htm
- Karna vs Ghatotkaca part 2
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Filling all the points of the compass with shafts of the measure of the Aksha of a car, the Rakshasa rushed against Karna on that night that was so destructive of heroes. Staying proudly on his car, as he stretched his bow, the twang that was heard resembled that sound of the roaring thunder. Frightened by him, O Bharata, all thy troops trembled like the surging waves of the ocean. Beholding that frightful Rakshasa of horrible eyes advancing against him, Radha's son, as if smiling, withstood him speedily. And Karna proceeded against the smiling Rakshasa, smiting him in return from a near point, like an elephant against an elephant or the leader of a bovine herd against the leader of another herd. The collision that took place between them, i.e., Karna and the Rakshasa, O king, became terrible and resembled that between Indra and Samvara. Each taking a formidable bow of loud twang, struck and covered the other with powerful shafts. With straight shafts sped from bows drawn to their fullest stretch, they mangled each other, piercing their coats of mail made of brass. With darts of the measure of Akshas, and shafts also they continued to mangle each other, like a couple of tigers or of mighty elephants with their teeth or tusks. Piercing each other's body, aiming shafts at each other, scorching each other with clouds of arrows, they became incapable of being gazed at. With limbs pierced and mangled with shafts, and bathed in streams of blood, they looked like two hills of chalk with rivulets running down their breasts. Those two mighty car-warriors, both struggling vigorously, both with limbs pierced with keen-pointed shafts, and each mangling the other, failed, however to make each other tremble For a long time, that nocturnal combat between Karna and the Rakshasas in which both seemed to sport, making life itself the stake, continued equally. Aiming keen shafts and shooting them to the utmost measure of his might, the twang of Ghatotkacha's bow inspired both friends and foes p. 405 with fear. 1 At that time, O king, Karna could not prevail over Ghatotkacha. Seeing this, that foremost of all persons acquainted with weapons, invoked into existence celestial weapons.
Analysis: Over here it says that the battle proceeded equally but that is not true however. because it is Karna who failed to gain any advantage over Ghatotkaca and then started to resort to celestial weapons. Useless Karna could not defeat a powerful warrior without the use of such weapons. Karna failed to make Ghatotkaca even tremble. He was a pathetic warrior at the end of the night. Celestial weapons skipped another defeat of Karna! And Karna had a formidable enough bow over here yet he still could not keep up with one Rakshasa.
- Karna vs Ghatotkaca part 3
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Beholding a celestial weapon aimed at him by Karna, Ghatotkacha, that foremost of Rakshasas invoked into existence his Rakshasa illusion. He was seen surrounded by a large force of terrible-looking Rakshasas, armed with lances, large rocks and hills and clubs. 2 Beholding Ghatotkacha advancing with a mighty weapon uplifted (in his hands) like unto the Destroyer himself of all creatures armed with his fierce and fatal club, all the kings there were struck with fear. Terrified at the leonine roars uttered by Ghatotkacha, the elephants passed urine all the combatants trembled with fear. Then there fell on all sides a thick rain of rocks and stones poured incessantly by the Rakshasas, who had, in consequence of midnight, became inspired with greater strength. 3 Iron wheels and Bhusundis, and darts, and lances and spears and Sataghnis and axes also began to fall incessantly. Beholding that fierce and terrible battle, all the kings, as also thy sons and the combatants, fled away in fear. Only one amongst them, viz., Karna, proud of the power of his weapons, and feeling a noble pride, trembled not. Indeed, with his shafts he destroyed that illusion invoked into existence by Ghatotkacha. Beholding his illusion dispelled, Ghatotkacha, filled with rage began to shoot deadly shafts from desire of slaying the Suta's son. Those shafts, bathed in blood, piercing through Karna's body in that dreadful battle, entered the earth like angry snakes. Then the valiant son of the Suta, filled with rage and possessed of great lightness of hands, prevailing over Ghatotkacha, pierced the latter with ten shafts. Then Ghatotkacha, thus pierced by the Suta's son in his vital parts and feeling great pain, took up a celestial wheel having a thousand radii. The edge of that wheel was sharp as a razor. Possessed of the splendour of the morning sun, and decked with jewels and gems, Bhimasena's son hurled that wheel at the son of Adhiratha, desirous of making an end of the latter. That wheel, however, of great power and hurled also with great might, was cut off into pieces by Karna with his shafts, and fell down, baffled of its object, like the hopes and purposes of an unfortunate man. Filled with rage upon beholding his wheel baffled, Ghatotkacha covered Karna with showers of shafts, like Rahu covering the sun. The Suta's son, however, endued with the prowess of Rudra or of Indra's younger brother or of Indra, fearlessly shrouded Ghatotkacha's car in a moment with winged arrows. Then Ghatotkacha, whirling a gold-decked mace, hurled it at Karna. Karna, however, with his shafts, cutting it off, caused it to fall down. Then soaring into the sky and roaring deep like a mass of clouds, the gigantic Rakshasa poured from the welkin a perfect shower of trees. Then Karna pierced with his shafts Bhima's son in the sky, p. 406 that Rakshasa acquainted with illusions, like the sun piercing with his rays a mass of clouds. Slaying then all the steeds of Ghatotkacha, and cutting also his car into a hundred pieces, Karna began to pour upon him his arrows like a cloud pouring torrents of rain. On Ghatotkacha's body there was not even two finger's breadth of space that was not pierced with Karna's shafts. Soon the Rakshasa seemed to be like a porcupine with quills erect on his body. So completely was he shrouded with shafts that we could not in that battle, any longer see either the steeds or the car or the standard of Ghatotkacha or Ghatotkacha himself.
Analysis: Over here props for Karna, he actually proved his skill this time and deserves recognition for the achievements he just achieved in the 3rd part of his battle against Ghatotkaca. Karna slayed all the steeds of Ghatotkaca and broke his chariot into a hundred pieces. Karna wounded Ghatotkaca so greatly and made him a Bhishma 2.0
- Karna vs Ghatotkaca part 4
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Approaching then the vicinity of Karna's car, Ghatotkacha, with his ear-rings waving, fearlessly addressed the Suta's son, O monarch, and said, 'Wait a little, O Suta's son. Whither shalt thou go with life, avoiding me. I shall today, on the field of battle, quell thy desire of fight.' Having said those words, that Rakshasas, of cruel prowess and eyes red like copper in wrath, soared aloft into the sky and laughed aloud. Like a lion smiting a prince of elephants, he began to strike Karna, pouring upon him a shower of shafts, each of the measure the Aksha, of a car. Indeed, he poured that arrowy shower upon Karna, that bull among car-warriors, like a cloud pouring torrents of rain on a mountain, Karna destroyed that shower of arrows from a distance. Beholding his illusion destroyed by Karna, O bull of Bharata's race, Ghatotkacha once more created an illusion and made himself invisible. He became a high mountain with many summits and abounding with tall p. 407 trees. And from that mountain incessantly issued streams of lances and spears and swords and clubs. Seeing that mountain, which resembled a mighty mass of antimony, with its streams of fierce weapons, on the welkin, Karna was not at all agitated. Smiling the while, Karna invoked into existence a celestial weapon. Cut off with that weapon, that huge mountain was destroyed. Then he fierce Ghatotkacha, becoming a blue cloud with a rainbow, in the welkin, began to pour upon the Suta's son a shower of stones. Vikartana's son, Karna, who was called also Vrisha, that foremost of all persons acquainted with weapons, aiming a Vayavya weapon, destroyed that dart-cloud. Then covering all the points of the compass with innumerable shafts, he destroyed a weapon that had been aimed at him by Ghatotkacha. The mighty son of Bhimasena then laughing loudly in that battle, once more invoked into existence an all-powerful illusion against the mighty car-warrior Karna. Once more beholding that foremost of warriors, viz., Ghatotkacha, fearlessly approaching him, surrounded by a large number of Rakshasas that resembled lions and tigers and infuriated elephants in prowess, some riding on elephants, some on cars, and some on horseback, all armed with diverse weapons and clad in diverse kinds of mail and diverse kinds of ornaments; in fact, beholding Ghatotkacha surrounded by those fierce Rakshasas like Vasava by the Maruts, the mighty bowman Karna began to battle with him fiercely.
Analysis: Over here Karna defeated Ghatotkaca again. Ghatotkaca relied on a bunch of Rakshasa soldiers for his support. Karna destroyed all the illusions of Ghatotkaca in fact he even destroyed a mountain.
Then Ghatotkacha piercing Karna with five shafts, uttered a terrible roar frightening all the kings. Once more shooting an Anjalika weapon, Ghatotkacha quickly cut off the bow of Karna's hand along with the arrowy shower the latter had shot. Karna then taking out another bow that was strong and capable of bearing a great strain and that was as large as Indra's bow, drew it with great force. Then Karna shot some foe-slaying shafts of golden wings at those sky-ranging Rakshasas. Afflicted with those shafts, the large foes of broad chested Rakshasas looked agitated like a herd of wild elephants afflicted by a lion. Destroying with his shafts those Rakshasas along with their steeds and diverse elephants, the puissant Karna looked like the divine Agni consuming all creatures at the time of the universal dissolution. Having destroyed that Rakshasa host, the Suta's son looked resplendent like the god Maheswara in heaven after having consumed the triple city (of the Asuras). Among those thousands of kings on the Pandava side, O sire, there was not a single one, O monarch, that could even look at Karna then, save the mighty Ghatotkacha, that prince of Rakshasas, who was endued with terrible energy and strength, and who, inflamed with rage, then looked like Yama himself. From his eyes, as he was excited with wrath, flames of fire seemed to emit, like blazing drops of oil from a couple of burning brands. Striking his palm against palm and biting his nether lip, the Rakshasa was once more seen on a car that had been created by his illusion, and unto which were yoked a number of asses, looking like elephants and having the faces of Pisachas. Excited with wrath, he addressed his driver, saying, 'Bear me towards the Suta's son.'
Analysis: The text specifically says all the kings, and karna was a king, so he was also scared of the roar of Ghatotkaca. Karna managed to kill the Rakshasa troops of Ghatotkaca here, but not do any harm to Ghatotkaca himself. Now Ghatotkaca wants to fight a single combat with Karna again.
Then that foremost of car-warriors proceeded on that terrible-looking car of his, for once more fighting a single combat with the Suta's son, O king! The Rakshasa, excited with rage, hurled at the Suta's son an Asani of Rudra's workmanship, terrible and furnished with eight wheels. Karna, placing his bow on his car, jumped down on the earth and seizing that Asani hurled it back at Ghatotkacha. The latter, however, had quickly descended from his car (before the weapon could reach it). The Asani, meanwhile, of great effulgence, having reduced the Raksha's car to ashes, with it steeds, driver, and standard, piercing through the earth, disappeared within its bowels, at which the gods were filled with wonder. Then all creatures applauded Karna, who, having jumped down from his car, had seized that Asani. Having achieved that feat, Karna once more ascended his car. The Suta's sort, that scorcher of foes, then began to shoot his shafts. Indeed, O giver of honours, there is none else amongst all living creatures who can accomplish what Karna accomplished in that frightful battle. Struck by Karna with shafts like a mountain with torrents of rain, Ghatotkacha once more disappeared from the field of battle like the melting forms of vapour in the sky. Contending in this way, the gigantic Rakshasa, that slayer of foes, destroyed the celestial weapons of Karna by means of his activity as also his power of illusion. Seeing his weapons destroyed by the Rakshasa, aided by his powers of illusion, Karna, without being inspired with fear, continued to fight with the cannibal. Then, O monarch, the mighty son of Bhimasena excited with wrath, divided his own self into many parts, frightening all the mighty car-warriors (of the Kuru army). Then there came on the field of battle lions, and tigers, and hyenas, and snakes with fiery tongues, and birds with iron beaks. As regards Ghatotkacha. himself, struck with the keen arrows that were sped from Karna's bow, that huge Rakshasa, looking like (Himavat) the prince of mountains, disappeared then and there. Then many Rakshasas and Pisachas and Yatudhanas, and large numbers of wolves and leopards, of frightful faces rushed towards Karna for devouring him. These approached the Suta's son, uttering fierce howls for frightening him. Karna pierced every one of those monsters with many swift-winged and terrible shafts that drank their blood. At last, using a celestial weapon, he destroyed that illusion of the Rakshasa. He then, with some straight and fierce shafts, struck the steeds of Ghatotkacha. These, with broken and maimed limbs, and their backs cut by those shafts, fell down on the earth, in the very sight of Ghatotkacha. The son of Hidimva, seeing his illusion dispelled, once more made himself invisible, saying unto Karna, the son of Vikartana, 'I will presently compass thy destruction.'"
Analysis: This is a defeat of Ghatotkaca as he turned himself invisible and lost his horses lives. His illusion was also destroyed by Karna, good for Karna as he doesn't have that many achievements to back up his boasts. So it's not a one sided fight now. But he also destroyed the celestial weapons of Karna, so Ghatotkaca deserves praise too.
They all offered a respectful welcome to Alayudha, During the progress of that terrible and superhuman battle between Karna and the Rakshasa at night,--a battle which though fierce was yet delightful to behold,--the Panchalas, with all the other Kshatriyas, smilingly looked on as spectators. Meanwhile, thy soldiers, O king, though protected (by their leaders) all over the field and Drona and Drona's son and Kripa and others, uttered loud wails, saying, 'All is lost!' Indeed, beholding those feats of Hidimva's son on the field of battle, all thy warriors were agitated with fear, and uttering cries of woe became almost deprived of their senses. Thy troops, O king, became hopeless of Karna's life. Then Duryodhana, beholding Karna fallen into great distress, summoned Alayudha and said unto him, 'Yonder Vikartana's son, Karna, is engaged with the son of Hidimva, and is accomplishing such feats in battle as are worthy of his might and prowess. Behold those brave kings slain by the son of Bhimasena, struck with diverse kinds of weapons (and lying on the field) like trees broken by an elephant. Amongst all my royal warriors, let this be thy share in battle, allotted by me, with thy permission, O hero, displaying thy prowess, slay thou this Rakshasa. O crusher of foes, see that this wretch viz., Ghatotkacha, may not, relying on his powers of illusion, slay Karna, the son of Vikarana, before thou finishest him.'
Analysis: Over here the clear victor of this fight is Ghatotkaca, the friends of Karna have become fearful and thought that Karna would get killed so they sent another Rakshasa called Alayudha to break up the fight. This incident can also be seen as Alayudha skipping a defeat of Karna. They became scared of what Ghatotkaca was doing, clearly Ghatotkaca was better over here. Even karna's preceptor guru Drona cried saying all is lost! Because he knew his student Karna was useless.
Meanwhile, Karna, O king, in that battle agitated many kings and many mighty car-warriors amongst the Panchalas headed by Dhrishtadyumna and Sikhandin and others. Beholding them slaughtered (by Karna), Bhima, of terrible prowess, rushed speedily towards Karna, shooting his shafts in that battle. Then those warriors also, viz., Nakula and Sahadeva and the mighty car-warrior, p. 413 Satyaki, having slain the Rakshasas, proceeded to that place where the Suta's son was. All of them, then, began to fight with Karna, while the Panchalas encountered Drona.
Analysis:
Beholding the mighty son of Bhimasena engaged with Alayudha, the mighty-armed Karna rushed against the Panchalas. He pierced Dhrishtadyumna and Sikhandin, each with ten strong and straight shafts sped from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch. With a number of other powerful shafts, the Suta's son then caused Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas, and the great car-warrior Satyaki to tremble. The bows of those warriors also, O king, while they were engaged in striking Karna from all sides, were seen to be drawn into circles. On that night, the twang of their bow-strings and the rattle of their car-wheels (mingling together), became loud and deep as the roar of the clouds at the close of summer. The nocturnal battle, O monarch, resembled a gathering mass of clouds. The twang of bow-string and the rattle of car-wheels constituted its roar. The bows (of warriors) constituted its lightning flashes; and showers of shafts formed its downpour of rain. Standing immovable like a hill and possessed of the strength of a prince of mountains, that grinder of foes, viz., Vikartana's son, Karna, O king, destroyed that wonderful shower of arrows shot at him. Devoted to the good of thy sons, the high-souled Vaikartana, in the battle, began to strike his foes with lances endued with the force of thunder, and with whetted shafts, equipped with beautiful wings of gold. Soon the standard of some were broken and cut down by Karna, and the bodies of others pierced and mangled by p. 415 him with keen arrows; and soon some were deprived of drivers, and some of their steeds. Exceedingly afflicted by the Suta's son in that battle, many of them entered the force of Yudhishthira. Beholding them broken and compelled to retreat, Ghatotkacha became mad with rage.
Analysis: Note that it says many not all, so at-least one person did not retreat from Karna. Many of Karna's opponents ran away to Yudhishthira. We don't know who that one person is but we can assume who it is. Dhrishtadyumna was the army chief so he could not risk his life by staying before Karna. Yudhamanyu & Uttamaujas were protectors of Arjuna, so they would not fight Arjuna's rival for him, Srikandi & Satyaki are the only candidates. I go with Satyaki, cause he is the only one among these 5 warriors who i can say is surely better than Karna.
Mounted on that excellent car of his that was decked with gold and jewels, he uttered a leonine roar and approaching Vikartana's son, Karna, pierced him with shafts endued with the force of thunder. Both of them began to cover the welkin with barbed arrows, and cloth-yard shafts, and frog-faced arrows, and Nalikas and Dandas and Asanisand arrows bearing heads like the calf's tooth or the boar's ear, and broad-headed shafts, and shafts pointed like horns, and others bearing heads like razors. The welkin, covered with that arrowy shower, looked, in consequence of those gold-winged shafts of blazing splendour coursing horizontally through it, as if hung with garland of beautiful flowers. Each endued with prowess equal to that of the other, they struck each other equally with powerful weapons. None could, in that battle, find any mark of superiority in either of those excellent heroes. Indeed, that battle between the son of Surya and Bhima's son, characterised by a thick and heavy shower of weapons, looked exceedingly beautiful and presented almost an unrivalled sight like the fierce encounter between Rahu and Surya in the welkin.' "Sanjaya continued, 'When Ghatotkacha, O king, that foremost of all persons conversant with weapons, found that he could not prevail over Karna, he invoked into existence a fierce and mighty weapon. With that weapon, the Rakshasa first slew the steeds of Karna and then the latter's driver. Having achieved that feat, Hidimva's son quickly made himself invisible.' "Dhritarashtra said, 'When the Rakshasa fighting by deceitful means thus disappeared, tell me, O Sanjaya, what the warriors of my army thought.' "Sanjaya said, Seeing the Rakshasa disappear, all the Kauravas loudly said, Appearing next, the Rakshasa, fighting deceitfully, will certainly slay Karna.'
Analysis: He overpowered Karna again. Biased reporter Sanjaya says that Ghatotkaca could not prevail over Karna, yet it is clearly written that Ghatotkaca killed the horses of Karna and the charioteer of Karna, is that not prevailing? Ghatotkaca made himself invisible because his goal was to kill Karna not just defeat him (like others already have). Nothing deceitful about what Ghatotkaca did, such methods of warfare have been countered by Arjuna (the rival of Karna) several times, so it shouldn't be a problem for Karna (if he is truly as great as you all say he is). But yet people knew that Karna was useless so they though Ghatotkaca would kill Karna.
Then Karna, endued with wonderful lightness in the use of weapons, covered all sides with showers of shafts. The welkin being covered with the darkness caused by that thick arrowy shower, all creatures became invincible. So great was the lightness of hand displayed by the Suta's son, that none could mark when he touched his quivers with his fingers, when he fixed his arrows on the bowstring, and when he aimed and sped them off. The entire welkin seemed to be shrouded with his arrows. Then a fierce and terrible illusion was invoked into existence by the Rakshas in the welkin. We beheld in the sky what appeared to us to be a mass of red clouds resembling the fierce flame of a blazing fire. From that cloud issued flashes of lightning, and many blazing brands, O Kuru king! And tremendous roars also issued therefrom, like the noise of thousands of drums beat at once. And from it fell many shafts winged with gold, and darts, lances and heavy clubs, and other similar weapons, and battle-axes, and scimitars washed with oil, and axes of blazing edges, p. 416 and spears, and spiked maces emitting shining rays, and beautiful maces of iron, and long darts of keen points, and heavy maces decked with gold and twined round with string's, and Sataghnis, all around. And large rocks fell from it, and thousands of thunderbolts with loud report, and many hundreds of wheels and razors of the splendour of fire. Karna shooting showers of shafts, failed to destroy that thick and blazing downpour of darts and lances and clubs. Loud became the uproar then of falling steeds slain by those shafts, and mighty elephants struck with thunder, and great car-warriors deprived of life by other weapons. Afflicted by Ghatotkacha with that terrible shower of arrows all around, that host of Duryodhana was seen to wander in great pain over the field. With cries of Oh and Alas, and exceedingly cheerless, that wandering host seemed on the point of being annihilated.
Analysis: Read the above narrative, it is clearly written that Karna failed to destroy the darts of Ghatotkaca. Karna failed to please his army. this incident can be marked as a defeat of Karna.
Indeed, during that terrible rout in which the soldiers showed no regard for one another, every side of the field, when looked at, seemed to be empty. Only Karna, O king, could be seen there, drowned in that shower of weapons. Then Karna covered the welkin p. 417 with his shafts, contending with that celestial illusion of the Rakshasa. The Suta's son, endued with modesty and achieving the most difficult and noble feats, did not lose his senses in that battle. Then, O king, all the Saindhavas and Valhikas affrightedly looked at Karna who kept his senses in that fight. And they all worshipped him, while they looked at the triumph of the Rakshasa. Then a Sataghni equipped with wheels, hurled by Ghatotkacha, slew the four steeds of Karna simultaneously. These. dropped down on the ground, on their knees, deprived of life, teeth, eyes, and tongues. Then jumping down from his steedless car and seeing the Kauravas flying away, and beholding his own celestial weapon baffled by the Rakshasa illusion, Karna, without losing his senses, turned his mind inwards and began to reflect on what he should next do. At that time all the Kauravas, beholding Karna and that terrible illusion (of the Rakshasa) cried out saying, 'O Karna, slay the Rakshasa soon with thy dart. These Kauravas and the Dhartarashtras are on the point of being annihilated. What will Bhima and Arjuna do to us? Slay this wretched Rakshasa at dead of night, who is consuming us all. They that will escape from this dreadful encounter to-day will fight with the Parthas in battle. Therefore, slay this terrible Rakshas now with that dart given thee by Vasava. O Karna, let not these great warriors, the Kauravas, these princes that resemble Indra himself, be all destroyed in this nocturnal battle.' Then Karna, seeing the Rakshasa alive at dead of night, and the Kuru army struck with fear, and hearing also the loud wails of the latter set his heart upon hurling his dart. Inflamed with rage like a wrathful lion and unable to brook the assaults of the Rakshasa, Karna took up that foremost of victory-giving and invincible darts, desirous of compassing the destruction of Ghatotkacha. Indeed, that dart, O king, which he had kept and adored for years for (achieving) the slaughter of Pandu's son in battle, that foremost of darts which Sakra himself had given to the Suta's son in exchange for the latter's ear-rings, that blazing and terrible missile twined with strings and which seemed to thirst for blood, that fierce weapon which looked like the very tongue of the Destroyer or the sister of Death himself, that terrible and effulgent dart, Naikartana, was now hurled at the Rakshasa. Beholding that excellent and blazing weapon capable of piercing the body of every foe, in the hands of the Suta's son, the Rakshasa began to fly away in fear assuming a body gigantic as the foot of the Vindhya mountains. Indeed, seeing that dart in Karna's hand, all creatures in the sky, O king, uttered loud cries. Fierce winds began to blow, and thunders with loud report began to fall on the earth. Destroying that blazing illusion of Ghatotkacha and piercing right through his breast that resplendent dart soared aloft in the night and entered a starry constellation in the firmament. Having fought, using diverse beautiful weapons, with many heroic Rakshasa and human warriors, Ghatotkacha, then uttering diverse terrible roars, fell, deprived of life with that dart of Sakra.
Analysis: This was clearly a victory of Karna, but it was the mercy of Indra's dart. It was not just because of the appeals of the Kauravas that Karna hurled the dart. It was also because Ghatotkaca had killed Karna's steeds and baffled all of Karna's celestial weapons. Indra gave a condition that Karna can only hurl his dart when all of his other weapons have failed him. Also Ghatotkaca was unarmed and was running away over here so Karna killed a helpless man.
Behold, O thou of Vrishni's race, our troops afflicted and routed by the Kauravas. Behold, those mighty car-warriors, viz., Drona and Karna, are contending earnestly in battle. Behold, the Pandava host crushed at dead of night, like an extensive forest of heath by a couple of infuriated elephants. Disregarding the might of Bhimasena's son, as also the variety of weapon that Partha bears, the Kauravas are putting forth their prowess, Yonder, Drona and Karna and king Suyodhana, having slain the Rakshasa in battle, are uttering loud roars.
Analysis: Over here the reporter is Yudhishthira, same character who always overrated Karna, and was filled with grief when he said this. So we should not take his words literally, one he's not in an unbiased state of mind, two he always overrates Karna. But anyways even it is true then this feat of Karna doesn't mean anything. As everyone had the capacity to kill troops in Mahabharata.
Thus urged by Bhima and Kesava, Savyasachin prevailing over Drona and Karna, began to resist the foe all round. Many foremost of Kshatriyas (among the Kurus), putting forth all their prowess, failed to withstand Arjuna who advanced at the very van of his troops, and who, like a raging conflagration, was consuming the foremost ones among his foes. Then Duryodhana and Karna, and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, covered Kunti's son, Dhananjaya, with showers of shafts. Baffling the weapons of all those warriors, that foremost of all persons well-skilled in weapons, O monarch, covered them (in return) with his shafts. Aiming at their weapons with his (and thus baffling them all), Arjuna, endued with great lightness of hand and possessing a complete control over his senses, pierced every one of those warriors with ten keen-pointed shafts. The welkin was then covered with dust. Thick showers of arrows fell. Darkness set in, and a loud and terrible uproar arose. When such was the state of things, neither the welkin, nor the earth, nor the points of the compass, could any longer be seen. Stupefied by the dust, all the troops became blind. Neither the foe, O king, nor we, could distinguish each other. For this reason, the kings began to fight, guided by conjecture and the names they uttered. Deprived of their cars, car-warriors, O king, encountering one another, lost all order and became a tangled mass. Their steeds killed and drivers slain, many of them, becoming inactive, preserved their lives and looked exceedingly affrighted.
Analysis: This is proof that Arjuna was winning. Because of the use of a word like "prevailing". Arjuna even baffled all of the astras of Karna here. And Karna was not alone he had all the help in the world, his preceptor general Drona, his friend Sakuni, his king Duryodhana all of them were fighting at his side. But Karna's horse and charioteer were killed, his weapons were baffled, and he himself became inactive. He failed to withstand Arjuna.
Having taken that oath in the midst of all the bowmen, that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the prince of the Panchalas, supported by his own division, advanced against Drona. The Panchalas then began to strike Drona from one side, and Arjuna from another. Duryodhana, and Karna, and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, and the uterine brothers of Duryodhana (stationed), according to their precedence, began to protect Drona in battle. Drona being thus protected in battle by those illustrious warriors, the Panchalas though struggling vigorously, could not p. 435 even gaze at him.
Analysis: After this Bima starts to provoke Dristadyumna and tells him to put more fire in his fighting. So clearly Karna was winning over here but we should not forget that Karna had help, the support of Sakuni, Duryodhana, and the brothers of Suyodhana. So Karna won, but through fraud means.
Then Karna, desirous of rescuing thy son, rushed to that spot. Thereupon, Vrikodara, with great care, pierced Karna in the chest and arms with three broad-headed shafts sped from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch. Struck with those shafts like a snake with a stick, Karna stopped and began to resist Bhimasena, shooting keen shafts. Thereupon, a fierce battle took place between Bhima and Radha's son. Both of them roared like bulls, and the eyes of both were expanded (with rage). Excited with wrath, and rushing towards each other, with great speed, they roared at each other. Those two delighters, in battle were then very close to each other. So near were they that they could not easily shoot their shafts at each other. Thereupon, an encounter with maces happened. Bhimasena speedily broke with his mace the Kuvara of Karna's car. That feat of his, O king, seemed highly wonderful. Then the valiant son of Radha, taking up a mace, hurled it at Bhima's car. Bhima, however, broke it with the mace of his own. Then taking up a heavy mace, once more, Bhima p. 439 hurled it at Adhiratha's son. Karna struck that mace with numerous shafts of beautiful wings, sped with great force, and once again with other shafts, Thus struck with Karna's shafts, the mace turned back towards Bhima, like a snake afflicted with incantations. With the rebound of that mace, the huge standard of Bhima, broke and fell down. Struck with that same mace, Bhima's driver also became deprived of his senses. Then Bhima, mad with rage, sped eight shafts at Karna, and his standard and bow, and leathern fence, O Bharata. The mighty Bhimasena, that slayer of hostile heroes, with the greatest care, O Bharata, cut off, with those keen shafts, the standards, the bow, and the leathern fence of Karna. The latter then, viz., the son of Radha, taking up another invincible and gold-decked bow, shot a number of shafts, and quickly slew Bhima's steeds of the hue of bears, and then his two drivers. When his car was thus injured, Bhima, that chastiser of foes, quickly jumped into the car of Nakula like a lion jumping down upon a mountain summit.'
Analysis: Bhima destroyed the kuvara of Karna's chariot with a mace. Karna's mace was destroyed by Bhima's mace. Karna failed to defeat Bhima in a mace fight and ended up resorting to archery once again. In the end though, Karna did win this battle.
Beholding then that foremost of car-warriors, viz., that hero of Madhu's race, to be mightier than Duryodhana, Karna rushed to that spot, desirous of rescuing thy son. Mighty Bhimasena, however, could not brook that attempt of Karna. He, therefore, quickly proceeded against Karna, shooting innumerable shafts. Cutting off all those shafts of Bhima with the greatest ease, Karna cut off Bhima's bow, arrows and driver also, with his own shafts. Then, Pandu's son, Bhima, filled with rage, took up a mace and crushed the bow, standard, and driver of his antagonist in that encounter. The mighty Bhima also broke one of the wheels of Karna's car. Karna, however, stood on that car of his, which had one of his wheels broken, immovable as (Meru), the king of mountains. That beautiful car of his which had now only one wheel, was borne by his steeds, like the single wheeled car of Surya, drawn by the seven celestial steeds. Incapable of brooking the feats of Bhimasena, Karna continued to fight with the latter, using diverse kinds of shafts in profusion and diverse kinds of other weapons in that encounter. Bhimasena also filled with wrath, continued to fight with the Suta's son.
Analysis: A stalemate no result to this fight, although we can assume that Karna lost in the end because the next time he is mentioned as fighting Satyaki not Bhima.
Source:
http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07186.htm
- Karna, Drona & Kripa vs Satyaki
Quote:
That shaft, however, Satyaki cut off by means of ten arrows, in the very sight of thy son as also of the high-souled Karna, as thus rescued Dhrishtadyumna who was on the point of succumbing to Drona. Then Kesava and Dhananjaya beheld Satyaki of prowess incapable of being baffled, who, O Bharata, was thus careering in the car-tracks (of the Kuru warriors) and within the range of the shafts of Drona and Karna and Kripa. Saying. 'Excellent, Excellent!' both of them loudly applauded Satyaki of unfading glory, who was thus destroying the celestial weapons of all those warriors.
Analysis: It said that Satyaki was incapable of being baffled. So Karna failed to baffle him. Satyaki was destroying the celestial weapons of Karna also. Satyaki's prowess was even praised by Krishna & Arjuna.
'Beholding those feats of the Satwata hero, Duryodhana and others, filled with rage, quickly encompassed the grandson of Sini on all sides. Kripa and Karna, of also thy sorts, O sire, in that battle, quickly approaching the grandson of Sini, began to strike him with keen arrows. Then king Yudhishthira, and the two other Pandavas, viz., the two sons of Madri and Bhimasena of great might surrounded Satyaki (for protecting him). Karna, and the mighty car-warrior Kripa, and Duryodhana and others, all resisted Satyaki, pouring showers of arrows on him. The grand p. 450 son of Sini, however, contending with all those car-warriors, baffled, O monarch, that terrible downpour of arrows, so suddenly created by his foes. Indeed, in that dreadful battle, Satyaki, by means of his own celestial weapons, duly resisted all those celestial weapons aimed at him by those illustrious warriors.
Analysis: Karna aimed celestial weapons but they were all resisted by Satyaki. Karna teamed up with his preceptor Kripa, friend Duryodhana and other kings yet still failed to defeat Satyaki, Karna could nto gain any advantage over Satyaki. Over here Satyaki was all alone and Karna was with others yet Karna could not defeat Satyaki. The text says that Nakula, Sahadeva, Yudhishthira & Bhima went to protect Satyaki, but it doesn't say that they actually did protect him, they made no actions to protect him they just watched by.
The ruler of the Gandharas Sakuni, beholding Drona of the golden car slain, fled with the car-warriors of his division, with speed that was much greater. Even the Suta's son fled away in fear, taking with him his own vast division, that was retreating with great speed with all its standards.
Analysis 1: Karna is the Suta's son. It's another name for him. So it is clearly written that he (Karna) fled in fear, after Drona's death.
Quote 2:
Upon the slaughter of that lion among car-warriors, O monarch, hath thy force fallen into this plight. O Kaurava, O king, all these that are headed (even) by Karna, wait not on the field. In no battle fought before did the army fly away thus.
Analysis 2: It is written that all the people who fled away were lead by Karna they were headed by Karna.
When the preceptor's son had fallen into that plight, thy son, that car-warrior, accompanied by Kripa and Karna and others began to cover the Satwata hero with arrows. All of them began quickly to pierce Satyaki from every side with keen shafts, Duryodhana pierced him with twenty, Saradwat's son, Kripa, with three. And Kritavarman pierced him with ten, and Karna with fifty. And Duhsasana pierced him with a hundred arrows, and Vrishasena with seven. Satyaki, however, O king, soon made all those great car-warriors fly away from the field, deprived of their cars.
Analysis: 50 arrows of Karna could not save him from his pathetic defeat at the hands of Satyaki, over her Karna ran away. Here Karna teamed up with six other warriors yet Satyaki still defeated him. Useless Karna.
Beholding the mighty bowman Karna, that foremost of car-warriors, seated on his car, difficult of approach and resembling the risen Sun that destroys the gloom, none amongst the Kauravas, O tiger among men, recked, O sire, the loss of Bhishma or Drona or other men! Speeding the warriors, O sire, with the blasts of his conch, Karna caused the vast army of the Kauravas to be drawn out. Having arrayed the troops in the makara array, that mighty bowman, that scorcher of foes, viz., Karna, proceeded against the Pandavas from desire of victory. In the tip of the beak of that makara, O king, was stationed Karna himself. In the two eyes were the brave Shakuni and the mighty car-warrior Uluka. In the head was Drona's son and in the neck were all the uterine brothers. In the middle was king Duryodhana supported by a large force. In the left foot, O monarch, was stationed Kritavarma accompanied by the Narayana troops, and those invincible warriors, the gopalas. In the right foot, O king, was Gotama's son of prowess incapable of being baffled, surrounded by those mighty bowmen viz., the Trigartas and by the Southerners. In the left hind-foot was stationed Shalya with a large force raised in the country of Madras.
Analysis: Karna arrayed his army in the form of a makara (or crocodile). I think his formation skills are lackluster though, he did not know about the Chakravyuha. He hates the Madras so he put them on the foot of the crocodile. Also where was Karna's son Vrishasena during this day? I didn't find him do anything during the 16th day.
'Then the mighty and heroic bowman Karna began to smite the Pandava army in that battle, with his straight shafts. Similarly, those great car-warriors, viz., the Pandavas, O king, filled with wrath, began to smite the army of thy son in the very sight of Karna. Karna also, O king, in that battle slew the Pandava army with his cloth-yard shafts bright as the rays of the Sun and polished by the hands of the smith. There, O Bharata, the elephants, struck by Karna with his shafts, uttered loud cries, lost strength, became faint, and wandered on all sides. While the army was being thus destroyed by the Suta's son, Nakula rushed with speed against that mighty car-warrior.
Analysis: Karna began to slay the Pandava army but this achievement doesn't mean anything, others have also slayed the Pandava army before in the war. Aswathama, Drona, Bhishma, Bhagadatta have done the same if not better. The quote could be an interpolation too, because if Karna slayed the Pandava army then how was their at-least a million Pandava troops alive during Shalya Parva (after Karna's death)?
Knowing that victory is ever with the chief of the Vrishnis and with Dhananjaya, that foremost one of Angirasa's race, endued with great activity, entered the army of Karna, deprived of hope and with shafts and weapons almost exhausted. Indeed, Drona's son, restraining his steeds, and having comforted himself a little, O sire, entered the force of Karna, teeming with cars and steeds and men.
Analysis: Aswathamman after being defeated by Arjuna decides to run away to Karna. Karna repays his debt to his rescuer Aswathamman, he saved karna 3 times on the 14th day so it's fair.
Indeed he never regarded any one amongst the kings as equal to himself. He never admitted his equality with Karna and Bhishma. Nor did he admit within his heart that he was inferior in any respect to Vasudeva or Arjuna. Even such was Pandya, that foremost of kings, that first of wielder of weapons. Filled with rage like the Destroyer himself, Pandya at the time was slaughtering the army of Karna. That force, swelling with cars and steeds and teeming with foremost of foot-soldiers, struck by Pandya, began to turn round like the potter's wheel. Like the wind dispersing a mass of congregated clouds, Pandya, with his well shot arrows, began to disperse that force, destroying its steeds and drivers and standards and cars and causing its weapons and elephants to fall down.
Analysis: Pandya was destroying Karna's army so i wonder what Karna was doing during this time, most likely Karna sent Aswathamman after him as Pandya was killed by Aswathamman.
Meanwhile Karna rushed against the large elephant force of the Pandavas and began to rout and destroy it. Depriving car-warriors of their cars, he struck elephants and steeds and human warriors, O Bharata, with innumerable straight shafts.
Analysis: Defeated a bunch of elephants, big deal. Bhima killed thousands of elephants. Nakula & Sahadeva also killed hundreds of elephants, karna did not do anything great over here.
In fulfilment of purposes entertained by Ashvatthama, Karna is slaying the Srinjayas. A great carnage is being made (by that warrior) of steeds and car-warriors and elephants." Thus the heroic Vasudeva represented everything unto the diadem-decked (Arjuna).
Analysis: Ok, karna killed was slaughtering the Srinjaya army but we don't know how much he did. But since this feat of Karna worried Krishna we can call it relevant.
Large numbers of those foes thus employed in shouting and shooting weapons, the heroic son of Adhiratha crushed with his arrows. With his shafts Karna then despatched to Yama's abode twenty car-warriors among the brave Pancala heroes, with their steeds, drivers, and standards. Then many foremost of warriors of the Pandava army, endued with great energy and quick in the use of weapons, speedily wheeling round, encompassed Karna on all sides.
Analysis: Karna just killed 20 no name rathis of the Pancala army. It's not a big achievement. Even a school shooter from sandy hooks elementary was able to kill 26 people, does that make him a better warrior than Karna?
Karna agitated that hostile force with showers of weapons like the leader of an elephantine herd plunging into a lake adorned with lotuses and covered with swans. Penetrating into the midst of his foes, the son of Radha, shaking his best of bows, began to strike off and fell their heads with his sharp shafts. The shield and coats of mail of the warriors, cut off, fell down on the Earth. There was none amongst them that needed the touch of a second arrow of Karna's. Like a driver striking the steeds with the whip, Karna, with his shafts capable of crushing coats of mail and bodies and the life that quickened them, struck the fences (of his foes) perceivable only by their bow-strings. Like a lion grinding herds of deer, Karna speedily grinded all those Pandus and Srinjayas and Pancalas that came within range of his arrows. Then the chief of the Pancalas, and the sons of Draupadi, O sire, and the twins, and Yuyudhana, uniting together, proceeded against Karna.
Analysis: Note that it only says that they proceeded against Karna not that they fought against Karna. So a request to karna fanatics, don't get over excited because of one or two lines. The text says the Pandus not son sons of Pandu. It's not enough to conclude an encounter with the Pandavas. The twins are Nakula & Sahadeva yet they weren't called the Pandus? Are they not a part of the Pandu family?
While Nakula was employed in destroying and routing the Kaurava divisions in battle with great force, Vikartana's son Karna, filled with rage, checked him, O king. Then Nakula smiling the while, addressed Karna, and said, "After a long time, through the favour of the gods, I am seen by thee, and thou also, O wretch, dost become the object of my sight. Thou art the root of all these evils, this hostility, this quarrel. It is through thy faults that the Kauravas are being thinned, encountering one another. Slaying thee in battle today, I will regard myself as one that has achieved his object, and the fever of my heart will be dispelled." Thus addressed by Nakula, the Suta's son said unto him the following words befitting a prince and a bowman in particular, "Strike me, O hero. We desire to witness thy manliness. Having achieved some feats in battle, O brave warrior, thou shouldst then boast. O sire, they that are heroes fight in battle to the best of their powers, without indulging in brag. Fight now with me to the best of thy might. I will quell thy pride." Having said these words the Suta's son quickly struck the son of Pandu and pierced him, in that encounter, with three and seventy shafts. Then Nakula, O Bharata, thus pierced by the Suta's son, pierced the latter in return with eighty shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison. Then Karna, that great bowman, cutting off his antagonist's bow with a number of arrows winged with gold and whetted on stone, afflicted him with thirty arrows. Those arrows, piercing through his armour drank his blood in that battle, like the Nagas of virulent poison drinking water after having pierced through the Earth.
Analysis: Over here Nakula again surpassed Karna. Nakula's firing rate was higher here, Nakula fired 80 arrows in a second but Karna could only fire 73. Karna managed to cut off Nakula's bow but just cutting a weapon is not a victory. If it was then we could find countless other defeats of Karna. Because Nakula performed the same feat twice in the following incident.
Source: http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08024.htm
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Then Nakula, taking up another formidable bow whose back was decked with gold, pierced Karna with twenty arrows and his driver with three. Then, O monarch, that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., Nakula, filled with rage, cut off Karna's bow with a razor-headed shaft of great keenness. Smiling the while, the heroic son of Pandu then struck the bowless Karna, that foremost of car-warriors, with three hundred arrows. Beholding Karna thus afflicted, O sire, by the son of Pandu, all the carwarriors there, with the gods (in the welkin), were filled with great wonder. Then Vikartana's son Karna taking up another bow, struck Nakula with five arrows in the shoulder-joint. With those arrows sticking to him here, the son of Madri looked resplendent like the Sun with his own rays while shedding his light on the Earth. Then Nakula piercing Karna with seven shafts, once more, O sire, cut off one of the horns of Karna's bow. Then Karna, taking up in that battle a tougher bow, filled the welkin on every side of Nakula with his arrows. The mighty car-warrior, Nakula, however, thus suddenly shrouded with the arrows shot from Karna's bow quickly cut off all those shafts with shafts of his own. Then was seen overspread in the welkin a vast number of arrows like to the spectacle presented by the sky when it is filled with myriads of roving fireflies. Indeed, the sky shrouded with those hundreds of arrows shot (by both the warriors) looked, O monarch, as if it was covered with flights of locusts. Those arrows, decked with gold, issuing repeatedly in continuous lines, looked beautiful like rows of cranes while flying through the welkin. When the sky was thus covered with showers of arrows and the sun himself hid from the view, no creature ranging the air could descend on the Earth. When all sides were thus covered with showers of arrows, those two high-souled warriors looked resplendent like two Suns risen at the end of the Yuga. Slaughtered with the shafts issuing from Karna's bow the Somakas, O monarch, greatly afflicted and feeling much pain, began to breathe their last. Similarly, thy warriors, struck with the shafts of Nakula, dispersed on all sides, O king, like clouds tossed by the wind. The two armies thus slaughtered by those two warriors with their mighty celestial shafts, retreated from the range of those arrows and stood as spectators of the encounter. When both the armies were driven off by means of the shafts of Karna and Nakula, those two high-souled warriors began to pierce each other with showers of shafts. Displaying their celestial weapons on the field of battle, they quickly shrouded each other, each desirous of compassing the destruction of the other.
Analysis: Over here it is clearly written that both warriors (including Karna) were using celestial weapons and shafts. That Karna was trying to accomplish the destruction of Nakula. It is also written that Nakula pierced karna with over 300 arrows and Karna could only pierce Nakula with 5 arrows. This clearly shows Nakula's superiority as a warrior. It is also written that Nakula cut off two bows of Karna, he (nakula) did all of this with a smile on his face, but Karna could never ever do the same to Nakula.
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The shafts shot by Nakula, dressed with Kanka and peacock feathers, shrouding the Suta's son, seemed to stay in the welkin. Similarly, the shafts sped by the Suta's son in that dreadful battle, shrouding the son of Pandu, seemed to stay in the welkin. Shrouded within arrowy chambers, both the warriors became invisible, like the Sun and the Moon, O king, hidden by the clouds. Then Karna, filled with rage and assuming a terrible aspect in the battle, covered the son of Pandu with showers of arrows from every side. Completely covered, O monarch, by the Suta's son, the son of Pandu felt no pain like the Maker of day when covered by the clouds. The son of Adhiratha then, smiling the while, sped arrowy lines, O sire, in hundreds and thousands, in that battle. With those shafts of the high-souled Karna, an extensive shade seemed to rest on the field of battle. Indeed, with those excellent shafts constantly issuing out (of his bow), a shade was caused there like that formed by the clouds. Then Karna, O monarch, cutting off the bow of the high-souled Nakula, felled the latter's driver from the car-niche with the greatest ease. With four keen shafts, next, he quickly despatched the four steeds of Nakula, O Bharata, to the abode of Yama. With his shafts, he also cut off into minute fragments that excellent car of his antagonist as also his standard and the protectors of his car-wheels, and mace, and sword, and shield decked with a hundred moons, and other utensils and equipments of battle. Then Nakula, steedless and carless and armourless, O monarch, quickly alighting from his car, stood, armed with a spiked bludgeon. Even that terrible bludgeon, so uplifted by the son of Pandu, the Suta's son, O king, cut off with many keen arrows capable of bearing a great strain. Beholding his adversary weaponless. Karna began to strike him with many straight shafts, but took care not to afflict him greatly. Thus struck in that battle by that mighty warrior accomplished in weapons, Nakula, O king, fled away precipitately in great affliction. Laughing repeatedly, the son of Radha pursued him and placed his stringed bow, O Bharata, around the neck of the retreating Nakula. With the large bow around his neck, O king, the son of Pandu looked resplendent like Moon in the firmament when within a circular halo of light, or a white cloud girdled round by Indra's bow. Then Karna, addressing him, said, "The words thou hadst uttered were futile. Canst thou utter them now once more in joy, repeatedly struck as thou art by me? Do not, O son of Pandu, fight again with those amongst the Kurus that are possessed of greater might. O child, fight with them that are thy equals. Do not, O son of Pandu, feel any shame for it. Return home, O son of Madri, or go thither where Krishna and Phalguna are." Having addressed him thus he abandoned him then. Acquainted with morality as the brave Karna was, he did not then slay Nakula who was already within the jaws of death. Recollecting the words of Kunti, O king, Karna let Nakula go. The son of Pandu, thus let off, O king, by that bowman, Suta's son, proceeded towards Yudhishthira's car in great shame.
Analysis: Initially Karna was enraged and still failed to make Nakula feel any pain. Nakula only ran away from Karna because he was weaponless. If Nakula still had weapons then he would continue fighting Karna. this victory is only because of a trivial technicality like Nakula's stock of weapons running out.
- Karna vs Pancalas and Srinjayas
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The Suta's son, O monarch, made a great massacre there at that hour when the Sun had reached the meridian, that puissant warrior careering all the while with the activity of a wheel. We beheld many Pancala car-warriors borne away from the battle on their steedless and driverless cars with broken wheels and broken axles and with standards and pennons also that were broken and torn, O sire. And many elephants were seen to wander there in all directions (with limbs scorched by arrows) like individuals of their species in the wide forest with limbs scorched and burned in a forest conflagration. Others with their frontal globes split open, or bathed in blood, or with trunks lopped off, or with their armour cut down, or their tails lopped off, fell down, struck by the high-souled Karna, like straggling clouds. Other elephants, frightened by the shafts and lances of Radha's son proceeded against Radha's son himself like insects towards a blazing fire. Other huge elephants were seen striking against one another and shedding blood from various limbs like mountains with rillets running down their breasts. Steeds of the foremost breed, divested of breast-plates and their ornaments of silver and brass and gold, destitute of trappings and bridle-bits and yak-tails and saddle-cloths, with quivers fallen off from their backs, and with their heroic riders,--ornaments of battle,--slain, were seen wandering here and there on the field. Pierced and cut with lances and scimitars and swords, O Bharata, we beheld many a horseman adorned with armour and head-gear, slain or in course of being slain or trembling with fear, and deprived, O Bharata, of diverse limbs. Cars also, decked with gold, and unto which were yoked steeds of great fleetness, were seen by us dragged with exceeding speed hither and thither, their riders having been slain. Some of these had their axles and poles broken, and some, O Bharata, had their wheels broken; and some were without banners and standards, and some were divested of their shafts. Many car-warriors also were seen there, by us, O monarch, wandering all around, deprived of their cars and scorched with the shafts of the Suta's son. And some destitute of weapons and some with weapons still in their arms were seen lying lifeless on the field in large numbers. And many elephants also were seen by us, wandering in all directions, studded with clusters of stars, adorned with rows of beautiful bells, and decked with variegated banners of diverse hues. Heads and arms and chests and other limbs, cut off with shafts sped from Karna's bow, were beheld by us lying around. A great and fierce calamity overtook the warriors (of the Pandava army) as they fought with whetted arrows, and mangled as they were with the shafts of Karna. The Srinjayas, slaughtered in that battle by the Suta's son, blindly proceeded against the latter's self like insects rushing upon a blazing fire. Indeed, as that mighty car-warrior was engaged in scorching the Pandava divisions, the kshatriyas avoided him, regarding him to be the blazing Yuga fire. Those heroic and mighty car-warriors of the Pancala that survived the slaughter fled away. The brave Karna, however, pursued those broken and retreating warriors from behind, shooting his shafts at them.
Analysis: He defeated and killed some Pancalas & Srinjayas big deal. It's like a lion killing a bunch of jackals. It doesn't prove the lion is a strong lion. Defeating and killing weak warriors doesn't mean anything.
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Then the son of Surya, resembling the chief of the celestials himself in prowess and like unto the younger brother of Indra, struck that foremost one of Sini's race with shafts whose splendour resembled the rays of the Sun. That bull of Sini's race also, in that battle, then quickly shrouded that foremost of men, with his car and steeds and driver, with diverse kinds of shafts terrible as the poison of the snake. Then many Atirathas belonging to thy army, accompanied by elephants and cars and foot-soldiers, quickly approached that bull among car-warriors, viz., Vasusena, when they beheld the latter deeply afflicted with the shafts of that foremost hero of Sini's race.
Analysis: Read the text it is clearly written that atirathis of the Kuru army approached Karna when they saw him deeply wounded by Satyaki. The bull of Sini's race is Satyaki.
Source: http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08030.htm
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At this, Karna, leaving Satyaki quickly pierced Arjuna with three arrows and Krishna with twenty, and Partha again repeatedly. Although many were the arrows that he shot while slaying his foes in that battle, like Indra himself inspired with wrath, Karna yet felt no fatigue. Meanwhile Satyaki, coming up, pierced Karna with nine and ninety fierce arrows, and once more with a hundred.
Analysis: Karna left Satyaki's presence out of fear. Satyaki basically pursued the useless road runner karna and shot arrows at Karna while he was running away.
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Then all the foremost heroes among the Parthas began to afflict Karna. Yudhamanyu and Shikhandi and the sons of Draupadi and the Prabhadrakas, and Uttamauja and Yuyutsu and the twins and Dhrishtadyumna, and the divisions of the Cedis and the Karushas and the Matsyas and Kaikeyas, and the mighty Chekitana, and king Yudhishthira of excellent vows, all these, accompanied by cars and steeds and elephants, and foot-soldiers of fierce prowess, encompassed Karna on all sides in that battle, and showered upon him diverse kinds of weapons, addressing him in harsh words and resolved to compass his destruction. Cutting off that shower of weapons with his sharp shafts, Karna dispersed his assailants by the power of his weapons like the wind breaking down the trees that stand on its way. Filled with wrath, Karna was seen to destroy car-warriors, and elephants with their riders, and horses with horse-men, and large bands of foot-soldiers. Slaughtered by the energy of Karna's weapons, almost the whole of that force of the Pandavas, deprived of weapons, and with limbs mangled and torn, retired from the field.
Analysis: One of his best feats ever. Karna managed to defeat 17 maharathis and many armies. He performed the same type of fear that Abhimanyu did on the 13th day.
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Then Arjuna, smiling the while, baffled with his own weapons the weapons of Karna and covered the welkin, the Earth, and all the points of the compass with dense shower of arrows. The shafts of Arjuna fell like heavy clubs and spiked bludgeons. And some amongst them fell like Sataghnis and some fell like fierce thunderbolts. Slaughtered therewith, the Kaurava force consisting of infantry and horse and cars and elephants, shutting its eyes, uttered loud wails of woe and wandered senselessly. Many were the steeds and men and elephants that perished on that occasion. Many, again, struck with shafts and deeply afflicted fled away in fear. 'Whilst thy warriors were thus engaged in battle from desire of victory, the Sun approaching the Setting Mountain, entered it. In consequence of the darkness, O king, but especially owing to the dust, we could not notice anything favourable or unfavourable. The mighty bowmen (amongst the Kauravas), fearing a night-battle, O Bharata, then retired from the field, accompanied by all their combatants. Upon the retirement of the Kauravas, O king, at the close of the day, the Parthas, cheerful at having obtained the victory, also retired to their own encampment, jeering at their enemies by producing diverse kinds of sounds with their musical instruments, and applauding Acyuta and Arjuna.
Analysis: The text says the mighty bowmen of the Kauravas retired from the field accompanied by all their combatants. All means everyone, that includes Karna. So he ran away from Arjuna again.
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Sharadvata's son Kripa, O king, and the Magadhas endued with great activity, and Kritavarma of Satwata race, took up their position in the right wing. Shakuni, and the mighty car-warrior Uluka, standing on the right of these, and accompanied by many fearless Gandhara horsemen armed with bright lances, and many mountaineers difficult to defeat, numerous as flights of locusts, and grimlooking as Pishacas, protected the (Kaurava) army. 34,000 unreturning cars of the samsaptakas, mad with desire of battle, with thy sons in their midst, and all desirous of slaying Krishna and Arjuna, protected the left side (of the Kaurava army). On their left, the Kambojas, the Sakas, and the Yavanas, with cars and horse and foot, at the command of the Suta's son, stood, challenging Arjuna and the mighty Keshava. In the centre, at the head of that host, stood Karna, clad in armour with beautiful coat of mail and adorned with Angadas and garlands, for protecting that point. Supported by his own angry sons, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, that hero, shone resplendent at the head of the army as he drew his bow repeatedly. The mighty-armed Duhshasana, possessed of the effulgence of the sun or fire with tawny eyes and handsome features, riding on the neck of a huge elephant, surrounded by many troops, and stationed at the rear of the army gradually approached for fight. Behind him came Duryodhana himself, O monarch, protected by his uterine brothers riding on beautiful steeds and cased in beautiful mail. Protected by the united Madrakas and the Kekayas of exceeding energy, the king, O monarch, looked resplendent like Indra of a hundred sacrifices when surrounded by the celestials. Ashvatthama and the other foremost of mighty car-warriors, and many ever-infuriate elephants shedding temporal secretions like the very clouds and ridden by brave Mlecchas, followed behind that car-force. Decked with triumphal standards and blazing weapons, those huge creatures, ridden by warriors skilled in fighting from their backs, looked beautiful like hills overgrown with trees.
Analysis: So it is written clearly that a Vyuha or battle formation with wings has been made by Karna over here.
Destroying that vast division with his sharp arrows, and crushing many foremost of car-warriors Karna succeeded in afflicting Yudhishthira. Cutting off the armour, the weapons, and the bodies of thousands of foes and slaying his foes by thousands and sending them to heaven and making them earn great fame, Karna caused his friends great joy.
Analysis: Over here Karna achieved many feats. He destroyed an Aukshauhini. Division means Aukshauhini. Karna did not defeat Yudhishthir, text says he only afflicted him and cut off his armor/weapons. Even Bhima had his armor cut by karna but that was no defeat.
Then Karna, excited with great wrath, quickly invoking his weapons, began to smite the Pandava army like Maghavat smiting the army of the Asuras. Penetrating then into the Pandava host and shooting his arrows, Karna slew seven and seventy foremost of warriors among the Prabhadrakas. Then that foremost of car-warriors, with five and twenty sharp shafts equipped with goodly wings, slew five and twenty Pancalas. With many cloth-yard shafts equipped with wings of gold and capable of piercing the bodies of all foes, that hero slew the Cedis by hundreds and thousands.
Analysis: Over here Karna cheated. He used astras, weapons means astras. It's clearly written that Karna was quickly invoking his weapons. Ordinary warriors and rathis are nto acquainted with weapons of mass destruction. Karna's achievement is similar to a man armed with a gun shooting unarmed citizens in USA. Also i am aware that he only cheated on the Prabhadrakas and Pandava army, he did not cheat against the Cedis & Pancalas, but those men he killed with his arrows were nameless, ordinary, they were just cattle. Why does Karna always try to display his power over weak people? He doesn't have the courage to fight anyone on his level.
While he was employed in achieving those superhuman feats in battle, large throngs of Pancala cars, O king, quickly surrounded him on all sides. Aiming then, O Bharata, five irresistible shafts, Karna, otherwise called Vaikartana or Vrisha, slew five Pancala warriors. The five Pancalas, O Bharata, that he slew in that battle were Bhanudeva and Citrasena and Senavindu and Tapana and Surasena. While the Pancala heroes were thus being slaughtered with arrows in that great battle, loud cries of "Oh" and "Alas" arose from among the Pancala host. Then ten car-warriors among the Pancalas, O monarch, surrounded Karna. Them, too, Karna speedily slew with his shafts.
Analysis: Karna won through his own skills and prowess over here. He killed ten nameless no name, and five warriors (who actually had names). Although the only ones who had names only died because Karna used irresistible shafts on them.
Then Vrikodara of terrible prowess, taking up another tough bow and stringing it quickly, cut off Sushena's bow. Excited with rage and as if dancing (on his car), he quickly pierced Sushena himself with ten arrows, and then pierced Karna, within the twinkling of an eye, with seventy sharp shafts. With ten other shafts, Bhima then felled Bhanusena, another son of Karna, with his steeds, driver, weapons, and standard, in the very sight of the latter's friends. The sightly head of that youth, graced with a face as beautiful as the Moon, cut off with a razor-headed arrow, looked like a lotus plucked from its stalk.
Analysis: Read carefully, it is clearly mentioned that Bhima had to fight alone against Karna, Sushena & Bhanusena. Bhima killed Bhanusena and Karna could only watch by. Here Bhima had the uperhand, no victory or defeat, only death.
Addressing Sushena next in these words, viz., "Thou art slain." Bhima took up an arrow. Karna, however, cut off that arrow and struck Bhima himself with three shafts. Then Bhima took up another straight arrow of great impetuosity and sped it at Sushena. But Vrisha cut that arrow also. Then Karna, desirous of rescuing his son, and wishing to make an end of the cruel Bhimasena, struck the latter with three and seventy fierce arrows.
Analysis: Over here Karna did not defeat Bhima he merely wounded him. It is Karna's victory but not Bhima's defeat. Karna just succeeded in saving his son's life. This incident could also be seen as Karna's failure. Because it is clearly written that karna wished to end Bhima's life, so he struck him with 73 arrows and proved how weak his arrows are. Useless Karna failed to kill Bhima.
Then Sushena taking up an excellent bow capable of bearing a great strain, pierced Nakula with five arrows in the arms and the chest. Nakula, then piercing his antagonist with twenty strong shafts capable of bearing a great strain, uttered a loud roar and inspired Karna with fright.
Analysis: Karna was scared just because Nakula pierced his son Sushena with shafts. I think he pissed in his pants. Karna was probably afraid because his sons were more useless than he was himself.
Then Dhristadyumna pierced Karna with ten arrows, and the sons of Draupadi pierced him with three and seventy, and Yuyudhana with seven. And Bhimasena pierced him with four and sixty arrows, and Sahadeva with seven. And Nakula pierced him with thirty arrows, and Satanika with seven. And the heroic Shikhandi pierced him with ten and king Yudhishthira with a hundred. These and other foremost of men, O monarch, all inspired with desire of victory, began to grind that great bowman, viz., the Suta's son, in that dreadful battle. That chastiser of foes, viz., the Suta's son of great heroism, performing quick evolutions with his car, pierced every one of those warriors with ten arrows. We then, O king, witnessed the lightness of hand displayed by the high-souled Karna and the power of his weapons. Indeed, what we saw appeared to be highly wonderful. People could not notice when he took up his arrows, when he aimed them, and when he let them off. They only beheld his enemies dying fast in consequence of his wrath. The sky, the firmament, the Earth, and all the quarters seemed to be entirely shrouded with sharp arrows. The firmament looked resplendent as if covered with red clouds. The valiant son of Radha, armed with the bow, and as if dancing (on his car), pierced each of his assailants with thrice as many arrows as each of them had pierced him with. And once more piercing each of them, and his steeds, driver, car, and standard with ten arrows, he uttered a loud roar. His assailants then gave him a way (through which he passed out).
Analysis: This quote could be an interpolation. As Satanika is labeled differently. Satanika was also the son of Draupadi yet they described him differently here, is it not odd? Bhishma called Karna a double Maharatha, so him holding back twelve Maharathas is impressive. Karna's speed in shooting arrows and placing them on his bow-string was also impressive. Whatever attack was thrown at Karna he threw it back three times as worse as his enemies did to him. It's pretty simple, Karna countered the group attack and crushed the warriors who attacked him, they probably took him lightly though considering his pathetic performance during the previous days.
Having destroyed thirty cars of the unreturning Cedis, the son of Radha struck Yudhishthira with many sharp arrows. Then many Pandava warriors, O king, with Shikhandi and Satyaki, desirous of rescuing the king from the son of Radha, surrounded the former. Similarly all the brave and mighty bowmen of thy army resolutely protected the irresistible Karna in that battle. The noise of diverse musical instrument arose then, O king, and the leonine shouts of brave warriors rent the sky. And the Kurus and the Pandavas once more fearlessly encountered each other, the former headed by the Suta's son and the latter by Yudhishthira.'
Analysis: Karna destroyed 30 chariots of the fleeing Cedi army, but not their warriors. Karna struck Yudhishthira with many arrows but did not defeat him. The reason warriors went to protect Yudhishthira is because he is the leader, and a leader must always be protected. He isn't some king fighting under another's command, he is the king of kings of all the Pandavas. If he is happy then thousands of soldiers become happy, if he is injured then many thousands of soldiers would be frightened. Their was no result of this battle no one won or lost, Srikandi & Satyaki only surrounded Yudhishthira they did not fight for him like Karna's atirathas did at the end of yesterday.
'Piercing through the Pandava host, Karna, surrounded by thousands of cars and elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers, rushed towards king Yudhishthira the just. Cutting off with hundreds of fierce shafts the thousands of weapons sped at him by his foes, Vrisha fearlessly pierced through that host. Indeed, the Suta's son cut off the heads, the arms and the thighs of his enemies, who, deprived of life, fell down on the Earth. Others, finding their divisions broken, fled away.
Analysis: Over here Karna was surrounded by thousands of chariots, if we are to believe that weapons equal astras then Karna cut off thousands of astras aimed at him which was impressive, he was superhuman.
The Dravida, the Andhaka, and the Nishada foot-soldiers, urged on by Satyaki, once more rushed towards Karna in that battle, from desire of slaying him. Deprived of arms and head-gears, and slain by Karna with his shafts, they fell down simultaneously on the Earth, like a forest of Sala tree cut down (with the axe). Thus hundreds, thousands and ten thousands of combatants, deprived of life and filling the whole welkin with their fame, fell down with their bodies on the Earth.
Analysis: Karna killed ten thousands of foot soldiers big deal. If a lion can kill ten thousand ants with one stomp then no one would be surprised. Him defeating foot soldiers should not impress anyone, only people with low expectations consider this a notable feat, but since karna has very few victories i have to list them here.
The Pandus and the Pancalas obstructed Karna, otherwise called Vaikartana, who careered wrathfully in battle like the Destroyer himself, even as people seek to obstruct a disease with incantations and drugs. Crushing all those assailants Karna once more rushed towards Yudhishthira, like an irresistible disease unchecked by incantations and drugs and (propitiatory) rites. At last checked by the Pandus, the Pancalas, and the Kekayas, all of whom were desirous of rescuing the king, Karna could not succeed in passing them over, like Death that is unable to vanquish persons conversant with Brahma.
Analysis: Read it clearly, the text mentions that three groups of foot soldiers stopped Karna from getting to Yudhishthira, they put him in check! It's written so accept it.
Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08049.htm
- Karna swooned by Yudhishthira!
Quote:
Having said these words, the son of Pandu, O king, pierced Karna with ten shafts made entirely of iron and equipped with wings of gold. That chastiser of foes, and great bowman, viz., the Suta's son, O Bharata, pierced Yudhishthira, with the greatest care, in return, with ten arrows equipped with heads like the calf's tooth. Thus pierced by the Suta's son in contempt, O sire, the mighty-armed Yudhishthira, blazed up with wrath like a fire upon receiving butter. Bending his formidable bow decked with gold, the son of Pandu placed on his bow-string a whetted arrow capable of piercing the very hills. Drawing the bow to its fullest stretch, the king quickly sped that arrow, fatal as the rod of the Destroyer, from desire of slaying the Suta's son. Sped by the king endued with great might, that arrow whose whizz resembled the noise of the thunder, suddenly pierced Karna, that mighty car-warrior, on his left side. Deeply afflicted by the violence of that stroke, the mighty-armed Karna with weakened limbs, fell into a swoon on his car, his bow dropping from his hand. Beholding Karna in that plight, the vast Dhartarashtra host uttered cries of "Oh" and "Alas," and the faces of all the combatants became colourless. Beholding the prowess of their king, on the other hand, O monarch, amongst the Pandavas, leonine roars and shouts and confused cries of joy arose.
Analysis: Read the above narrative. it is clearly mentioned that useless Karna could not tolerate one small wound on the left part of his body, so he fell unconscious at the hands of a shaft shot by king Yudhishthira. Useless Karna just had weak levels of durability & endurance.
Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08049.htm
- Karna saved by Brahmastra
Quote:
Drawing his formidable bow called Vijaya that was decked with gold, the Suta's son of immeasurable soul began to resist the son of Pandu with his sharp shafts. With a couple of razor-headed arrows he slew in that encounter Candradeva and Dandadhara, the two Pancala princes, that protected the two car wheels of the high-souled Yudhishthira. Each of those heroes, standing by the side of Yudhishthira's car, looked resplendent like the constellation Punarvasu by the side of the moon. Yudhishthira, however, once more pierced Karna with thirty arrows. And he struck Sushena and Satyasena, each with three arrows. And he pierced everyone of the protectors of Karna with three straight arrows. The son of Adhiratha then, laughing and shaking his bow inflicted a cutting wound on the king's body with a broad-headed arrow, and again pierced him with sixty arrows and then uttered a loud shout. Then many foremost heroes amongst the Pandavas, desirous of rescuing the king, rushed in wrath towards Karna and began to grind him with their arrows. Satyaki and Chekitana and Yuyutsu and Shikhandi and the sons of Draupadi and the Prabhadrakas, and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) and Bhimasena and Shishupala and the Karushas, Matsyas, the Suras, the Kaikayas, the Kasis and the Kosalas, all these brave heroes, endued with great activity, assailed Vasusena. The Pancala prince Janamejaya then pierced Karna with many arrows. The Pandava heroes, armed with diverse kinds of arrows and diverse weapons and accompanied by cars and elephants and steeds, rushing towards Karna, encompassed him on all sides, from desire of slaying him. Thus assailed on all sides by the foremost of Pandava warriors, Karna invoked into existence the brahmastra and filled all the points of the compass with arrows. The heroic Karna then, like unto a blazing fire having shafts for its scorching flame, careered in battle, burning that forest of Pandavas troops.
Analysis: Over here Karna did defeat Yudhishthira, yes he did Karna won against him, as the supreme warriors of the Pandava army went to rescue Yudhishthira. When karna was surrounded by those mighty warriors he was getting assailed and wounded, so he had to resort to the Brahmastra because he knew that if he didn't use it then he would either be defeated or killed. The only feats that Karna achieved over here through his own skill and not the sue of some special weapon) is the death of two protectors of Yudhishthira (Dandadhara and Candradeva). But is it not odd that those two were only mentioned in Mahabharata when they died at the hands of Karna?
The high-souled Karna, that great bowman, aiming some mighty weapons, and laughing the while, cut off the bow of that foremost of men, Yudhishthira. Then aiming ninety straight arrows within the twinkling of an eye, Karna cut off, with those sharp shafts, the armour of his antagonist. That armour, decked with gold and set with gems, looked beautiful, as it fell down, like a wind-tossed cloud penetrated by the rays of the Sun. Indeed, that armour, adorned with costly brilliants, fallen off from the body of that foremost of men, looked beautiful like the firmament in the night, bespangled with stars. His armour cut off with those arrows, the son of Pritha, covered with blood, wrathfully hurled at the son of Adhiratha a dart made wholly of iron. Karna, however, cut (into pieces) that blazing dart, as it coursed through the welkin, with seven shafts. That dart, thus cut off with those shafts of great bowman, fell down on the Earth. Then Yudhishthira, striking Karna with four lances in his two arms and forehead and chest, repeatedly uttered loud shouts. Thereupon blood spouted forth from the wounds of Karna, and the latter, filled with rage and breathing like a snake, cut off his antagonist's standard and pierced the Pandava himself with three broad-headed arrows. And he also cut off the couple of quivers (that his foe had) and the car (he rode) into minute fragments. Thereupon the king, riding on another car unto which were yoked those steeds, white as ivory and having black hair on their tails, that used to bear him (to battle), turned his face and began to fly. Thus did Yudhishthira began to retreat. His Parshni driver had been slain. He became exceedingly cheerless and unable to stay before Karna.
Analysis: Karna defeated the king Yudhishthira yes. But he needed to use seven shafts just to cut one dart. This proves that one attack of yudhishthira is seven times stronger than an attack of Karna. Yudhishthira ran away over here. Even Indra runs away to live and fight another day when the situation favors you. Every dog has it's day, karna ran away many more times then Yudhishthira did.
Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08049.htm
Quote:
That collision in battle, O monarch, between Karna and the son of Pandu became, O king, fierce and awful, and the noise that arose was tremendous. Beholding Bhima coming towards him, Karna, otherwise called Vaikartana or Vrisha, filled with rage, struck him with shafts in the centre of the chest. And once more, Karna of immeasurable soul, covered him with a shower of arrows. Thus pierced by the Suta's son, Bhima covered the former with winged arrows. And he once more pierced Karna with nine straight and keen shafts. Then Karna, with a number of arrows, cut in twain Bhima's bow at the handle. And after cutting off his bow, he pierced him once again in the centre of the chest with a shaft of great keenness and capable of penetrating every kind of armour. Then Vrikodara, taking up another bow, O king, and knowing full well what the vital parts of the body are, pierced the Suta's son with many keen arrows. Then Karna pierced him with five and twenty arrows, like a hunter striking a proud and infuriate elephant in the forest with a number of blazing brands. His limbs mangled with those shafts, his eyes red with rage and the desire of revenge, the son of Pandu, insensate with wrath, and impelled by the desire of slaying the Suta's son, fixed on his bow an excellent shaft of great impetuosity, capable of bearing a great strain, and competent to pierce the very mountains. Forcibly drawing the bow-string to his very ear, the son of the Wind-god, that great bowman, filled with wrath and desirous of making an end of Karna, sped that shaft. Thus sped by the mighty Bhima, that shaft, making a noise loud as that of the thunder, pierced through thunderbolt Karna in that battle, like the thunderbolt itself piercing through a mountain. Struck by Bhimasena, O perpetuator of Kuru's race, the Suta's son, that commander (of thy forces), sat down senseless on the terrace of his car. The ruler of the Madras then, beholding the Suta's son deprived of his senses, bore that ornament of battle away on his car, from that fight. Then after Karna's defeat, Bhimasena began to rout the vast Dhartarashtra host like Indra routing the danavas.
Analysis: Karna suffered a clear defeat. It's labelled a defeat by the Mahabharata character Sanjaya. It is also written that the suta's son sat down senseless. This was just in a bow/arrow fight. Useless Karna could not defeat Bhima, even in archery.
The collision, O monarch, that once more took place between Karna and the son of Pandu in battle, became, O king, exceedingly fierce and awful and fraught with a loud din. Beholding, O king, those two mighty car-warriors close with each other, I became very curious to observe the course of the battle. Then Bhima, boasting of his prowess in battle, covered Karna in that encounter, O king, with showers of winged shafts in the very sight of thy sons. Then Karna, that warrior acquainted with the highest of weapons, filled with wrath, pierced Bhima with nine broad-headed and straight arrows made entirely of iron. Thereupon the mighty-armed Bhima of terrible prowess, thus struck by Karna, pierced his assailant in return with seven shafts sped from his bow-string drawn to his ear. Then Karna, O monarch, sighing like a snake of virulent poison, shrouded the son of Pandu with a thick shower of arrows. The mighty Bhima also, shrouding that mighty car-warrior with dense arrowy downpours in the very sight of the Kauravas, uttered a loud shout. Then Karna, filled with rage, grasped his strong bow and pierced Bhima with ten arrows whetted on stone and equipped with kanka feathers. With another broad-headed arrow of great sharpness, he also cut off Bhima's bow. Then the mighty-armed Bhima of great strength, taking up a terrible parigha, twined round with hempen cords and decked with gold and resembling a second bludgeon of Death himself, and desiring to slay Karna outright, hurled it at him with a loud roar. Karna, however, with a number of arrows resembling snakes of virulent poison, cut off into many fragments that spiked mace as it coursed towards him with the tremendous peal of thunder. Then Bhima, that grinder of hostile troops, grasping his bow with greater strength, covered Karna with keen shafts. The battle that took place between Karna and the son of Pandu in that meeting became awful for a moment, like that of a couple of huge lions desirous of slaying each other. Then Karna, O king, drawing the bow with great force and stretching the string to his very ear, pierced Bhimasena with three arrows. Deeply pierced by Karna, that great bowman and foremost of all persons endued with might then took up a terrible shaft capable of piercing through the body of his antagonist. That shaft, cutting through Karna's armour and piercing through his body, passed out and entered the Earth like a snake into ant-hill. In consequence of the violence of that stroke, Karna felt great pain and became exceedingly agitated. Indeed, he trembled on his car like a mountain during an earthquake. Then Karna, O king, filled with rage and the desire to retaliate, struck Bhima with five and twenty shafts, and then with many more. With one arrow he then cut off Bhimasena's standard, and with another broad-headed arrow he despatched Bhima's driver to the presence of Yama. Next quickly cutting off the bow of Pandu's son with another winged arrow, Karna deprived Bhima of terrible feats of his car.
Analysis: This is not a defeat of Bhima, as Bhima continued his fight with Karna once he got off the ground. When Bhima was on the ground he had to fight with the horses of Sakuni. Their were thousands of horses so it took some time for Bhima to get to Karna again. When karna was in a similar situation (in the Gandharva war) he was unable to face his enemy's and fled after getting mangled by them. But Bhima was able to do what Karna failed to do.
Having slain those 3,000 excellent horses of Subala's son in that way, he rode upon another car, and filled with rage proceeded against the son of Radha. Meanwhile, Karna also, O king, covered Dharma's son (Yudhishthira) that chastiser of foes, with thick showers of arrows, and felled his driver. Then that mighty car-warrior beholding Yudhishthira fly away in that battle, pursued him, shooting many straight-coursing shafts equipped with Kanka feathers. The son of the Wind-god, filled with wrath, and covering the entire welkin with his shafts, shrouded Karna with thick showers of arrows as the latter pursued the king from behind. The son of Radha then, that crusher of foes, turning back from the pursuit, quickly covered Bhima himself with sharp arrows from every side. Then Satyaki, of immeasurable soul, O Bharata, placing himself on the side of Bhima's car, began to afflict Karna who was in front of Bhima. Though exceedingly afflicted by Satyaki, Karna still approached Bhima. Approaching each other those two bulls among all wielders of bows, those two heroes endued with great energy, looked exceedingly resplendent as they sped their beautiful arrows at each other. Spread by them, O monarch, in the welkin, those flights of arrows, blazing as the backs of cranes, looked exceedingly fierce and terrible. In consequence of those thousands of arrows, O king, neither the rays of the Sun nor the points of the compass, cardinal and subsidiary, could any longer be noticed either by ourselves or by the enemy. Indeed, the blazing effulgence of the Sun shining at mid-day was dispelled by those dense showers of arrows shot by Karna and the son of Pandu.
Analysis: Over here Karna defeated Yudhishthira, but not Bhima, also it can be argued that Satyaki defeated Karna here. Over here Bhima had the edge, he had repeatedly pierced Karna with many arrows and weapons but Karna failed to do the same to Bhima. Karna could not wound Satyaki even once here.
Karna too, otherwise called Vaikartana, O Bharata, in that battle, resisted Bhimasena, and the Karushas, the Kaikayas, and the Srinjayas.
Analysis: The text says that Karna just resisted, meaning he just held them off, no one was winning or losing over here. So this fight was inconclusive and cannot be counted as a victory or defeat of karna.
Meanwhile Vikartana himself, resisting Bhimasena supported by the Pancalas and the Cedis and the Kaikayas, covered him with many arrows. In the very sight of Bhimasena, Karna, slew in that battle many mighty car-warriors among the Cedis, the Karushas, and the Srinjayas. Then Bhimasena, avoiding Karna, that best of car-warriors, proceeded against the Kaurava troops like a blazing fire towards a heap of dry grass. The Suta's son also in that battle, began to slay the mighty bowmen amongst the Pancalas, the Kaikayas, and the Srinjayas, in thousands. Indeed, the three mighty car-warriors viz., Partha and Vrikodara and Karna, began to exterminate the samsaptakas, the Kauravas, and the Pancalas, respectively.
Analysis: Bhima avoided Karna because he wanted to kill the Kauravas to fullfill his vow of killing them all. Their was nothing wrong in it. Karna was Arjuna's target, so Bhima realized that Arjuna is destined to kill karna, why should Bhima waste his time and weapons on Karna when he could be killing others instead of sparing Karna's life everytime? But over here for Karna's feats. Karna killed many nameless bowmen and car warriors who were said to be mighty. All the people killed by Karna here belonged to the tribes known as Pancala, Kaikaya, Srinjaya, Karushas and Cedis.
Source:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08056.htm
- Karna fleeing from enemies.
Quote:
Meanwhile the mighty Karna, having vanquished Satyaki and desirous of rescuing the (Kuru) king, proceeded straight against the face of Drona's slayer, that warrior of fierce shafts. The grandson of Sini, however, quickly pursued him from behind, striking him with his arrows, like an elephant pursuing a rival and striking him at the hinder limbs with his tusks. Then, O Bharata, fierce became the battle that raged between the high-souled warriors of the two armies, in the space that intervened between Karna and the son of Prishata. Not a single combatant of either the Pandavas nor ourselves turned his face from the battle. Then Karna proceeded against the Pancalas with great speed. At that hour when the Sun had ascended the meridian, great slaughter, O best of men, of elephants and steeds and men, took place on both sides.
Analysis: Over here Karna ran away from Satyaki again. The text says that Karna vanquished Satyaki, but we can not take every word seriously over here, readers have to imagine the incident with deep thinking. Do not be shallow minded. If Satyaki was defeated then why would he continue to go after Karna? When Satyaki attacked Karna why did Karna not respond to Satyaki's attacks? Karna did not retaliate against Satyaki, instead he ran over to fight with Dhrishtadyumna. Satyaki did not run away so he was not defeated, but Karna certainly did. It could also be possible that Karna ran away from Dhrishtadyumna too here. Instead of continuing the fight with Dhrishtadyumna, he (Karna) just choose to go (with speed) against the Pancalas.
Source:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08056.htm
- Karna kills many Pancala rathis
Quote:
The son of Adhiratha, of great energy, filled with rage, began from their front to strike those Pancalas, with the keen points of his shafts, singling out their leaders, viz., Vyaghraketu and Susharma and Citra and Ugrayudha and Jaya and Sukla and Rochamana and the invincible Singhasena. Those heroes, speedily advancing with their cars, encompassed that foremost of men, and poured their shafts upon that angry warrior, viz., Karna, that ornament of battle. That foremost of men endued with great valour, viz., the son of Radha, afflicted those eight heroes engaged in battle with eight keen shafts. The Suta's son possessed of great prowess, O king, then slew many thousands of other warriors skilled in fight. Filled with rage, the son of Radha then slew Jishnu, and Jishnukarman, and Devapi, O king, in that battle, and Citra, and Citrayudha, and Hari, and Singhaketu and Rochamana and the great car-warrior Salabha, and many car-warriors among the Cedis bathed the form of Adhiratha's son in blood, while he himself was engaged in taking the lives of those heroes. There, O Bharata, elephants, assailed with arrows by Karna, fled away on all sides in fear and caused a great agitation on the field of battle. Others assailed with the shafts of Karna, uttered diverse cries, and fell down like mountains riven with thunder. With the fallen bodies of elephants and steeds and men and with fallen cars, the Earth became strewn along the track of Karna's car. Indeed, neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor any other warrior of thy army had ever achieved such feats as were then achieved by Karna in that battle.
Analysis: Over here Sanjaya overrated karna. What Karna did was not better than Drona & Bhishma's feats. Drona killed 25 maharathas on the 14th day, over here Karna just killed a few rathas. By the way i think the reason Karna is going after the Pancalas so much is because he wants to avenge the defeat he suffered in the first war he fought (his guru dakshina defeat at the hands of Drupada). What Karna accomplished here is like a one Lion killing 20 scared dogs. It is not impressive. Just because a warriors name is Jishnu that does not make them equal to a Deva like Vishnu. It also says that Karna slew thousands of warriors, but so what? Bhishma slayed 220,000 warriors on the 10th day. Thousands does not equal ten thousand (10,000). Cedis were also killed by karna, is he trying to copy Krishna's feat (of killing the Cedi king Sisupala)?
Source:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08056.htm
- Karna vs Yudhishthira, Srikandi, Nakula, Nakula's son, Sahadeva, Dhrishtaydumna, Upapandavas, Janamejaya, Satyaki, Prabhadrakas.
Quote:
Beholding Karna thus slaughtering the Pancalas in that dreadful battle, King Yudhishthira the just rushed in wrath towards him; Dhrishtadyumna and the sons of Draupadi also, O sire, and hundreds of warriors, encompassed that slayer of foes viz., the son of Radha. And Shikhandi, and Sahadeva, and Nakula, and Nakula's son, and Janamejaya, and the grandson of Sini, and innumerable Prabhadrakas, all endued with immeasurable energy, advancing with Dhrishtadyumna in their van, looked magnificent as they struck Karna with shafts and diverse weapons. Like Garuda falling upon a large number of snakes, the son of Adhiratha, singlehanded, fell upon all those Cedis and Pancalas and Pandavas in that encounter. The battle that took place between them and Karna, O monarch, became exceedingly fierce like that which had occurred in days of old between the gods and the Danavas. Like the Sun dispelling the surrounding darkness, Karna fearlessly and alone encountered all those great bowmen united together and pouring upon him repeated showers of arrows.
Analysis: This is a group attack on Karna. He alone faced hundreds of warriors, which is a praiseworthy feat. He performed well in this part. Especially since Satyaki was a part of the group that fought him. In this chapter the next time Karna is mentioned Arjuna reports to krishna that Karna is routing our warriors. So i think it's safe to say that Karna won this fight.
Behold, O Krishna of mighty arms, the Pandava army is flying away. Behold, Karna is slaying our great car-warriors in this battle. I do not, O thou of Dasaratha's race, see king Yudhishthira the just. Nor is the standard of Dharma's son, foremost of warriors, visible.
Analysis: Big deal because if you read the next part then you can see the Pandava army is back in action with Bhima. And this time the Kaurava army is fleeing. Karna's victory was only for one small moment. He could nto stay in a victorious position for long.
Behold Karna, who resembles a blazing fire, on the arena of the battle. Yonder the mighty-bowman Bhima is proceeding to battle. They that are the foremost among the Pancalas, the Srinjayas, and the Pandavas--they, that is, that have Dhrishtadyumna for their head, are following Bhima. The vast army of the enemy is again broken by the rushing Parthas. Behold, O Arjuna, Karna is trying to rally the flying Kauravas.
Analysis: Bhima led the Pandavas and they started to beat back the Kauravas. useless Karna fails to rally his men.
Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08058.htm
- Karna vs Dhrishtadyumna & some Pandavas
Quote:
After that furious battle, producing rivers of blood, had commenced, and when a remnant only of the brave samsaptakas, O Bharata, were left unslaughtered, Dhrishtadyumna, O monarch, with all the kings (on the Pandava side) and those mighty car-warriors--the Pandavas themselves, all rushed against Karna only. Like the mountain receiving a vast body of water, Karna, unaided by anyone, received in that battle all those advancing warriors filled with joy and longing for victory. Those mighty car-warriors encountering Karna, were beat off and broken like a mass of water, and beat back on all sides when it encounters a mountain. The battle, however, that took place between them and Karna made the hair stand on end. Then Dhrishtadyumna assailed the son of Radha with a straight shaft in that battle, and addressing him said, "Wait, Wait."
Analysis: I know that the text says those mighty car warriors the Pandavas themselves but that doesn't mean all Pandavas. Arjuna & Karna stayed away from each other many times. This text is a classic case of hyperbole. It says that the warriors who encountered Karna were beat off and broken, beat back on all sides, but who could that be possible when just one of those warriors was still fighting with Karna? The battle was not over yet. Dhrishtadyumna who was a part of that group still fought back so this is not a victory of karna. Even if we consider all pandavas then still it's not a victory because the fight was still going on.
Quote:
The mighty car-warrior Karna, filled with rage, shook his foremost of bows called Vijaya, and cutting off the bow of Dhrishtadyumna, as also his arrows resembling snakes of virulent poison assailed Dhrishtadyumna himself with nine arrows. Those arrows, O sinless one, piercing through the gold-decked armour of the high-souled son of Prishata, became bathed in blood and looked beautiful like so many cochineal. The mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna, casting aside that broken bow, took up another bow and a number of shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison. With those straight shafts numbering seventy, he pierced Karna. Similarly, O king, Karna, in that battle, covered Prishata's son, that scorcher of foes, with many shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison. The slayer of Drona, that great bowman, retaliated by piercing Karna with many keen shafts. Filled with rage, Karna then, O monarch, sped at his antagonist a gold-decked shaft that resembled a second rod of death. That terrible shaft, O monarch, as it coursed impetuously towards Prishata's son, the grandson of Sini, O king, cut off into seven fragments, displaying great lightness of hand.
Analysis: Over here Karna uses his Vijaya bow (or this is one of the few times his Vijaya bow is mentioned). In desperation as he was being overwhelmed by all those mighty car warriors, Karna decided to resort to using a celestial bow. Over here Karna failed to kill Dhrishtadyumna. Karna was filled with rage he was enraged yet he could not even kill one man, Dhrishtadyumna. Karna was pierced seventy times by Dhrishtadyumna's arrows though.
Beholding his shaft baffled by the arrows of Satyaki, O king, Karna resisted Satyaki with showers of arrows from every side. And he pierced Satyaki in that encounter with seven clothyard shafts. The grandson of Sini, however, pierced him in return with many arrows decked with gold. The battle then that took place, O king, between those two warriors was such as to fill both spectators and listeners with fear. Though awful, soon it became beautiful and deserving objects of sight. Beholding the feats, in that encounter, of Karna and the grandson of Sini, the hair of all the creatures there present seemed to stand on end.
Analysis: Karna did not defeat Satyaki over here. They still fought and continued. This fight was a draw. Everyone was amazed with the feats and performances of both warriors.
Similarly, the son of Prishata, O king, shrouded Drona's son, that ornament of battle, with arrows, in the very sight of Karna. The son of Radha, too, O monarch, singly resisted the Pancalas and the Pandavas and the (five) sons of Draupadi and Yudhamanyu and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, in consequence of which feat he became the cynosure of all eyes.
Analysis: Karna single handedly held off many great warriors and armies here. But this cannot be declared as a victory as this fight did not reach a conclusion.
That scorcher of foes, viz., king Yudhishthira, was once compelled by Karna to turn his back upon the field. The son of Radha is endued with great might and great lightness of hand. Possessed of great skill, he is accomplished in battle. He is competent to afflict the eldest son of Pandu in fight, specially when he is united with the mighty and brave son of Dhritarashtra. Of rigid vows, when the son of Pritha (Yudhishthira) had been engaged in battle with all those warriors, other great car-warriors had struck him and contributed to his defeat. The king, O best of the Bharatas, is exceedingly emaciated in consequence of his fasts. He is endued with Brahma-force, but the puissant one is not endued with much of Kshatriya-might. Assailed, however, by Karna, the royal son of Pandu, Yudhishthira, that scorcher of foes, hath been placed in a situation of great peril. I think, O Partha, that king Yudhishthira has fallen.
Analysis: As per Krishna, Yudhishthira only lost to Karna because the latter was supported by other great car warriors, and the fact Yudhishthira is weakened because of the fasts he has taken. Some of what Krishna said was only to make Arjuna fight Karna but a lot of it was true.
In the very sight of the twins, O Partha, and of Satyaki and Shikhandi, and Dhrishtadyumna and Bhima and Satanika, O lord, as also of all the Pancalas and the Cedis, O Bharata, yonder Karna is destroying the Pandava division with his arrows, like an elephant destroying an assemblage of lotuses. There, those car-warriors of thy army, O son of Pandu, are flying away. See, see, O Partha, how those great warriors are retreating. Those elephants, O Bharata, assailed by Karna in battle, are flying away in all directions, uttering cries of pain. There those crowds of car-warriors, routed in battle, O Partha, by Karna, that crusher of foes, are flying away in all directions. Behold, O Partha, that foremost of standards, of the Suta's son, on his car, bearing the device of the elephant's rope, is seen to move all over the field. There, the son of Radha is now rushing against Bhimasena, scattering hundreds of shafts as he proceeds and slaughtering thy army therewith.
Analysis: I quoted the last sentence just to make sure people are not fooled. Some Karna fans try to sue this text to say that Karna defeated Bhima and Satyaki, but Bhima was still continuing his fight against Karna. So it's safe to say that Bhima was not defeated by karna. We do not know who the warriors are that were defeated by karna over here. But i can say this, the text does not depict any battle between Karna & the twins, Satyaki, Satanika, Srikandi, Dhrishtadyumna etc. It just says that Karna was destroying the Pandava division in their sight.
There, Karna, having vanquished the Pancalas, the Pandus, and the Srinjayas, is casting his eyes on all sides, I think, for seeking thee. Behold, O Partha, Karna, as he beautifully draws his foremost of bows, looketh exceedingly beautiful even as Sakra in the midst of the celestials, after vanquishing his foes. There the Kauravas, beholding the prowess of Karna, are roaring and inspiring the Pandus and the Srinjayas with fear on every side. There, Karna himself, terrifying the Pandus with his whole soul, in dreadful battle, is addressing all the troops, O giver of honours, saying, 'Blessed be ye, advance, ye Kauravas and rush with such speed that no Srinjaya may, in this battle escape with life. United together, do this all of you. As regards ourselves, we will follow behind you.' Saying these words, he is advancing behind (his troops), scattering his shafts.
Analysis: Makes no difference, been shown many times, the Pandus (just means members of Pandus family), just like Pancalas does not mean Drupada & Dhrishtadyumna, Satwatas does not mean Satyaki, Pandus does not mean Pandavas. And keep in mind that all of this was being reported to Arjuna by Krishna. I think Karna intends to use his troops as human shields that is why he is moving his chariot right behind them.
Like swans of great speed leaving the Manasa lake and rushing into the Ganga, the Pancalas are rushing against the Kauravas, and every part of the vast Dhartarashtra force is assailed by them. Like bulls resisting bulls, the heroic Kripa and Karna and other leaders are putting forth all their valour for resisting the Pancalas. The Pancala heroes headed by Dhrishtadyumna are slaying thousands of their foes, viz., the great car-warriors of the Dhartarashtra army already sinking in the ocean of Bhima's weapons.
Analysis: Karna was using all of his valor to resist the Pancalas over here. Their is nto much described about Karna's actions over here so their is too little to analyze.
Seeing thy army fly away from Bhimasena, the mighty Karna, O king, rallied it with great efforts. The mighty-armed Karna, having rallied thy son's host, proceeded against the Pandavas, those heroes difficult of defeat in battle. The great car-warriors of the Pandavas also, shaking their bows and shooting their shafts, proceeded against the son of Radha.
Analysis: Over here only the warriors of the Pandava's army (not the Pandavas themselves) fought against Karna. And Karna did not fight back, he was not mentioned as shooting any shafts at them but his opponents were.
The slayer of Bhishma, Shikhandi, then, O monarch, with his winged arrows, resisted Karna, careering fearlessly in that battle. Held in check, Karna then, his lips trembling in rage, assailed Shikhandi with three arrows in the midst of his eyebrows. With those three arrows sticking on his forehead, Shikhandi looked highly beautiful like a silver mountain with three elevated crests. Deeply pierced by the Suta's son in that encounter, the mighty bowman Shikhandi pierced Karna, in return, with ninety keen shafts. The mighty car-warrior Karna then, slaying Shikhandi's steeds and next his driver with three arrows, cut off his standard with a razor-faced arrow. That mighty car-warrior then, that scorcher of foes, filled with rage, jumped down from his steedless car and hurled a dart at Karna. Cutting off that dart with three shafts in that encounter, Karna then, O Bharata, pierced Shikhandi with nine keen arrows. Avoiding then the shafts sped from Karna's bow, that best of men, Shikhandi, exceedingly mangled, retreated speedily from that spot. Then Karna, O monarch, began to scatter the troops of the Pandavas, like a mighty wind scattering a heap of cotton.
Analysis: In the previous section of Karna Parva, Krishna said that the shafts of Karna could break down the very mountains, yet over here three shafts of Karna pierced the forehead of Srikandi, the slayer of Bhishma bore this pain very easily. Anyways lets get down to business. Srikandi pierced Karna with over ninety (90) arrows, but Karna failed to reach that firing rate in this fight. Karna could only pierce Srikandi with nine (9). It should be noted that even though Srikandi was not a chariot, Karna still attacked her with 9 arrows. In my opinion Srikandi was overpowering Karna over here, and the coward Karna was desperate and decided to resort to destroying Srikandi's chariot, killing her horses etc instead, of attacking Srikandi directly. We should not forget that Srikandi was with a ordinary bow while Karna was with a celestial bow (Vijaya). So they were nto even on equal footings. Useless Karna cheated.
Thus pierced by his mighty foe, that scorcher of foes, viz., Vrishasena, pierced his assailant with twenty arrows and was himself pierced by him with five. Then those two bulls among men shrouded each other with thousands of arrows, at which the divisions that supported them broke. Beholding the troops of Dhritarashtra's son flying away, the Suta's son, following them, O king, began to forcibly stop them. After Karna had gone away, Nakula proceeded against the Kauravas.
Analysis: It's just a pathetic excuse of crook Karna. To leave a war is not good for any chief. He should have stayed and fought back instead he went just because the troops of Duryodhana left? If you follow the section then Karna's son was still their fighting by his side, so why did Karna run away? why was he such a coward?
Karna, otherwise called Vaikartana, O king, shooting dense showers of arrows, checked, single-handed, all those mighty bowmen thus advancing (to the rescue). Though they shot dense showers of arrows and hurled innumerable lances, fighting with determination, yet they were unable even to look at the son of Radha. Indeed, the son of Radha, that master of all weapons offensive and defensive, by shooting dense showers of shafts checked all those great bowmen.
Analysis: Over here Karna failed to kill a single archer, he just put them in check, this battle is a stalemate.
Seeing Duryodhana reduced to that plight, Karna, invoking his weapons quickly, began to slaughter the troops of Yudhishthira and Prishata's son. Thus slaughtered by the high-souled Karna, Yudhishthira's troops, O king, afflicted with the arrows of the Suta's son, soon fled away. Showers of shafts fell together. Indeed, those sped subsequently from the bow of the Suta's son touched with their heads the wings of those sped before. In consequence of those falling showers, of shafts, O monarch, colliding with one another, a conflagration seemed to blaze forth in the welkin. Soon Karna shrouded the ten points of the compass, O king, with arrows capable of piercing the bodies of foes, as if with advancing flights of locusts. Displaying the highest weapons, Karna began to wave with great force his two arms smeared with red sandal-paste and adorned with jewels and gold.
Analysis: Karna cheated though, he used astras, it's clearly mentioned that he displayed the highest weapons. such a poor archer, has to use weapons of mass destruction because he lack the competence to defeat ordinary foot soldiers. I spit on him.
Then stupefying all sides, O king, with his shafts, Karna deeply afflicted Yudhishthira the just. Filled with rage at this, Dharma's son Yudhishthira struck Karna with fifty keen shafts. In consequence then of the darkness caused by those showers of arrows, the battle became awful to look at. Loud cries of woe arose from among thy troops, O monarch, whilst they were being slaughtered by Dharma's son, O sire, with diverse kinds of keen shafts equipped with Kanka feathers and whetted on stone, with numerous broad-headed arrows, and with diverse kinds of darts and swords and clubs. Thither where Pandu's son of virtuous soul cast his eyes with the desire of producing evil, thither thy army broke, O bull of Bharata's race. Inflamed with great rage, Karna also, of immeasurable soul, inspired with the desire of retaliating, his face flushed in anger, rushed in that battle against Pandu's son, king Yudhishthira the just, shooting cloth-yard shafts and crescent-shaped arrows and those equipped with heads like the calf's tooth. Yudhishthira also pierced him with many whetted arrows equipped with wings of gold. As if smiling the while, Karna pierced the royal son of Pandu in the chest with three broad-headed arrows, whetted on stone, and equipped with Kanka feathers. Deeply afflicted therewith, king Yudhishthira the just, sitting down on the terrace of his car, ordered his driver to retreat.
Analysis: This is a clear defeat of Yudhishthira, but prior to this Yudhishthria was already wounded greatly by Aswathamman. Krishna also said Yudhishthira is in no condition to fight, so Karna defeated a helpless man.
Meanwhile Karna also began, with his arrowy showers, to afflict the mighty car-warriors of the Kaikayas, viz., those great bowmen that stood before him. Indeed, the son of Radha despatched to Yama's abode full five hundred of those warriors that were employed in checking him in that battle. Beholding the son of Radha to be irresistible in that battle, those warriors, afflicted with the arrows of their assailant, repaired to the presence of Bhimasena. Breaking that car-force into many parts by means of his arrows, Karna, singly and riding on that same car of his, pursued Yudhishthira, who then, exceedingly mangled with arrows and almost insensible, was proceeding slowly for reaching the Pandava encampment with Nakula and Sahadeva on his two sides.
Analysis: Nothing major really, Karna just kills five hundred ordinary Rathas.
Having approached the king, the Suta's son, from desire of doing good to Duryodhana, pierced the son of Pandu with three formidable arrows. In return, the king pierced Radha's son in the centre of the chest and then his driver with three shafts. Then those two scorchers of foes, viz., the twin sons of Madri, those two protectors of Yudhishthira's car-wheels, rushed towards Karna so that the latter might not succeed in slaying the king. Then Nakula and Sahadeva, both shooting showers of shafts with great care, covered the son of Radha therewith. The valiant son of the Suta, however, in return, pierced those two high-souled chastisers of foes with two broad-headed arrows of great sharpness. The son of Radha then slew Yudhishthira's excellent steeds, white as ivory and fleet as the mind, and having black hair in their tails. Then, smiling the while, the Suta's son, that great bowman, with another broadheaded shaft, felled the head-gear of Kunti's son. Similarly, the valiant Karna, having slain the steeds of Nakula, cut off the car shafts and bow of that intelligent son of Madri. Those two steedless and carless sons of Pandu,--those two brothers,--thereupon ascended the car of Sahadeva.
Analysis: After this Shalya decides to intervene and distract Karna. Karna clearly defeated his enemies over here. But he was wielding a celestial bow. So they weren't on equal footings.
Hearing these words of Shalya, O lord of Earth, and beholding Duryodhana overpowered by Bhima in that dreadful battle, the valiant son of Radha, thus urged by the words of Shalya and exceedingly desirous of rescuing the king, left Ajatasatru and the twin sons of Madri by Pandu, and rushed for rescuing thy son. He was borne by his steeds that were fleet as birds and that were urged by the ruler of the Madras. After Karna had gone away, Kunti's son Yudhishthira retreated, borne, O sire, by the fleet steeds of Sahadeva.
Analysis: Karna could have easily captured Yudhishthira and wont he war for the Kauravas & Duryodhana. But yet what does he do? He spares them. What a fool.
Having said these words, the Suta's son of great valour, that hero, taking up his ancient and foremost of bows called Vijaya, stringed it and rubbed the string repeatedly. Bidding the troops stay on the field after having assured them upon his truth and by an oath, the mighty Karna of immeasurable soul fixed on his bow-string the weapon known by the name of Bhargava. From that weapon flowed, O king, millions and millions of keen arrows in that great battle. Entirely shrouded with those blazing and terrible arrows winged with feathers of Kankas and peacocks, the Pandava army could not see anything. Loud wails of woe arose from among the Pancalas, O king, afflicted, in that battle, with the mighty Bhargava weapon. In consequence then of elephants, O king, and steeds, by thousands, and cars, O monarch, and men, falling on all sides, deprived of life, the Earth began to tremble. The vast force of the Pandavas became agitated from one extremity to another. Meanwhile Karna, that scorcher of foes, that foremost of warriors, that tiger among men, while consuming his foes, looked resplendent like a smokeless fire. Thus slaughtered by Karna, the Pancalas and the Cedis began to lose their senses all over the field like elephants during the conflagration in a forest. Those foremost of men, O tiger among men, uttered loud roars like those of the tiger. Loud became the wails of woe, like those of living creatures at the universal dissolution that were uttered by those crying combatants struck with panic and running wildly on all sides, O king, of the field of battle and trembling with fear. Beholding them thus slaughtered, O sire, by the Suta's son, all creatures, even beasts and birds, were filled with fear. The Srinjayas then, thus slaughtered in battle by the Suta's son, repeatedly called upon Arjuna and Vasudeva like the spirits of the dead within Yama's dominions calling upon Yama to rescue them. Hearing those wails of the troops slaughtered with Karna's shafts, and beholding the terrible bhargava weapon invoked into existence Kunti's son Dhananjaya said unto Vasudeva these words, "Behold, O Krishna of mighty arms, the prowess of the bhargava weapon!
Analysis: Karna's greatest weapon Bhargava only killed a bunch of foot soldiers and troops. No great warrior was killed by it, the weapon did not cause that much destruction at all. It's clearly written that only troops were killed by the Bhargava weapon. Also it's possible that Karna killed some troops of his own side over here as well, because the Pandava troops killed had to have been fighting some Kaurava troops, and the Bhargavastra kills not knowing who's side the victim is on. The text says men falling on all sides. Meaning nto just the Pandava's.
There the Pancalas, though slaughtered by Karna with his whetted shafts, are yet, O chief of Bharata's race, rushing (to battle), for serving the cause of the Pandavas. Know, O Partha, that is prevailing over the Pancalas, and the (five) sons of Draupadi, and Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi, and the sons of Dhrishtadyumna, and Satanika, the son of Nakula, and Nakula himself, and Sahadeva, and Durmukha, and Janamejaya, and Sudharman, and Satyaki! The loud uproar made by those allies of thine, viz., the Pancalas, O scorcher of foes, as they are being struck by Karna in dreadful battle, is heard. The Pancalas have not at all been inspired with fear, nor do they turn away their faces from the battle. Those mighty bowmen are utterly reckless of death in great battle. Encountering even that Bhishma who, single-handed, had encompassed the Pandava army with a cloud of shafts, the Pancalas did not turn away their faces from him. Then again, O chastiser of foes, they always strove with alacrity to vanquish forcibly in battle their great foe, viz., the invincible Drona, that preceptor of all wielders of the bow, that blazing fire of weapons, that hero who always burnt his foes in battle. They have never turned their faces from battle, afraid of Adhiratha's son.
Analysis: The brave warriors of the Pancala race continued to fight against Karna. They never ran away from him, because they don't run away from weak warriors. At least they are not cowards like Karna. Although Karna was fighting Durmukha, sudharman, Satyaki, Srikandi, Dhrishtadyumna, Dhrishtaydumna's sons, Satanika, Nakula, Nakula's son, Sahadeva, Janamejaya, Upapandavas etc all of them eh did not defeat them. He could not kill even one of those great warriors.
Those arrows, sped from Karna's bow, are coursing in battle thick as swarm of bees, and scorching thy troops. Encountering Karna's weapon in battle, that is irresistible by persons not having their souls under control, there the Pancalas, O Bharata, are flying away in all directions! Yonder, Bhima, of unappeasable wrath, surrounded on all sides by the Srinjayas, is fighting with Karna, O Partha, afflicted by the latter with keen shafts!
Analysis: Karna defeated Pancalas big deal. It's written clearly that he used a weapon, a astra. The next chapter says he used bhargavastra. Just to kill rathas and foot soldiers? Wow.
Beholding the head of Sushena lying on the ground, Karna became filled with grief. Soon, however, in rage he cut off the steeds, the car, and the standard, of his son's slayer with many keen shafts. Meanwhile Uttamauja, piercing with his keen shafts and cutting off with his bright sword the steeds of Kripa and those warriors also that protected Kripa's sides, quickly ascended the car of Shikhandi.
Analysis: Uttamauja (the brother of Droupadi) killed Karna's son. Useless Karna failed to kill him back. Instead just goes after foot soldiers, pathetic.
Slaughtered by Bhima, the retreating Dhartarashtras, O king, approaching the spot where Karna was, once more stood for battle, surrounding him. Endued with great might and great energy, Karna then became their refuge. Finding Karna, O bull of Bharata's race, thy troops became comforted and stood cheerfully, relying upon one another, like shipwrecked mariners, O tiger of men, in their distressful plight, when at last they reach an island.
Analysis: It is written clearly that Karna became the refuge for his fleeing army. Usually dogs take the shelter of a wolf.
In that afternoon, O monarch, the Suta's son of great valour began to smite all the Somakas in the very sight of Bhimasena. Bhima also of great strength began to destroy the Dhartarashtra troops. Then Karna, addressing (his driver) Shalya, said unto him, "Bear me to the Pancalas." Indeed, beholding his army in course of being routed by Bhimasena of great intelligence, Karna once more addressed his driver, saying, 'Bear me to the Pancalas only.' Thus urged, Shalya, the ruler of the Madras, endued with great might, urged those white steeds that were fleet as thought, towards the Cedis, the Pancalas and the Karushas. Penetrating then into that mighty host, Shalya, that grinder of hostile troops, cheerfully conducted those steeds into every spot that Karna, that foremost of warriors, desired to go to.
Analysis: We do not have evidence for Bhima fleeing from Karna but over here it's clear that Karna is scared of Bhima, it's written clearly that Karna while looking at Bhima destroy the army of the Kurus, he orders Shalya to take him tot he Pancalas instead. Crook Karna is a coward.
With hundreds upon hundreds of keen arrows sped from the bow-string drawn to his ear, Karna then smote hundreds and thousands of warriors belonging to the Pandava army. While the unvanquished Karna was employed in achieving those feats, many mighty bowmen and great car-warriors among the Pandavas encompassed him on all sides.
Analysis: It's written clearly so i don't need to analyze.
Indeed, Shikhandi, and Bhima, and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, and Nakula, and Sahadeva, and the (five) sons of Draupadi, and Satyaki, surrounded the son of Radha, pouring showers of arrows upon him, from desire of despatching him to the other world. The heroic Satyaki, that best of men, struck Karna in that engagement with twenty keen shafts in the shoulder-joint. Shikhandi struck him with five and twenty shafts, and Dhrishtadyumna struck him with seven, and the sons of Draupadi with four and sixty, and Sahadeva with seven, and Nakula with a hundred, in that battle. The mighty Bhimasena, in that encounter, filled with rage, struck the son of Radha in the shoulder-joint with ninety straight shafts. The son of Adhiratha, then, of great might laughing in scorn, and drawing his excellent bow let off many keen shafts, afflicting his foes. The son of Radha pierced each of them in return with five arrows. Cutting off the bow of Satyaki, as also his standard, O bull of Bharata's race, Karna pierced Satyaki himself with nine shafts in the centre of the chest. Filled with wrath, he then pierced Bhimasena with thirty shafts. With a broad-headed arrow, O sire, he next cut off the standard of Sahadeva, and with three other arrows, that chastiser of foes afflicted Sahadeva's driver. Within the twinkling of an eye he then deprived the (five) sons of Draupadi of their cars, O bull of Bharata's race, which seemed exceedingly wonderful. Indeed, with his straight shafts casting those heroes to turn back from the fight, the heroic Karna began to slay the Pancalas and many mighty car-warriors among the Cedis. Thus struck in that battle.
Analysis: This is a group attack on Karna. He was ambushed. Over here most of the warriors who encountered Karna were defeated by him. All of them probably lost. Bhima was defeated by Karna over here, Satyaki was defeated by Karna, Dhrishtadyumna too lost to Karna. But we should not forget this fact, that they were not on equal footings, Karna had the best driver (Shalya), Karna was using his celestial bow (Vijaya). So this was not a fair fight.
O monarch, the Cedis and the Matsyas, rushing against Karna alone, poured upon him showers of shafts. The Suta's son, however, that mighty car-warrior, began to smite them with his keen shafts. I beheld this exceedingly wonderful feat. O Bharata, viz., that the Suta's son of great prowess, alone and unsupported in that battle, fought with all those bowmen who contended with him to the utmost of their prowess, and checked all those Pandava warriors, O monarch, with his shafts. With the lightness of hand, O Bharata, of the high-souled Karna on that occasion, all the gods as also the Siddhas and the Charanas were gratified. All the great bowmen among the Dhartarashtras also, O best of men, applauded Karna, that foremost of great car-warriors, that first of all bowmen. Then Karna, O monarch, burnt the hostile army like a mighty and blazing conflagration consuming a heap of dry grass in the summer season. Thus slaughtered by Karna, the Pandava troops, struck with fear, fled in all directions, at the very sight of Karna. Loud wails arose there among the Pancalas in that great battle, while they were thus struck with the keen shafts sped from Karna's bow. Struck with fear at the noise, the vast host of the Pandavas, those enemies of Karna, regarded him as the one warrior in that battle. Then that crusher of foes, viz., the son of Radha, once more achieved an exceedingly wonderful feat, inasmuch as all the Pandavas, united together, were unable to even gaze at him.
Analysis: When it says all the Pandavas it's not talking about the Pandavas themselves (even Yudhishthira was not present at the battlefield during the moment). It's talking about the Pandava soldiers and warriors. It's talking about their army.
With great activity that hero, with his shafts, cut off the arms and the heads of his brave foes, O king, and their ears decked with earrings. Swords with hilts of ivory, and standards, and darts, and steeds, and elephants, and cars of diverse kind, O king, and banners, and axles, and yokes, and wheels of many kinds, were cut off in various ways by Karna, observant of a warrior's vow. There, O Bharata, with elephants and steeds slain by Karna, the earth became impassable and miry with flesh and blood. The uneven and even spots also of the field, in consequence of slain horse and foot and broken cars and dead elephants, could no longer be distinguished. The combatants could not distinguish friends from foes in that thick darkness caused by shafts when Karna's (celestial) weapon was displayed. The mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas, O monarch, were completely shrouded with shafts, decked with gold, that were sped from Karna's bow.
Analysis: What great feat did Karna achieve over here? Maybe if Karna used his own skills like ordinary arrows to achieve this feat then we could give him some props, but no, he had to cheat, he had to use a celestial weapon of mass destruction to defeat these people who were so much weaker than him!
Approaching then thy son, that foremost one among the Kurus, and saluted respectfully by him, Karna said unto that prince as also unto those two mighty-armed warriors, Kripa and the Bhoja chief Kritavarma, and the ruler of the Gandharvas with his son, and the preceptors and his own younger brothers, and all the foot-soldiers and horsemen and elephant-riders, these words, "Rush towards Acyuta and Arjuna and close up their path all around, and cause them to be tired with exertion, so that, ye lords of the earth, I may easily slay those two after ye all will have mangled them deeply."
Analysis: You can read the text and see clearly where it's written. That Karna had to ask the whole entire Kaurava army to attack Arjuna and mangle him so that he's weakened before the final fight. People say he never breaks any rules of war, laws of combat etc, yet he suggests others to do group attacks on his enemies? Does that sound like someone who fight fair? No. Karna is a crook warrior.
Then thousands of arrows, O foremost of living creatures, shot by Karna, O sire, deprived many Pancalas of their lives. Loud sounds of wailing were uttered by the Pancalas, O thou of great intelligence, while they were being thus smitten by the Suta's son, that rescuer of friends, for the sake of his friends.
Analysis: Nothing impressive this victory is not even worth bragging about.
Felling Janamejaya's driver with broad-faced shafts called Anjalikas, he next slew the steeds of that Pancala warrior. With a number of broad-headed arrows he then pierced both Satanika and Sutasoma and then cut off the bows of both those heroes. Next he pierced Dhrishtadyumna with six arrows, and then, without the loss of a moment, he slew in that encounter the steeds of that prince. Having slain next the steeds of Satyaki, the Suta's son then slew Visoka, the son of the ruler of the Kaikayas.
Analysis: Karna cut off some weapons like the bow and killed horses, that's not a victory. He killed Visoka yes but Visoka has no feats and is a weak warrior.
Upon the slaughter of the Kaikaya prince, the commander of the Kaikaya division, Ugrakarman, rushed with speed and striking Prasena, the son of Karna, with many shafts of fierce impetuosity caused him to tremble. Then Karna, with three crescent-shaped arrows, cut off the arms and the head of his son's assailant, whereupon the latter, deprived of life, fell down upon the ground from his car, like a Sala tree with its branches lopped off with an axe.
Analysis: Over here Karna cheated again. Because Ugrakarman was fighting Karna's son over here, what right did Karna have to interfere? Ugrakarman was caught off guard, it was a group attack on ugrakarman. Crook Karna killed him in cold blood.
Upon the slaughter of his son, Karna, with heart filled with rage, addressed that bull among the Sinis from desire of slaying him, saying, "Thou art slain, O grandson of Sini!' and sped at him an arrow capable of slaying all foes. Then Shikhandi cut off that arrow with three shafts of his, and struck Karna himself with three other shafts.
Analysis: Useless Karna could not do anything. He tried to kill satyaki, but his so called capable of slaying all foes arrow was cut by a woman like Srikandi.
The fierce son of the Suta then, cutting off with a couple of razor-faced arrows the bow and the standard of Shikhandi, struck and pierced Shikhandi himself with six shafts, and then cut off the head of Dhrishtadyumna's son. The high-souled son of Adhiratha then pierced Sutasoma with a very keen shaft.
Analysis: See over here, Dhrishtadyumna's son was killed yet he never got butthurt like Karna did. That's because he's not a madman like Karna is. Also Karna broke another rule, he attacked a weaponless warrior, Srikandi lost her bow, so she was defenseless, yet Karna still attacked her, what a coward. Crook Karna attacking unarmed warriors.
Those two princes then, on their cars, proceeded with great speed towards Karna, encountering their foes along the way. During that interval, the Suta's son fought fiercely, grinding the Somakas. He slew a large number of car-warriors and steeds and elephants, and covered the ten points of the compass with his shafts. Then Uttamauja and Janamejaya, and the enraged Yudhamanyu and Shikhandi, uniting with Prishata's son (Dhrishtadyumna) and uttering loud roars, pierced Karna with many shafts. Those five foremost of Pancala car-warriors rushed against Karna otherwise called Vaikartana, but they could not shake him off his car like the objects of the senses failing to shake off the person of purified soul from abstinence. Quickly cutting off their bows, standards, steeds, drivers and banners, with his shafts, Karna struck each of them with five arrows and then uttered a loud roar like a lion, People then became exceedingly cheerless, thinking that the very earth, with her mountains and trees, might split at the twang of Karna's bow while that hero, with shafts in hand touching the bow-string, was employed in shooting at his assailants and slaying his foes.
Analysis: Over here Karna killed many car warriors and Rathas of the Somaka tribe, karna covered the ten points of the compass's with his shafts. Karna managed to hold off 5 mighty car warriors alone, however he dd not defeat them, no result of their fight is stated. But the text only glorifies Karna.
The Suta's son then pierced Shikhandi with a dozen keen shafts, and Uttamauja with half a dozen, and Yudhamanyu with three, and then each of the other two, viz., Somaka (Janamejaya) and Prishata's son (Dhrishtadyumna) with three shafts. Vanquished in dreadful battle by the Suta's son, O sire, those five mighty car-warriors then stood inactive, gladdening their foes, even as the objects of the senses are vanquished by a person of purified soul. The five sons of Draupadi then, with other well-equipped cars, rescued those maternal uncles of theirs that were sinking in the Karna ocean, like persons rescuing from the depths of the ocean ship-wrecked merchants in the sea by means of other vessels.
Analysis: It's clearly written that those 5 warriors became inactive and helpless when they were wounded by Karna. But over the sons of Draupadi the Upapandavas saved them from Karna. Karna defeated them but it's not a great feat.
Then that bull among the Sinis, cutting off with his own keen shafts the innumerable arrows sped by Karna, and piercing Karna himself with many keen arrows made entirely of iron, pierced thy eldest son with eight shafts. Then Kripa, and the Bhoja chief (Kritavarma), and thy son, and Karna himself, assailed Satyaki in return with keen shafts. That foremost one, however, of Yadu's race fought with those four warriors like the chief of the Daityas fighting with the Regents of the (four) quarters. With his twanging bow stretched to its fullest limits, and from which shafts flowed incessantly, Satyaki became exceedingly irresistible like the meridian Sun in the autumnal sky.
Analysis: This is a group attack on Satyaki, yet Karna still fails to defeat him. Karna himself is wounded by Satyaki.
Addressing Karna and Suyodhana and Kripa and Drona's son and Kritavarma, he said, "Today I shall slay the wretched Duhshasana. Let all the warriors protect him (if they can)." Having said this, Bhima of exceeding strength and great activity suddenly rushed, from desire of slaying Duhshasana. Like a lion of fierce impetuosity rushing towards a mighty elephant, Vrikodara, that foremost of heroes, rushed towards Duhshasana in that battle and attacked him in the very sight of Suyodhana and Karna.
Analysis: Bhima straight-up challenged Karna and dared him to protect Duhsasana, but the coward Karna chose to just sit back and watch. Karna was useless.
Upon the fall of those ten heroes, thy army fled away in the very sight of the Suta's son, overwhelmed with the fear of the Pandavas. Then, O king, great fear entered the heart of Karna at sight of Bhima's prowess which resembled that of the Destroyer himself unto living creatures.
Analysis: It's clearly written that fear entered the heart of Karna at the sight of Bhima's prowess.
Meanwhile the steeds of the one neighed at the steeds of the other. The lotus-eyed Keshava pierced Shalya with his keen glances. The latter also cast similar glances at the former. Vasudeva, however, vanquished Shalya with those glances of his, while Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, vanquished Karna with his glances.
Analysis: Over here its clearly written that Arjuna (Dhananjaya) defeated Karna just by looking at him. Now i will not do the analysis of the final Karna vs Arjuna battle, because this alone is more than enough ok.
Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08087.htm
Conclusions:
- On day 11 Karna was completely useless. He had achieved nothing. He had fought with Virata & his group of Matsya warrior, but failed to defeat these men. He next fought with Bhima, Prishata's son, and Satyaki. But ran away from them. His preceptor (Drona) even told him (Karna) that he doesn't need to run away but yet he still ran.
- Hours later when Drona made Yudhishthira a captive, Arjuna came and beat back Drona, then seeing Arjuna's prowess Karna ran away from the battle giving his troops an order to flee as well. Virata defeated him, Arjuna defeated him indirectly because Karna ordered a retreat upon failing to stop Arjuna and another warrior of the Pandava side also defeated him. Not a good start.
- On day 12 Karna proves how useless he is once again. His only positive feats are that he was able to wound the weapons of a few warriors, he was able to cut off bows and darts, big deal. He could cut weapons off but he could not wound any of them. The only one warrior who was wounded by Karna was Arjuna, and even Sakuni wounded Arjuna at times, Arjuna did not try to protect himself that much against weaklings like Karna.
- The excuse that his enemies were many and Karna was alone will not work here. Karna had the support and back up of several warriors helping him. 15 followers, Chandravarman, his 2 foster brothers (Vipatha & Satrunjaya) and the Nishada warriors. So to say that he was alone in-front of a group attack is an invalid excuse. It is a poor argument. the truth is that it was a group (Arjuna, Satyaki, Drishtadyumna, Bheema) vs another group (Karna, Chandravarman, Vipatha, Satrunjaya, Nishadas, 15 followers etc). Karna had numbers on his side. It was basically 20 warriors (Karna's side) versus 4 warriors (Arjuna's side). And if he was truly so great then he wouldn't have performed so poorly that day.
- Karna's first bow in Kuruskhetra was called the blazing bow. It was cut off by Satyaki, here Satyaki cut off that bow.
- On day 13. Karna only fought one warrior over here and still got defeated by that warrior all the time. The warrior is known as Abhimanyu the son of Arjuna. Now with what face can Karna go back to challenge his rival Arjuna? Karna could not save his blazing bow from the well shot arrow of Abhimanyu.
- Abhimanyu kills Karna's step brother. Abhimanyu also killed Karna's six counselors. So many of Karna's comrades are killed and Karna remained helpless unable to do anything about it.
- Karna killed Abhimanyu's followers, but is it not weird that the followers of Abhimanyu did not even defend themselves? The only time Abhimanyu's followers were mentioned is when Karna killed them, is it not odd? This incident of Karna's feat can be dismissed as an interpolation/mistranslation.
- Debunking the claims of Abhimanyu having unfair celestial advantages etc.
- Abhimanyu had the Raudra bow
- So what? I would like to ask what special advantage does this bow give to the wielder? Is it indestructible? Is it capable of increasing the speed of Abhimanyu's firing rate? Is it a special machine or something? Because i don't see anything special about it, not even the name.
- Gods have been depicted in the Mahabharata as carrying special bows, because those bows are the only bows that suit them. So because Visnu used the Saranga bow does that make him dependent on that bow? Does it mean that he can't win without that bow? Is Siva weaker without his Pinaka bow?
- No. Abhimanyu uses a bow that suits his strength and speed, a bow that is worthy of him, a bow is only as good as it's wielder to be honest.
- If so then all of Karna's feats, achievements and victories on the 17th day of Kurukshetra are due to his Vijaya bow and not his own competence.
- Abhimanyu had divine armor
- No he did not. Abhimanyu had no divine armor. His father Arjuna was just taught a technique by Drona, he was taught the science of wearing armor in such a way that it would become impenetrable. And Arjuna passed this skill on downwards towards his son Abhimanyu (who defeated Karna during this day).
- If Abhimanyu truly had such an armor that could not be penetrated then he wouldn't have died right? Never once was it mentioned that the armor saved/protected Abhimanyu, however Karna still cried to his master Drona saying that Abhimanyu could not be defeated. It is Karna who begged Drona to show him how to kill the enemy.
- An armor does not cover the whole body. Abhimanyu's armor did not cover his thighs, legs, knees, calves, feet, head, eyes, arms, fingers, neck etc. It only protected the chest, shoulders and upper body of Abhimanyu. So was Karna such a poor archer and car-warrior that he could not find out where he should cast his weapons on? What part of his opponents body should be attacked? Stop making up excuses for him.
- On the 14th day Satyaki defeated several warriors with divine armor. Warriors that were stated to have divine armor still got clobbered by Satyaki. This clearly proves that when a warrior (in Mahabharata) is stated to have impenetrable mail/armor then it's just a hyperbole statement. It's to confirm that the opponent has great protection but not "impenetrable" etc.
- Abhimanyu had the weapons of Visnu
- Just because after the death of Abhimanyu he was depicted as being decked with the weapons of Visnu that doesn't mean that he literally had them. Their is such a thing that is called as Symbolism in literature.
- He (Abhimanyu) was only mentioned as decked with the weapons of Vishnu at this chapter of Drona Parva - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07046.htm that was the same chapter that he died in. It was the same chapter which their was no fight that Karna had with Abhimanyu. So Karna did not have to face any weapons of Vishnu at all in his encounter with Abhimanyu.
- If Abhimanyu had Vishnu's weapons then no one should forget that Karna had the weapons of Brahma with him. In his arsenal Karna had the weapons of a god on par with Visnu, he had the weapons of Brahma.
- Abhimanyu had a boon
- No he did not. When Abhimanyu was born a prophecy was made that he would achieve those incredible feats in battle.
- Even during Arjuna's birth such statements were made that Arjuna would be the equal of Siva in battle, but i don't see anyone calling that as a boon. Because it wasn't! it was just a prophecy a prediction.
- Such a prediction was uttered during the births of Bhima & Karna (himself) as well.
- On day 14. Now this???? After section 101 Karna seems nowhere to be found, like he's taking a break consuming alcohol and killing cows or something xD. For 24 sections karna was inactive, twenty-four sections AFTER he tried to ambush, his archenemy, his rival Arjuna. I don't know why people still compare him to the former. I wonder what he was doing the whole entire time (24 sections)? Was he fleeing from the battlefield/debate?
- Karna vs Arjuna
- Karna initially ambushed Arjuna with a group of warriors by his side, then after getting overwhelmed he retreats back to Jayadratha.
- Then much later Arjuna finds Karna harassing Bhima, so Arjuna cuts off Karna's bow, and Karna retreats.
- Next Karna with five other warriors fights together against Arjuna and still was beaten.
- Later Karna with his son Vrishasen, and peer Aswathamman are both defeated by Arjuna. Karna was saved many times by Aswathamman this day, mostly against Arjuna.
- Karna vs Bima
- Karna had no curses interfering with him in this fight, but yet still Bheem destroys him very easily. No Krishna was present, no Hanuman, no Vishwakarman, no divine chariot, no divine bows, it was a completely fair fight yet Karna gets defeated so easily in the first round by Bhima. His bows were cut off by Bheema so many times, yet Karna failed to do the same to Bhima, he never disarmed Bima, the latter just ran out of weapons. It's like you get defeated (ten) 10 times by someone and then defeat that person one (1) time (due to a trivial technicality) and start to brag about yourself.
- Yes it is true that Karna was mild on Bhima in the first few fights but later on he wasn't, he began to realize how big of a threat Bheema is and can be. 31 brothers of Duryodhana were killed at the hands of Bima and Karna was still mild? Wrong, Sanjaya only described Karna as mild during the first 3 sections of the fight between Karna and Bhima.
- Later on Karna was enraged, he wanted to avenge the deaths of Duryodhana's brothers (Durjaya etc). Sanjaya even said that both Karna and Bhima fought with the desire to kill each-other.
- Bheema was defeating Karna in such a way that Duryodhana thought Karna would die and decided to send his brothers to rescue Karna. Bhima started to realize that he could use karna as target practice to lure the brothers of Duryodhana out.
- Later on it starts to become unfair as Karn has the help of many Kauravas by his side. And Bhima is all alone with a very limited amount of weapons and resources. Karna on the other hand gets to return each and every time with a fresh stock of weapons to continue his fight.
- Bhima jumped on Karna's chariot and Karna hid under it out of fear. This proves that he was scared of Bima. Karna even started to cry and weep upon seeing the corpses of the Kaurava brothers killed by Bheema. Later on in a conversation with Duryodhana, Karna himself admits that he has been defeated by Bima in a very bad way.
- Karna in his own foolishness even killed his own troops during his battle against Bhima. The Kuru army was harmed and many men died due to the shafts of Karna. This happened not just once but three times, it is mentioned in Drona Parva Sections 128, 133, 134 and maybe 135 too.
- When Karna touched Bhima with the horn of his bow, Bhima took back the bow and smacked Karna's face with it, then Karna starts to shamelessly utter verbal abuses & insults at Bhima. Then Bima just laughs and challenges Karna to a wrestling bout, Karn refuses and then Arjuna arrives. I don't find anywhere here that Karna defeated Bima, and if he did then it was not through a fair war.
- Karna fled away from Bhima & Arjuna. Karna ran all the way away to the place where Aswathamman was (guarding Jayadratha) and took his protection. Their is another instance where karn actually runs away using his legs (prior to Arjuna's arrival, it was against Bhima that Karna ran).
- Karna vs Satyaki
- Over here nowhere was Karna found to be mild on his opponent, as a matter of fact Karna was enraged in this fight, he was all swelled up and deeply wanted to kill Satyaki.
- Karna did a group attack on Satyaki. Here Satyaki is all alone yet he still defeats Karna and his team.
- Karna was given jeevan by him, jeevan daan! Satyaki spared Karna and his life over here. Instead of being grateful to Satyaki, these Karna fans insult him as a crook warrior.
- Karna performed poorly during this day.
- On night 14.
- Karna vs Bhima
- Bhima merely slayed a few Kaurava warriors right in-front of Karna's eyes and Karna tried to throw a dart at Bhima, that dart was thrown back at Karna by Bhima.
- Sakuni cut the dart off thus saving the useless warrior suta Karna.
- Then Bheema killed some Kaurava brothers and Karna ran away.
- Karna vs Rakshasas
- Rakshasa soldiers defeat Karna and force him to flee.
- They were not even fighting with ordinary weapons. They just used stones.
- Karna vs Arjuna
- Arjuna easily defeats Karna, kills his charioteer, and horses/steeds, Karna runs away from Arjuna again.
- Karna took shelter under Kripa's car (chariot) after losing badly to Arjuna, the same Kripa who was not only karna's guru but also a victim of Karna's threats recently!
- Karna vs Sahadeva
- Karna defeated Sahadeva, but what's the big deal? Many other warriors have defeated Sahadeva and he is the youngest & weakest Pandava.
- This victory of Karna does not deserve much mention as it is irrelevant and not worth bragging about.
- Karna vs Satyaki
- Over here Satyaki initially had the advantage and was quite easily defeating Karna but then Karna managed to equal Satyaki's feats. In the end of this fight neither of them proved superior but Satyaki had the upper-hand in the beginning of this fight. So Satyaki deserves more credit and brownie points here.
- Satyaki clearly had the upper hand in this fight. He was outnumbered yet he still managed to wound Vrishasena to a extent that Karna believed his son was dead. And he was still able to disarm both of his opponents of their bows and leathern fences. The only feats Karna and Vrishasena achieved in this fight are them wounding Satyaki with arrows and piercing him. Such a feat has been achieved by every warrior.
- Karna started to resort to unfair means and dirty tricks to fight Satyaki.
- Karna vs Dhrishtadyumna
- Dhrishadtyumna cut off another pre-vijaya bow of Karna's.
- Dhrishtadyumna still held off Karna despite being outnumbered 7 to 1.
- Dhristadyumna vanquished thousands of kings in-front of Karna and cut off the head of Drumasena.
- Dhrishtadyumna even killed Karna's steeds with his mace. He only stopped attacking Karna because Yudhishthira ordered him to stop and come back.
- Dhrishtadyumna in the end ran away from Karna. Not much of a victory for Karna considering all of his losses.
- Yudhishthira skipped Karna's defeat by ordering Dhrishtadyumna to leave his elder brother useless Karna alone.
- Karna vs Ghatotkaca.
- TV serials say that Ghatotkaca's target that night was Duryodhana, but no, in actuality his target was Karna.
- Ghatotkaca made Karna carless and weaponless twice, he made Karna run away twice too.
- Alayudha skipped his defeat, celestial weapons skipped his defeat!
- Karna failed to destroy the darts, weapons, and illusions of Ghatotkaca.
- Karna had the help of the Kurus, Alamvusha, and Indra's celestial dart, yet he still failed to kill Ghatotkaca fairly in a fair fight.
- Such a cheap warrior, he killed Ghatotkaca while Ghatotkaca was unarmed. No shame this Karna had.
- On day 15.
- Bhima vs Karna.
- Bhima defeats Karna in a mace fight.
- Karna defeats Bhima in a bow arrow fight and destroys his chariot.
- Bhima flees on the chariot of Nakula
- In the next chapter Bhima starts a second fight with Karna, this one ends with either no result or a victory for Bhima.
- Arjuna vs Karna
- Karna thinks he can win Arjuna without the help of Drona, so useless Karna fights Prince Arjuna. Arjuna's arrows blot out the sun.
- Being afflicted with Arjuna's arrows, Karna chooses to run away again. Useless Karna is rescued by the Preceptor Drona.
- Satyaki vs Karna
- Over here Satyaki had destroyed all the celestial weapons of Karna and Karna's comrades. Karna teamed up with his 2 gurus (Drona & Kripa) to fight Satyaki yet he still was unable to gain any notable victory over Satyaki in this fight.
- Karna attacked Satyaki with the help of other warriors like Kripa & Duryodhana. Over here Satyaki held off the 3 Maharathas, and he countered all of their celestial weapons.
- Over here Karna tried to team up with others in hopes of getting an oppurtunity to defeat Satyaki. But instead of victory he met defeat again! He was defeated by Satyaki, he lost and had to run away with all of his comrades as well. Karna teamed up with 5 others yet he still got f*cked up by Satyaki.
- When Dristadyumna cut off Drona’s head, Karna fled from the battlefield in fear.
- On day 16.
- Karna was crowned chief of the army today.
- Karna's first move was to organize his troops into the Makara (crocodile) formation.
- Karna spent most of this day fighting Nakula.
- Nakula cut off the 2 bows of Karna that he had prior to the Vijaya bow.
- Karna did have some victories against foot soldiers and 20 nameless warriors of the Panchalas though.
- But at the end of the day he fought many powerful warriors like Arjuna, Satyaki & Yudhishthira.
- Karna was losing to Satyaki so his comrades stepped into save him.
- Karna tried to flee from Satyaki so Satyaki attacked him with 200 shafts.
- Karna's weapons were baffled by Arjuna.
- Karna's army retreated.
- Later that day Karna promises his friend and king Duryodhana that he will surely foil all of the enemies plans tommorow.
- On day 17.
- Advantages Karna had, the gifts he used to fight that day.
- Better chariot
- Quote:
- Against my car, the very gods with Vasava at their head will not dare advance. All these being attended to, when I take my stand on my car, I will become superior to Arjuna in the attributes of warrior and will then, O best of the Kurus, vanquish Phalguna. I desire, O monarch, all this to be done by thee, O scorcher of foes. Let these wishes of mine be accomplished. Let no time be suffered to elapse. If all this be accomplished, the most effectual aid will be rendered to me on every desirable point.
- Analysis: Karna tells Duryodhana that his chariot is the foremost of all chariots.
- Source: http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08031.htm
- Better driver
- Quote:
- Shalya is superior to Krishna, and I am superior to Arjuna. As that slayer of foes, viz., he of Dasharha's race, is acquainted with horselore, even so is that mighty car-warrior, viz., Shalya acquainted with horselore. There is none equal to the chief of the Madras in might of arms. As there is none equal to myself in weapons, so there is none equal to Shalya in knowledge of steeds.
- Analysis:
- Source: http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08031.htm
- Better bow
- Quote:
- My bow, called Vijaya, is the foremost of all weapons (of its kind). Desirous of doing what was agreeable (to Indra), it was made by Vishakarman (the celestial artificer) for Indra. With that bow, O king, Indra had vanquished the Daityas. At its twang the Daityas beheld the ten points to be empty. That bow, respected by all, Sakra gave to Bhrigu's son (Rama). That celestial and foremost of bows Bhrigu's son gave to me. With that bow I will contend in battle with the mighty-armed Arjuna, that foremost of victorious warriors, like Indra fighting with the assembled Daityas. That formidable bow, the gift of Rama, is superior to Gandiva. It was with that bow that the Earth was subjugated thrice seven times (by Bhrigu's son). With that bow given to me by Rama I will contend in battle with the son of Pandu.
- Analysis: Just idle boasts of the useless Karna.
- Vijaya bow could not save Bhrigu's son from his defeat at the hands of Bhishma & Raghava.
- Vijaya bow could not save Indra from so many Rakshasas like Prahlada, Vali, Kombhakarna, Meghnath, Ravana, Niwatakavaca etc. Even Arjuna & Krishna had defeated Indra despite him having Vijaya bow.
- Look up Syamantak gem & khandava-daha
- Karna himself lost at the end of the day with that bow. He was unable to even fight with it anymore.
- Source: http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08031.htm
- Yet despite all of these advantage look at how poorly Karna fared on the battlefield that day.
- His sons were killed in-front of his eyes.
- Karna failed to kill Bhima.
- When Karna heard Nakula roar he got scared.
- Karna failed to get past the foot soldiers of the Kekaya army.
- Karna was knocked out cold by Yudhishthira's mighty arrow.
- Karna was defeated and spared by Bhima.
- Even Dhritarashtra who was pro Kauravas and pro Karna agreed that Karna was defeated and fled.
- Karna ran away from Satyaki twice. (Karna Parva sections 51 & 56).
- Karna failed to kill Dhrishtadyumna.
- Karna avoided Bhima, and went after foot soldiers (pancalas) instead.
- Karna begged Aswathamman, Sakuni, Kripa, Duryodhana, Kritavarma, Uluka etc to all mangle and weaken Arjuna so he could defeat him easily.
- He wanted Arjuna exhausted.
- Karna failed to kill Satyaki.
- Karna trembled from head to toe when he saw Bhima kill Duhsasana.
- Lost to Arjuna's eyes.
- Karna failed to protect, save and rescue his supporters in the final Karna vs Arjuna battle.
- Breakdown.
- Can you really call this a good performance? A child could understand what type of grade Karna gets. His performance was pathetic.
- He gets an F, the lowest F possible. I can not even count his infinite amount of defeats.
- What was Karna's best day/night?
- It could be the 17th day since he achieved the most victories that day.
- But then again we should not forget on the same 17th day these things happened to Karna.
- His sons were killed in-front of his eyes.
- Karna failed to kill Bhima.
- When Karna heard Nakula roar he got scared.
- Karna failed to get past the foot soldiers of the Kekaya army.
- Karna was knocked out cold by Yudhishthira's mighty arrow.
- Karna was defeated and spared by Bhima.
- Even Dhritarashtra who was pro Kauravas and pro Karna agreed that Karna was defeated and fled.
- Karna ran away from Satyaki twice. (Karna Parva sections 51 & 56).
- Karna failed to kill Dhrishtadyumna.
- Karna avoided Bhima, and went after foot soldiers (pancalas) instead.
- Karna begged Aswathamman, Sakuni, Kripa, Duryodhana, Kritavarma, Uluka etc to all mangle and weaken Arjuna so he could defeat him easily.
- He wanted Arjuna exhausted.
- Karna failed to kill Satyaki.
- Karna trembled from head to toe when he saw Bhima kill Duhsasana.
- Lost to Arjuna's eyes.
- Karna failed to protect, save and rescue his supporters in the final Karna vs Arjuna battle.
- It could be the 14th night since he not only escaped with his life intact but he also killed the son of his enemy Bhima.
- Counterarguments for this could be the following.
- Karna was defeated by Bhima.
- Here Karna was saved by Sakuni.
- Karna was defeated by Rakshasas.
- Karna was defeated by Arjuna.
- Here Karna had to take the shelter of Kripa (a man Karna threatened).
- Karna cheated Dhrishtadyumna.
- Karna was defeated by Satyaki.
- What was Karna's worst day/night? I'll rank them now.
- 14th day (worst)
- 17th day
- 12th day
- 15th day
- 16th day
- 14th night
- 13th day
- 11th day (best)
[image source: Facebook]
