Karna vs Satyaki

Satyaki vs Karna

1. This post will cover all the battles Satyaki and Karna fought each other in. They always fought with bows and arrows.
1. Samsaptakabadha Parva (Initial days of Drona's commander ship after Bhishma's death and Karna's entry).
1. 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. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07030.htm - (Chapter Link)
1. And over here Satyaki clearly defeated Karna. Satyaki cut off Karna's bow, pierced karna on his arms and chest and pierced his body all over with arrows.
2. Some people state that prior to this incident Satyaki attacked Karna in a group, but still Karna was unable to counter this group attack and was defeated by this group attack. 
1. In the above mentioned passage of text it's clear that no one interfered in their fight it was just Satyaki vs karna no third person is described until karna was losing.
2. Group attacks were very common in the war and Karna used group attacks on Satyaki 3 times and Satyaki defeated Karna every time just read below.Explanation: This passage says that Satyaki was like an ocean that Karna was drowning in and Karna had to be rescued from the danger of Satyaki's attacks by Jayadratha, Drona and Suyodhana.
2. Jayadratha-Vadha Parva (takes place after the death of Abhimanyu this battle covers 1/3rd of the chapters in Drona Parva Book 7, it explains how Arjuna, Satyaki, Yudhamanyu, Uttamaujas & Bhima get through over 20 miles of the millions of Kaurava troops).
1. 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. Then all thy warriors, O king, became cheerless. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07143.htm - (Chapter Link)
2. Then Vrishasena, the son of Karna, and Salya, the ruler of the Madras, and Drona's son, encompassed the grandson of Sini from all sides. 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. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07143.htm - (Chapter Link)
   
   Explanation: Satyaki spared Karna's life over here, Satyaki did not just defeat Karna, he had also defeated Dussassana, Duryodhana, Kaurava brothers, Aswathamman (son of Drona), Kritavarman, and Vrishasena the eldest son of Karna.
3. Ghatotkacha-Badha Parva (After the death of Jayadratha this battle covers 1/5th of the sections in Book 7 Drona Parva, Kauravas Duryodhana Karna and Drona try to get revenge after Jayadratha was killed, this whole entire battle took place during night time when the sky was dark).
1. 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. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07167.htm - (Chapter Link) Over here Satyaki initially had the advantage and was quite easily defeating Karna but then Karna manged 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.
2. Then thy son, O monarch, placing Karna at their head, all pierced Satyaki from every side with keen arrows. 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. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07167.htm - (Chapter Link)
   
   Explanation: Although this fight did not reach much of a conclusion no one can deny the fact that 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. And it should be noted that after this incident Karna came with a proposal to Duryodhana that they should surround Satyaki as he can't defeat him in a solo fight. 
4. Drona-Vadha Parva (the day of Drona's death, this battle was 8 chapters long, but it was one of the most dramatic battles of the war, in it Satyaki fought with Karna twice despite having the odds stacked up against him).
1. 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. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07188.htm - (Chapter Link) 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. 
2. '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. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07189.htm - (Chapter Link) 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.
5. Narayanastra-Mokshana Parva (this part of Kurukshetra happened after the death of Drona, the Kaurava army was unorganized and had no one general who they could fight under)
1. 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. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07197.htm - (Chapter Link)
   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. Honestly speaking this has got to be on of the most humiliating defeats Satyaki gave to Karna. Karna teamed up with 5 others yet he still got fu*ked up by Satyaki.
6. Karna Parva (the book of karna depicts the battle during the time that Karna was the general of the Kaurava army and led them)
1. 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. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08030.htm - (Chapter Link) Explanation: destiny saved Karna again, he had to be rescued after he lost to Satyaki the umpteenth time. Seeing their general severely wounded the Kaurava car-warriors had to come to help him, they had to intervene in the fight to make sure Satyaki doesn't kick their commander Karna's A$$.
2. 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. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08030.htm - (Chapter Link)
1. Explanation: In this incident Karna clearly tried to run away from Satyaki, so Satyaki had to chase him down and shoot him with almost 200 arrows. Karna was a coward who refused to finish the fight he started.
3. 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. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08051.htm - (Chapter Link)The passage above suggests that Karna was scared of fighting Satyaki once again because he knew he would lose. So he decided to run away and switch opponents automatically after Satyaki was done using Karna for archery practice. Karna stopped fighting Satyaki and moved on to another warrior just after being wounded by a few arrows of Satyaki. Coward Karna exposed once again. Bloody loser warna. Bloody loser vasusena.
4. "'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. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08056.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. This one does not make much sense. The above passage says that Karna vanquished Satyaki (grandson of sini), yet it also says Satyaki continued to pursue Karna for a fight. Thus this cannot be termed as a defeat of Satyaki. it is basically karna running away from a combat with Satyaki. Either that or a translation error.
5. Misconception about the help of divine chariot. Karna fans like to cover up the facts and hide the true story about his defeats by saying that Satyaki had a special chariot given to him and a special driver like Daruka.
1. Satyaki only had that special chariot and Daruka for less than an hour during the Jayadratha-Vadha Parva for a short amount of time. He got it after he killed Bhurishravas and lost it after the end of the battle. Satyaki still yet defeated Karna many times.
1. Satyaki defeated Karna even during Karna Parva when Karna had Shalya as his charioteer.
2. When Karna was made generalissimo of the Kaurava army still he was defeated by Satyaki.
3. Satyaki defeated Karna during the day of Drona's death as well.
4. Satyaki defeated Karna and his son Vrishasena before Karna killed Ghatotkaca too. 
5. Satyaki even defeated Karna during the 12th day.
1. What excuses do you Karna fans have for his above listed defeats at the hands of Satyaki now then?
2. Clearly in many conditions with or without a special chariot Satyaki still defeated Karna. 
2. Karna also had a great driver like Shalya whose knowledge of horses was unmatched by anyone except for Krishna's: 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. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08031.htm
3. On the 14th day a special chariot was provided for Karna in this as well: A new cat was brought for Karna also, O king, unto which were yoked four steeds of the best breed that were decked in trappings of gold and white as conchs or milk. Its kaksha and standard were made of gold. Furnished with banners and machines, that foremost of cars had an excellent driver. And it was furnished with a profusion of weapons of every kind. Mounting on that car, Karna also rushed against his foes. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07143.htm - (Chapter Link) So Karna fans really cannot talk about having a special chariot.
4. Among-st Satyaki and Karna clearly Satyaki emerges as the more superior warrior. Karna always needed to be rescued from Satyaki, he always had to run away from Satyaki, he always got disarmed by Satyaki, he was always made car less by Satyaki. Karna is always the one who was rescued the most by people he ran away the most too.
5. Statement of Lord Krishna: Thus addressed by Savyasachin, the mighty-armed Kesava, endued with great energy, replied in these opportune words, 'The mighty-armed Satyaki is singly a match for Karna, O son of Pandu! How much superior then will this bull among the Satwatas be when he is united with the two sons of Drupada! http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07143.htm - (Chapter Link)
   
   Now we even know what Lord Krishna's opinion was regarding Satyaki vs Karna. If not eqaul to Karna then Satyaki is superior to Karna!

SOME VERY LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT KARNA VS ARJUNA FINAL FIGHT DAY 17

In this post i will be discussing some very little known facts and incidents concerning the final fight between Karna & Arjuna in the Mahabharata. These incidents degrade Karna and expose the reality of his performance in the final fight he was becoming desperate and broke the rules. Not only that but Arjuna was quite restrained in the fight once he got angry he quite easily bested Karna. 6 out of 7 of these incidents can be found in Karna Parva Section 90.

1. Karna himself chose Shalya as his charioteer, not the other way around: Though inferior to Arjuna in respect of these things, I still desire to fight with him. This Shalya, however, the ornament of assemblies, is equal to Saurin. If he becomes my driver, victory will certainly be thine. Let Shalya, therefore, who is incapable of being resisted by foes be the driver of my car. Let a large number of carts bear my long shafts and those that are winged with vulturine feathers. Let a number of foremost cars, O monarch, with excellent steeds yoked unto them, always follow me, O bull of Bharata's race. By these arrangements I will, as regards the qualities mentioned, be superior to Arjuna. 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. So circumstanced, I will become superior to Partha. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08031.htm
1. So those people who say that Shalya's presence made Karna weaker are stupid.
   
2. Karna cried in tears when his chariot wheel was swallowed: Seeing his wheel swallowed, the son of Radha shed tears from wrath, and beholding Arjuna, filled with rage he said these words, "O Partha, O Partha, wait for a moment, that is, till I lift this sunken wheel. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08090.htm
1. Arjuna never cried when he was faced with such problems. But Karna however did, what a shame. What a pity.
3. Shalya told Karna to aim properly to kill Arjuna with a shaft. But out of arrogance Karna did not listen: The Suta's son did not know that the snake Aswasena had entered his arrow by the aid of his Yoga powers. Beholding Vaikartana aim that arrow, the high-souled ruler of the Madras, addressing Karna, said, "This arrow, O Karna, will not succeed in striking off Arjuna's head. Searching carefully, fix another arrow that may succeed in striking off thy enemy's head." Endued with great activity, the Suta's son, with eyes burning in wrath, then said unto the ruler of the Madras, "O Shalya, Karna never aimeth an arrow twice. Persons like us never become crooked warriors." Having said these words, Karna, with great care, let off that shaft which he had worshipped for many long years. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08090.htm
1. Never become crooked warriors? Hmph! Very contradictory of Karna to say this when he led so many group attacks against Pandava warriors like Satyaki, Abhimanyu, Dhrishtadyumna etc. He launched group attacks against Arjuna too.
   
4. Karna attacked an unarmed lord Krishna when he was trying to lift Arjunas chariot out of the ground: After that snake had been cut off by Arjuna, the lord Keshava himself, O king, of massive arms, that foremost of beings, raised up with his arms that car from the earth. At that time, Karna, glancing obliquely at Dhananjaya, pierced that foremost of persons, viz., Krishna, with ten shafts whetted on stone and equipped with peacock feathers. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08090.htm
1. This proves that whenever Karna is unable to prove his skill over Arjuna he has to go after Arjuna's friends and family.
2. Yes charioteers like Krishna usually keep weapons and whips with them but Krishna was completely unarmed over here because all of his intention, arms and body/strength was focused on lifting Arjuna's chariot out of the ground. His arms were on the chariot, this was also the same position that Karna was in when he died.
   
5. Arjuna had destroyed Karna's new kavacha kundala during this fight. Karna was divested of his armor and was basically disrobed. Arjuna disrobed Karna: The son of Pandu, however, could not endure his enemy's joy. Acquainted with all the vital parts of the human body, Partha, possessed of prowess like that of Indra, pierced those vital limbs with hundreds of arrows even as Indra had struck Vala with great energy. Then Arjuna sped ninety arrows, each resembling the rod of Death at Karna. Deeply pierced with those shafts, Karna trembled like a mountain riven with thunder. The head-gear of Karna, adorned with costly gems and precious diamonds and pure gold, as also his earrings, cut off by Dhananjaya with his winged arrows, fell down on the earth. The costly and bright armour also of the Suta's son that had been forged with great care by many foremost of artists working for a long time, the son of Pandu cut off within a moment in many fragments. After thus divesting him of his armour, Partha then, in rage, pierced Karna with four whetted shafts of great energy. Struck forcibly by his foe, Karna suffered great pain like a diseased person afflicted by bile, phlegm, wind, and fever. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08090.htm
1. 
6. Arjuna wounded Karna with arrows to the extent that Karna was incapable of even wielding his Vijaya bow: Deeply struck by Partha with those diverse arrows of keen points and fierce energy, Karna (covered with blood) looked resplendent like a mountain of red chalk with streams of red water running adown its breast. Once more Arjuna pierced Karna in the centre of the chest with many straight-coursing and strong shafts made entirely of iron and equipped with wings of gold and each resembling the fiery rod of the Destroyer, like the son of Agni piercing the Krauncha mountains. Then the Suta's son, casting aside his bow that resembled the very bow of Sakra, as also his quiver, felt great pain, and stood inactive, stupefied, and reeling, his grasp loosened and himself in great anguish. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08090.htm
1. I couldn't find a good picture to depict this incident, but here.
   
7. When Arjuna stopped firing arrows at Karna to give him time to recover, Krishna told Arjuna to kill him don't give him time to recover: The virtuous Arjuna, observant of the duty of manliness, wished not to slay his enemy while fallen into such distress. The younger brother of Indra then, with great excitement, addressed him, saying, "Why, O son of Pandu, dost thou become so forgetful? They that are truly wise never spare their foes, however weak, even for a moment. He that is learned earneth both merit and fame by slaying foes fallen into distress. Lose no time in precipitately crushing Karna who is always inimical to thee and who is the first of heroes. The Suta's son, when able, will once more advance against thee as before. Slay him, therefore, like Indra slaying the Asura Namuci." http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08090.htm