43

“Sanjaya said, ’That chastiser of foes, viz., the son of Radha, thus silencing the ruler of the Madras, once more addressed him, O monarch, saying these words, “In answer to that which, O Shalya, thou hast said unto me by way of instance, I tell thee that I am incapable of being frightened by thee in battle with thy words.  If all the gods themselves with Vasava would fight with me, I would not still feel any fear, what need be said then of my fears from Pritha and Keshava?  I am incapable of being frightened by means of words alone.  He, O Shalya, whom thou wouldst be able to frighten in battle is some other person (and not myself)!  Thou hast spoken many bitter words to me.  Therein lieth the strength of a person that is low.  Incapable of speaking of my merits, thou sayst many bitter things, O thou of wicked heart; Karna was never born, O Madraka, for fear in battle.  On the other hand, I was born for displaying valour as also for achieving glory for my own self.  For the sake of my friendship for thee, for my affection, and for thy being an ally,—­for these three reasons thou still livest, O Shalya.  Important is the task that has now to be done for king Dhritarashtra.  That task, O Shalya, depends on me.  For this, thou livest a moment.  Before this, I made a compact with thee that any disagreeable speeches thou mightest utter would be pardoned by me.  That compact should be observed.  It is for this that thou livest, O Madraka.  Without a 1,000 Salyas I would vanquish my foes.  He that injureth a friend is sinful.  It is for this that thou livest for the present.’”

44

“’Shalya said, “These, O Karna, are ravings that thou utterest regarding the foe.  As regards myself without a 1,000 Karnas I am able to vanquish the foe in battle.’”

“Sanjaya continued, ’Unto the ruler of Madras, of harsh features, who was saying such disagreeable things unto Karna, the latter once more said words that were twice bitter.

“’Karna said, “Listen with devoted attention to this, O ruler of the Madras, that was heard by me while it was recited in the presence of Dhritarashtra.  In Dhritarashtra’s abode the brahmanas used to narrate the accounts of diverse delightful regions and many kings of ancient times.  A foremost one among brahmanas, venerable in years while reciting old histories, said these words, blaming the Vahikas and Madrakas, ’One should always avoid the Vahikas, those impure people that are out of the pale of virtue, and that live away from the Himavat and the Ganga and Sarasvati and Yamuna and Kurukshetra and the Sindhu and its five tributary rivers.  I remember from the days of my youth that a slaughter-ground for kine and a space for storing intoxicating spirits always distinguish the entrances of the abodes of the (Vahika) kings.  On some very secret mission I had to live among the Vahikas.  In consequence of such residence the conduct of these people is well known to me.  There is a town of