“’Shalya said, “O foremost of men, many a time have I heard this excellent and celestial history, recited to me, of those two lions among gods.  Indeed, I have heard how the Grandsire acted as the driver of Bhava and how the Asuras also, O Bharata, were all destroyed with one shaft.  Krishna also had knowledge of all this before, the knowledge, viz., of how the illustrious Grandsire had become the driver on that occasion of yore.  Indeed, Krishna knoweth the past and the future with all their details.  Knowing this fact, he became the driver, O Bharata, of Partha like the Self-create becoming the driver of Rudra.  If the Suta’s son, by some means, succeeds in slaying the son of Kunti, Keshava, beholding Partha slain, will fight himself.  That bearer of the conch, the discus, and the mace, will then consume thy army.  There is no king here that will stay in the ranks in front of that illustrious one of Vrishni’s race when he will be excited with wrath.’”

“Sanjaya said, ’Unto the ruler of the Madras who was speaking in that strain, that chastiser of foes, viz., thy mighty-armed son of cheerful soul replied, saying, “Do not, O mighty-armed one, think disparagingly of Karna, otherwise called Vaikartana, in battle,—­that warrior who is the foremost of all wielders of arms and who is acquainted with the meaning of the whole body of our scriptures.  Hearing the terrible and loud twang of his bow and the sound of his palms, the Pandava troops fly away on all sides.  Thou hast witnessed it with thy own eyes, O mighty-armed one, how Ghatotkaca, screened by his illusions and displaying hundreds of still slain that night (by Karna).  Feeling a great fear all these days Vibhatsu could never stand, fronting Karna.  The mighty Bhimasena also, moved hither and thither by the horn of Karna’s bow, was, O king, addressed in very harsh words such as ‘Fool’ and ‘Glutton.’  The two brave sons of Madri also were defeated by Karna in great battle, though, from some object he had in view, he did not, O sire, slay them then.  That foremost one of Vrishni’s race, viz., the heroic Satyaki, the chief of the Satwata clan, was vanquished by Karna and made carless.  Others, such as all the Srinjayas headed by Dhrishtadyumna, have been repeatedly defeated in battle by Karna the great car-warrior who has achieved all these feats and who excited with wrath, is competent to slay Purandara himself armed with the thunderbolt in fight.  Thyself also, O hero, art acquainted with every weapon.  Thou art, again, the master of all branches of learning.  There is none on Earth who is thy equal in might of arms.  Irresistible in prowess, thou art like a dart (Shalya) unto thy enemies.  It is for this, O king, that thou O slayer of foes, art called ‘Shalya.’  Encountering the might of thy arms, all the Satwatas were unable to get the better of it.  Is Krishna superior to thee in might of arms, O king?  Indeed, as Krishna is to bear the burthen of the Pandava troops upon the slaughter of Partha, even so art thou to bear the burthen of this vast (Kaurava) force if Karna lays down his life.  Why should he be able to resist my troops and why shouldst not thou be able to slay the hostile troops, O sire?  For thy sake, O sire, I would willingly follow the footsteps of my (slain) brothers and the other heroic kings of the Earth.”