Misconceptions about the Virata war

One of the most hyped up incidents in the Mahabharata, an incident that has been the topic of debates and discussions for many years in the Mahabharata community will now be discussed by me too as well also.
This post is merely my attempt to debunk any pieces of misinformation that many others have spread about the Virata war. Since for so many years people have done nothing more than selective quoting, copying and pasting material from fan pages etc. Cause a lot of people these days just don't know what they're talking about, or like to lie a lot. To fool the public.
They don't look at the whole incident at all and formulate their own opinion to spread lies and several untruths about this war. So now here are a list of misconceptions that need to be addressed and debunked. They will be proven false by me right now.

• Misconception number 1 - 

Arjuna did not fight off any group attacks, he always fought one warrior at a time. 

• Then i'm going to send you a list of most of the group attacks Karna and his cronies and everyone else did to Arjuna during this war.

Incident 1 - Multiple Kuru warriors showered their arrows on Arjuna. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04059.htm key word warriors. Meaning more than one.

And, O king, beholding Partha turn away from Aswatthaman's side, the Kuru warriors discharged thousands of arrows on Arjuna

Incident 2 - Duhsasana, Vikarna, Vivingsati and Dussaha all ambush Arjuna. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04061.htm

And at this, four mighty warriors, Dussasana and Vikarna and Dussaha and Vivingsati, skilled in weapons and endued with great energy, and all decked with handsome garlands and ornaments, rushed towards that terrible bowman. And advancing towards Vibhatsu--that fierce archer, these all encompassed him around. Then the heroic Dussasana pierced the son of Virata with a crescent-shaped arrow and he pierced Arjuna with another arrow in the breast. And Jishnu, confronting Dussasana, cut off by means of a sharp-edged arrow furnished with vulturine wings his adversary's bow plaited with gold, and then pierced his person in the breast by means of five arrows. And afflicted by the arrows of Partha. Dussasana fled, leaving the combat. Then Vikarna, the son of Dhritarashtra, pierced Arjuna--that slayer of hostile heroes, by means of sharp and straight arrows furnished with vulturine wings. But the son of Kunti within a moment hit him also in the forehead with straight shafts. And pierced by Arjuna, he fell down from his car. And at this, Dussaha, supported by Vivingsati, covered Arjuna with a cloud of sharp arrows, impelled by the desire of rescuing his brother. Dhananjaya, however, without the least anxiety, pierced both of them almost at the same instant by means of couple of keen-edged arrows and then slew the steeds of both. And there upon, both those sons of Dhritarashtra, deprived of their steeds and their bodies mangled were taken away by the warrior behind them who had rushed forward with other cars.

Incident 3 - Everysingle warrior and foot soldier of the Kaurava army attacks a lone Arjuna.  http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04062.htm

Then, O thou of the Bharata race, all the great car-warriors of the Kurus, united together, began to assail Arjuna to the best of their might from all sides. But that hero of immeasurable soul completely covered all those mighty car-warriors with clouds of arrows, even as the mist covereth the mountains. And the roars of huge elephants and conchs, mingling together, produced a loud up roar. And penetrating through the bodies of elephants and horses as also through steel coats of mail, the arrows shot by Partha fell by thousands. And shooting shafts with the utmost celerity, the son of Pandu seemed in that contest to resemble the blazing sun of an autumnal midday. And afflicted with fear, the car-warriors began to leap down from their cars and the horse-soldiers from horse-back, while the foot-soldiers began to fly in all directions.

• Note: "all the great car-warriors of the Kurus," this would have to include Karna as well too.

• Misconception number 2 - 

Uttara was a very poor charioteer, and he did not know that many moves, yet Arjuna was able to still win in war despite having a driver like that.

• Debunk: Wrong, Uttara was actually a really good charioteer, here is the proof from Virata Parva
• Source:

Then the son of Virata, turning the steed to the left began to perform circuitous evolution called Yamaka and thus withstood all those warriors.

• The above quote proves that Uttara had the knowledge of the Yamaka maneuver in car driving. It's clear like water that Uttara was not a mediocre charioteer. He had great knowledge of driving.

• Misconception number 3 - 

Considering his Virata war performance Arjuna should have bene able to kill Bhisma and Drona in the Kurukshetra war

• Debunk: Arjuna did not end the Kurukshetra war in a single day because of many reasons.
• He did not want to cause colossal damage:

Arjuna to Yudhishthira (on the 17th day): - Karna Parva (the book of Karna) chapter 70

I alone have slain half of the entire (hostile) army. Slaughtered by me, the Bharata host that resembled, O king, the very host of the celestials, is lying dead on the field. I slay those with (high) weapons that are conversant with high weapons. For this reason I do not reduce the three worlds to ashes.

• Point (1) - Arjuna claims that he alone killed half of the enemy army in the war.
• Point (2) - Arjuna says he only uses high weapons (astras) on those who are conversant and knowledgeable about such high weapons (astras).
• He also stated that this was the reason why he did not reduce the Kurukshetra war grounds to ash.
• He had to allow Bhima to keep his vow of slaying Duryodhana and his brothers.
• He had to protect Sahadeva's promise to kill Sakuni.
• In Kurukshetra war Arjuna had to bear the burden of protecting millions of soldiers and comrades, in Virata war he only had to protect one man besides himself Uttara. So their is a clear difference in the situations of both the wars.

• Misconception number 4 -

Arjuna asked for a boon in Vana Parva to remain undefeated at the hands of warriors like Karna, Drona, Bhisma etc - quote:

"Arjuna said, 'O illustrious god having the bull for thy sign, if thou wilt grant me my desire, I ask of thee, O lord that fierce celestial weapon wielded by thee and called Brahmasira--that weapon of terrific prowess which destroyeth, at the end of the Yuga the entire universe--that weapon by the help of which, O god of gods, I may under thy grace, obtain victory in the terrible conflict which shall take place between myself (on one side), and Karna and Bhishma and Kripa and Drona (on the other)--that weapon by which I may consume in battle Danavas and Rakshasas and evil spirits and Pisachas and Gandharvas and Nagas--that weapon which when hurled with Mantras produceth darts by thousands and fierce-looking maces and arrows like snakes of virulent poison, and by means of which I may fight with Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and Karna of ever abusive tongue, O illustrious destroyer of the p. 91 eyes of Bhaga, even this is my foremost desire, viz., that I may be able to fight with them and obtain success.'

• Debunk:
• This quote is an interpolation as it is stating that Arjuna asked Shiva for the Brahmasira (a weapon Arjuna already got during the Adi Parva of Mahabharata). 
• Another possibility is that this quote does not make sense because Arjuna never used the Brahmasira on any of those warriors, not the Gandharvas, not the Nagas, not the Pisachas, not even the Danavas and Rakshasas. And he most certainly did not use it (Pasupata/Brahmasira) on Karna, Bhisma, Kripa & Drona.
• These warriors were not the targets of weapons like Pasupata and Brahmasira.
• Arjuna used ordinary arrows against Nagas.
• Arjuna used the Agneya weapon against Gandharvas.
• Arjuna used the thunderbolt of Indra to beat the Rakshasas.
• Arjuna utilized a Raudra weapon to kill the Danavas.
• Arjuna launched the Anjalika shaft to behead Karna.
• So this can't be true, it's a lie.
• Many incidents in the Mahabharata contradict this incident from Vana Parva where Arjuna asked for the desire to be able to fight with Karna, Bhisma etc.

• Misconception number 5 - 

All the Kuru warriors were just trying to capture Arjuna not actually defeat him.

•  Debunk: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04049.htm
• My answer to this will be a quote of the character "Kripa"
• [Kripa to Karna]:

But irresistible though he be p. 86 in battle, we should fight against him. Let, therefore, our troops, clad in mail, stand here arrayed in ranks and ready to strike. Let Drona and Duryodhana and Bhishma and thyself and Drona's son and ourselves, all fight with the son of Pritha. Do not O Kama, act so rashly as to fight alone. If we six car-warriors be united, we can then be a match for and fight with that son of Pritha who is resolved to fight and who is as fierce as the wielder of the thunderbolt. Aided by our troops arrayed in ranks, ourselves--great bowmen--standing carefully will fight with Arjuna even as the Danavas encounter Vasava in battle.'"

• Misconception number 6 -

Arjuna was disguised as a eunuch by the name of Vrihanalla, so that's why Karna and Bhisma refused to fight him and accepted defeat, they let Arjuna wound him and claim victory. They did not even know it was Arjuna.

• Debunk: Lies all lies, the reality is actually that every single person even the foot soldiers of the Kuru army (at Virata war) knew that they were encountering Arjuna not Vrihanalla. Here is the proof:

Screenshot from original BORI Mahabharata

• Also: On the tenth day of the Kurukshetra war, Bhisma attacked a eunuch named "Sikhandin" http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06120.htm

Then Sikhandin, O king, excited with rage, struck the grandsire of the Bharatas in the chest with nine sharp arrows. The Kuru grandsire Bhishma, however, though struck by him in battle, thus, trembled not, O monarch, but remained unmoved like a mountain during an earthquake. Then Vibhatsu, drawing his bow Gandiva with a laugh, pierced the son of Ganga with five and twenty arrows. And once more, Dhananjaya, with great speed and excited with wrath struck him in every vital part with hundreds of arrows. Thus pierced by others, also with thousands of arrows, the mighty car-warrior Bhishma pierced those others in return with great speed. And as regards the arrows shot by those warriors, Bhishma, possessed of prowess in battle that was incapable of being baffled, equally checked them all with his own straight arrows.

• Here is another instance where Bhisma broke his vow of not attacking Sikhandi: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06086.htm

King Yudhishthira then, beholding Sikhandin flying away, having had his weapon cut off by Santanu's son became filled with anger. The high-souled Ajatasatru, angrily addressing Sikhandin in that battle, said these words, 'Thou saidst at that time, in the presence of thy sire, unto me – Even I shall slay Bhishma of high vows with my shafts of the hue of the effulgent sun. Truly do I say this. – Even this was thy oath. That oath of thine thou dost not fulfil inasmuch as thou dost not slay Devavrata in battle. O hero, be not a person of unfulfilled vow. Take care of thy virtue, race, and fame.

• Misconception number 7 -

Arjuna merely used the Sammohana weapon and swooned all warriors making them unconscious and sleeping, thus Arjuna won the fight but did not actually win (through his own prowess), it is his weapons that make him powerful. If you give this Sammohana even to Sakuni, then even he can defeat Karna and co.

• Debunk: This is a very pathetic claim and shows the desperation of people to lie just in order to defend their over-glorified heroes.
• Before the usage of the Sammohana weapon, Arjuna still defeated Kripa, Karna, Drona, Bhisma, Duhsasana, Vikarna, Suyodhana etc.
• Defeats of Bhisma before Sammohana-astra:
• Incident 1 - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04055.htm
• Incident 2 - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04063.htm
• Incident 3 - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04064.htm
• Defeats of Karna before Sammohana-astra:
• Incident 1 - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04054.htm
• Incident 2 - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04055.htm
• Incident 3 - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04060.htm
• Incident 4 - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04061.htm
• It is also possible that Arjuna never used Sammohana to force all of his opponents into unconsciousness but instead used the sound of conch "Devadatta"
• Here is the quote of text: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04065.htm

And once more, taking up with both his hands that large conch of loud blare, Partha, that slayer of foes, blew it with force and filled the cardinal and other points, the whole earth, and sky, with that noise. And those foremost of the Kuru heroes were all deprived of their senses p. 115 by the sound of that conch blown by Partha.

• So he probably never even used the Sammohana weapon in the Virat war.

• Misconception number 8 -

The goal of Suyodhana, Bhisma and Karna & Drona was not to defeat Arjuna but to break the year of incognito.

• Debunk: That is false. The truth is that the Kouravas main goal and aim was to conquer matsya desh and Arjuna became the greatest obstacle in their path to achieving this goal. Here is the proof that they all were planning to conquer the kingdom's wealth. Here is proof once again from BORI Mahabharata

  

All in all the Kaurava were not expecting Arjuna to arrive their and fight them, but they clearly recognized him in the war and they knew who they were fighting with when push came to shove.

• And they clearly chose to fight Arjuna once the encounter started. 
• Bhisma said so: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04051.htm

O preceptor's son, do thou forgive. This is not the time for disunion. Let all of us, uniting, fight with Indra's son who hath come. Of all the calamities that may befall an army that have been enumerated by men of wisdom, the worst is disunion among the leaders. 

• It's like their goal was to fight Arjuna.
• Misconception number 9 - 

Arjuna had Hanumana on the flag of his chariot, he was dampening the energy of Arjuna's opponents

• Debunk:
• Of course this shows the true colors and nature of the majority of debaters in the Karna fanbase that they need to come up with some excuse to justify the losses of their hero.
• First of all the ape that was present on Arjuna's flag was clearly not Hanuman
• Second of all if Karna's energy is dampened by the roar of some random ape then it shows how incompetent Karna is.
• No where was it mentioned in the text of the actual fight that Karna was not at his full potential/capacity/ability in this war.
• Whenever the chariot banner is talked about, it simply mentions "great ape", not Hanumana. At-least in virata parva war.
• Here is the proof:
• All mentions of the ape in Virata Parva
• Incident 1: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04046.htm

And he hoisted on that car his own golden banner bearing the figure of an ape with a lion's tail, which was a celestial illusion contrived by Viswakarman himself. For, as soon, indeed, as he had thought of that gift of Agni, than the latter, knowing his wish, ordered those superhuman creatures (that usually sat there) to take their place in that banner.

• This is Vaisampayana's opinion:
• He considered the ape a mere figure and a celestial illusion.
• This leads to many possibilities. So since it was an illusion we can say that the ape was fake and did not actually exist, he was never on Arjuna's flag to begin with.
• It's just a banner.... what type of advantage could it possibly provide? 
• I don't see anything unfair about this.
• Incident 2: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04048.htm

Having obtained weapons from that best of ascetics--the son of Jamadagni, I would, relying on their energy, fight with even the celestials. Struck with my javelin, the ape stationed on his banner-top shall fall down today on the ground, uttering terrible cries. The firmament will today be filled with the cries of the (super-human) creatures stationed in the flagstaff of the foe, and afflicted by me, they will fly away in all directions.

• Note what Karna said:
• He compared the ape to super human creatures.
• He considered the "ape" to be weaker than celestials (the Devas).
• This clearly proves the ape cannot be considered the same Hanuman that defeated the Deva Surya in his childhood.
• He considered the ape on Arjuna's flag to be weak compared to him.
• Incident 3: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04053.htm

And noting all this, and seeing that great car-warrior--the wielder of the Gandiva--come, Drona spoke thus, 'That is the banner-top of Partha which shineth at a distance, and this is the noise of his car, and that is the ape that roareth frightfully. Indeed, the ape striketh terror in the troops.

• Note that as per Drona the ape only frightened soldiers not car-warriors like Karna, Bhisma, Aswathama, Duhsasana, Suyodhana etc.
• Incident 4: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04054.htm

And beholding Kiritin filling the air with the twang of Gandiva, and the upraised tail of the monkey that constituted his flag and that terrible creature yelling furiously from the top of his flagstaff, Karna sent forth a loud roar.

• Just because the monkey (ape) yelled that doesn't mean that the ape was Hanuman. It could just be an ordinary ape. 
• And anyways Karna was not even frightened (scared) by it.
• Incident 5: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04063.htm

And Bhishma, endued with great energy, pierced Partha's flag-staff with eight arrows. The arrows reaching the flag-staff of Pandu's son, struck the blazing ape and those creatures also stationed in the banner-top.

• The text just states that Bhisma struck the ape with with 8 arrows, the effect the arrows had on the ape is not even stated.
• Misconception number 10 -

Arjuna won these fights only due to the advantage of his celestial bow (Gandiva). While all other warriors were just fighting with the use of an ordinary bow at their disposal.

• Debunk: So what if he used a different bow? I fail to see your points.
• Look at the advantages that Karna had:
• He did a group attack on Arjuna: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04054.htm

And seeing this those mighty car-warriors, Chitrasena and Sangramajit and Satrusaha and Jaya, desirous of aiding Karna, rushed with arrows and long shafts, towards the advancing hero of Bharata's race.

• I'm pretty sure that the difference in their bows would be made up in the difference of how fighters were on one side compared to the other. Arjuna was alone against Karna, Chitrasena (perhaps the Gandharva lol), Sangramajit and Jaya & Satrusaha. It was five (led by Karna) vs one (Arjuna).
• The support of several more warrior (including Bhisma) in another encounter with a single Arjuna:

And Arjuna then shot three and seventy arrows of sharp points at Drona, and ten at Dussaha and eight at Drona's son, and twelve at Dussasana, and three at Kripa, the son of Saradwat. And that slayer of foes pierced Bhishma, the son of Santanu, with arrows, and king Duryodhana with a hundred. And, lastly, he pierced Karna in the ear with a bearded shaft. And when that great bowmen Karna, skilled in all weapons, was thus pierced, and his horses and car and car-driver were all destroyed, the troops that supported him began to break.

• Our great Karna had the help of two students of Parasurama, the mighty Aswathama, king Duryodhana & Kripa yet he could not cause any notable wound on Arjuna's body and gain any advantage against him (Arjuna), that too just because of a bow?
• No this excuse is not valid, it is a foolish excuse, created by blind fanatics. The true excuse should be Karna is useless.
• The mercy of Arjuna, he would spare the life of Karna
• Arjuna was ethical enough to not slay the unconscious Karna twice. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04065.htm
• The opportunity to run and hide and wait to recover - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04054.htm
• Karna caught fleeing again - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04060.htm
• Double debunk: And for the record Shiva also had the Pinaka bow, Vishnu had the Saranga bow, Rama had the Kodanda bow, Indra had the Vijaya bow, Krishna also used a bow named Saranga, does that mean we should credit all of their victories to their bows instead of their competence?
• Arjuna used the Gandiva bow because it is the only bow that suits the strength, speed and force his arms had acquired over the years. No other bow would work anymore, this was stated in the Khandava-Daha Parva: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01227.htm

Vibhatsu said unto him these words well-suited to the occasion, I have numberless excellent celestial weapons with which I can fight even many wielders of the thunderbolt. But, O exalted one, I have no bow suited to the strength p. 439 of my arms, and capable of bearing the might I may put forth in battle. In consequence of the lightness of my hands also I require arrows that must never be exhausted.

• His arrows would run out quickly due to the fast rate in which he fires them. Which is why he needed those inexhaustible quivers.
• And for the record, warriors with an ordinary bow like Susharman, Aswathama, Duryodhana etc, have been able to achieve better feats than Karna in the Kurukshetra war. And they did not need the help of any celestial bow like Vijaya, they were also able to swoon Arjuna, and check him, and even break his bow-string unlike Karna who failed to accomplish this without his celestial Vijaya bow. SO i guess they were more powerful than Karna. (At-least based on karnian logic).

• Misconception number 11 -

Karna was still afflicted by the loss of his armor and ear-rings (from Vana Parva) in the Wirata war (of Virata Parva). Thus Karna was not even at full power.

• Debunk: Nowhere was it ever written that prior to the battle of Virata) our Karna was still afflicted and suffering from the pain of losing his Kavach Kundal. 
• As a matter of fact Karna said that he was fully capable and fully equipped to fight with Arjuna, he said he was ready completely prepared for the war.
• On the other hand Karna himself says that it is not him but Arjuna who was afflicted and out of shape and not in his prime, that Arjuna will not be able to fight to his full potential not Karna.

Having been engaged in ascetic austerities for the (last) eight and five years, Vibhatsu will strike me but mildly in this conflict, and the son of Kunti having become a Brahmana endued with good qualities, hath thus become a fit person to quietly receive shafts by thousands shot by me.

• So over here Karna basically exposed his own followers the own fan made claims have been debunked by vimna partho karna. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04048.htm

• Misconception number 12 -

None of the warriors who fought Arjuna, even used any celestial weapons of mass destruction on him.

• Debunk: Nice joke, here are multiple incidents where divine weapons were used on Arjuna. Only bhisma and drona used them in this war against Arjuna by the way.
• Bhisma used weapons on Arjuna - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04063.htm
• First incident:

And unable to bear this, Bhishma though cognisant of the Pandava's might, covered Dhananjaya with a powerful celestial weapon.

• Second incident:

And repelling weapons with weapons, those two bulls of the Bharata race, both endued with great might, fought on playfully and infatuated the eyes of all created beings. And those illustrious warriors ranged on the field of battle, using the celestials weapons obtained from Prajapati and Indra, and Agni and the fierce Rudra, and Kuvera, and Varuna, and Yama, and Vayu. And all beings were greatly surprised, upon beholding those warriors engaged in combat. And they all exclaimed,--Bravo Partha of long arms? Bravo Bhishma! Indeed, this application of celestial weapons that is being witnessed in the combat between Bhishma and Partha is rare among human beings."

• Drona used such weapons as well: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04058.htm
• First instance:

And the fierce and terrible encounter that took place between the illustrious Drona and Arjuna resembled that between Virata and Vasava of old. And discharging arrows at each other from bows drawn at their fullest stretch, they resembled two elephants assailing each other with their tusks. And those wrathful warriors--those ornaments of battle--fighting strictly according to established usage, displayed in that conflict various celestial weapons in due order.

• Second instance:

And Bharadwaja's son fought on with Falguna, resisting with his own the celestial weapons shot by the former. And the fight that took place between those enraged lions among men, incapable of bearing each other, was like unto encounter between the gods and the Danavas. And the son of Pandu repeatedly baffled with his own, the Aindra, the Vayavya, and the Agneya weapons that were shot by Drona.

• Misconception number 13 -

Karna's performance was better than Arjuna's in this war.

• Refute: lol, hahahahah, this is the biggest lie in history of the Mahabharata community and the Karna vs Arjuna debate. It does not even deserve a debunk. But fine. I'll show you the truth, Arjuna killed Karna's brother Sangramajit, yet Karna never killed any of Arjuna's comrades. So how can you say karna's performance was better? Karna repeatedly resorted to rule breaking and sacrificed his ethics to fight against Arjuna but Arjuna never let go of his ethics to fight Karna.
• If his performance was better than in every reference of this war Karna would have been praised not Arjuna. Karna would not have been insulted, bashed, rebuked, exposed, disgraced etc for his repeated defeats at the hands of his opponent in this war.
• Bhisma talked about Karna's performance: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05049.htm

Beholding in the city of Virata his beloved brother slain by Dhananjaya who displayed such prowess, what did this one then do? When Dhananjaya, rushing against all the assembled Kurus, crushed them and took away their robes, was this one not there then?

• Bhisma clearly asked people alot of rhetorical questions about Karna's performance in that war.
• Krishna talks about the performance of Karna: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05079.htm

About a year ago, on the occasion of attacking Virata's kine, did not Bhishma, on their way back, solicit Duryodhana about this very peace so beneficial to all? Believe me, they have been defeated even then when their defeat was resolved by thee.

• When Shalya asks Karna about the Virata war, this is what he says: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08037.htm

On the occasion also of the seizure of (Virata's) kine, the Kauravas, swelling with numbers in respect of both men and animals, and having the preceptor and the preceptor's son and Bhishma amongst them, were vanquished by that foremost of men. Why, O son of Suta, didst thou not vanquish Arjuna then? For thy destruction another excellent battle has now presented itself. If thou dost not fly away from fear of thy enemy, know O Suta's son, that as soon as thou goest to battle thou wilt be slain.

• Now look at Karna's response:

"'Karna said, "Let it be so, let it be so. Why, however, dost thou indulge in Arjuna's praises? A battle is about to ensue between myself and him. If he vanquishes me in fight, then will these thy praises be regarded as well-uttered.'"

• Shalya once again exposes Karna's defeat/performance!: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08041.htm

There where, like a pack of jackals defeated by a lion, ye all were defeated with great slaughter by the diadem-decked Arjuna, what became of your prowess? Beholding also thy brother slain by Savyasaci, in the very sight of the Kuru heroes, it was thou that didst fly away first.

• Kripa talks to karna about Virat war:

In Virata's city also, all the Kauravas, united together, including thyself and thy younger brother were vanquished by Partha in battle. Thou art not a match for even one of the sons of Pandu, viz., Phalguna, on the field of battle. 

He clearly considered this as Karna's defeat. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07154.htm

• Misconception number 14 - 

Arjuna had a impenetrable armor during this war.

• Debunk: Every single armor in Mahabharata is useless whether it is states as impenetrable or not each armor was broken through. None of the armors ever protected anyone from their deaths, and the weapons of an enemy. An armor cannot cover all parts of your body so this theory of impenetrable armor is quite foolish and stupid, it just shows sheer desperation and reaching for excuses to defend the warrior images of Bhisma, Duryodhana & Karna etc.

Here is proof of others defeating a dozen warriors who had such armor and boasted of it as impenetrable, you can find this incident in the Drona Parva of Mahabharata.

• Defeat of Kavach Kundala dhari Kritavarman: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07112.htm

Indeed, Satyaki, then aiming another arrow of golden wings, that emitted blazing flames and resembled an angry snake, or the rod of the Destroyer himself, pierced Kritavarman. That terrible arrow, penetrating through his antagonist's effulgent armour decked with gold, entered the earth, dyed with blood. Afflicted with the shafts of Satwata, and bathed in blood in that battle, Kritavarman throwing aside his bow with arrow, fell upon his car. That lion-toothed hero of immeasurable prowess, that bull among men, afflicted by Satyaki with his arrows, fell on his knees upon the terrace of his car.

• Defeat of Kavach Kundala dhari Drona
• Satyaki said Drona was encased in impenetrable armor: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07107.htm

The preceptor (Drona), cased as he is in impenetrable mail, in consequence of his lightness of arms, obtaining thee in battle, will sport with thee as a child with a little bird.

•  Yet Satyaki was still able to wound Drona: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07113.htm

The grandson of Sini then, O king, pierced Drona with many winged arrows. Indeed, striking him on the right arm, Satyaki, O bull of Bharata's race, afflicted him greatly. 

• Misconception number 15 -

Indra fought on behalf of Arjuna in the Virat war

• Debunk:

This is the quote provided by the Karnians:

And struck and mangled by Partha, the hostile warriors thought that,--Verily, Indra himself, desirous of Partha's victory, accompanied by all the immortals is slaying us! And they also regarded Vijaya, who was making a terrible slaughter around, to be none else than Death himself who having assumed the form of Arjuna, was slaying all creatures.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04055.htm Even though Karna was not even among those that was being slain.

Now this is another quote to prove that Indra was not fighting alongside Arjuna, he was all alone, Indra was a spectator while Arjuna (who was Indra's son was fighting).

And all the celestials with Indra, stationed in the firmament, gazed with wonder upon another celestial weapon hurled with great force by that wonderful archer Arjuna. And beholding that wonderful weapon of great beauty, the mighty Gandiva, Chitrasena, highly pleased, addressed the lord of celestials, saying, 'Behold these arrows shot by Partha coursing through the sky in one continuous line. Wonderful is the dexterity of Jishnu in evolving this celestial weapon!

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04063.htm Over here Indra's name is clearly used, and it is written in clear English language that he was a spectator, that he was looking at the battle of Arjuna and Bhisma, gazing with wonder. Even Chitrasena the leader of the Gandharvas that defeated Karna) was a spectator of the war.

Arjuna's claims:

I slew of old, at Indra's command, hundreds and thousands p.108 of Paulomas and  Kalakhanjas in battle. I have obtained my firmness of grasp from Indra, and my lightness of hand from Brahman, and I have learnt various modes of fierce attack and defence amid crowds of foes from Prajapati. I vanquished, on the other side of the great ocean, sixty thousands of car-warriors--all fierce archers--residing in Hiranyapura. Behold, now I defeat the multitudinous host of the Kurus like a tempest scattering a heap of cotton.

This clearly mean that when Arjuna was attacking the Kuru warriors and slaying some of them, he resembled Indra killing the Danavas. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04061.htm
Conclusion: Indra was not a part of the Virata war. Arjuna was the only one fighting from Virata's side.