So circumstanced, I will become superior to Partha.  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.  Thou wilt then see, O Bharata, what I will achieve in battle.  I will by every means vanquish the sons of Pandu in battle when they will approach me.  The very gods and Asuras are not able to advance against me in battle.  What need be said then of the sons of Pandu that are of human origin?’”

“Sanjaya continued, ’Thus addressed by that ornament of battle, viz., Karna, thy son, worshipping the son of Radha, answered him, with a glad heart, saying, “Accomplish that, O Karna, which thou thinkest.  Equipped with goodly quivers and steeds, such cars shall follow thee in battle.  Let as many cars as thou wishest bear thy long shafts and arrows equipped with vulturine feathers.  Ourselves, as also all the kings, O Karna will, follow thee in battle.’”

“Sanjaya continued, ’Having said these words, thy royal son, endued with great prowess, approached the ruler of the Madras and addressed him in the following words.’”

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“Sanjaya said, ’Thy son then, O monarch, humbly approaching that mighty car-warrior, viz., the ruler of the Madras, addressed him, from affection, in these words, “O thou of true vows, O thou of great good fortune, O enhancer of the sorrows of foes, O ruler of the Madras, O hero in battle, O thou that inspirest hostile troops with fear, thou hast heard, O foremost of speakers, how, for the sake of Karna who spoke unto me, I myself am desirous of soliciting thee among all these lions of kings.  O thou of incomparable prowess, O king of the Madras, for the destruction of the foe, I solicit thee today, with humility and bow of the head.  Therefore, for the destruction of Partha and for my good, it behoveth thee, O foremost of car-warriors, to accept, from love, the office of charioteer.  With thee for his driver, the son of Radha will subjugate my foes.  There is none else for holding the reins of Karna’s steeds, except thee, O thou of great good fortune, thou that art the equal of Vasudeva in battle.  Protect Karna then by every means like Brahma protecting Maheswara.  Even as he of Vrishni’s race protects by every means the son of Pandu in all dangers, do thou, O chief of the Madras, protect the son of Radha today.  Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa, and thyself and the valiant ruler of the Bhojas, and Shakuni the son of Subala, and Drona’s son and myself, constituted the chief strength of our army.  Even thus, O lord of Earth, we had divided amongst ourselves