by, me, O Sanjaya!  O sire, Subala’s son used to be then regarded as a politic person.  Karna also is always exceedingly attached to king Duryodhana.  Alas, when such is the case, O Sanjaya, why have I then to hear of the frequent defeats and deaths of my sons?  There is no one that can resist the Pandavas in battle.  They penetrate into my army like a man into the midst of helpless women.  Destiny, indeed, is supreme.’

“Sanjaya said, ’O king, think now of all those wrongful acts of thine like that match at dice and the others—­acts that have passed away from the subjects of thought with man.  One should not, however, reflect on bygone acts.  One may be ruined by such reflection.  That result (which thou hadst expected) is now much removed from the point of fruition, since, although possessed of knowledge, thou didst not reflect on the propriety or impropriety of thy acts then.  Many a time wert thou, O king, counselled against warring with the Pandavas.  Thou didst not, however, O monarch, accept those counsels, from folly.  Diverse sinful acts of a grave nature were perpetrated by thee against the sons of Pandu.  For those acts this awful slaughter of kings hath now come.  All that, however, is now past.  Do not grieve, O bull of Bharata’s race.  O thou of unfading glory, listen now to the details of the awful carnage that has occurred.

“’When the night dawned, Karna repaired to king Duryodhana.  Approaching the king, the mighty-armed hero said, “I shall, O king, engage in battle today the illustrious son of Pandu.  Either I will slay that hero today, or he will slay me.  In consequence of the diverse things both myself and Partha had to do, O Bharata, an encounter, O king, could not hitherto take place between myself and Arjuna!  Listen now, O monarch, to these words of mine, spoken according to my wisdom.  Without slaying Partha in battle I will not come back, O Bharata.  Since this army of ours hath been deprived of its foremost warriors, and since I will stand in battle, Partha will advance against me, especially because I am destitute of the dart Sakra gave me.  Therefore, O ruler of men, listen now to what is beneficial.  The energy of my celestial weapons is equal to the energy of Arjuna’s weapons.  In counteracting the feats of powerful foes, in lightness of hands, in range of the arrows shot, in skill, and in hitting the mark, Savyasaci is never my equal.  In physical strength, in courage, in knowledge of (weapons), in prowess, O Bharata, in aiming, Savyasaci is never my equal.  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