sake of honouring Agni, Jaya had vanquished asuras and gods and great snakes and men and birds and pishacas and yakshas and rakshasas with his shafts and gave unto that god the food he had desired.  Dost thou remember, O Karna, the occasion when, slaughtering those foes in large numbers with his excellent shafts endued with the effulgence of the Sun, Phalguna liberated Dhritarashtra’s son himself among the Kurus?  Dost thou remember the occasion when, thyself having been the first to fly away, the quarrelsome sons of Dhritarashtra were liberated by the Pandavas after the latter had defeated those rangers of the skies (the gandharvas headed by Citraratha)?  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.’”

“Sanjaya continued, ’When the ruler of the Madras was most heartily engaged in addressing these harsh speeches to Karna and uttering these praises of the latter’s foe, that scorcher of foes, viz., the commander of the Kuru army, excited with rage, said these words unto the Madra king.

“’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.’”

“Sanjaya continued, ’The ruler of the Madras said, “Let it be so,” and gave no reply.  When Karna, from desire of fight, addressed Shalya, saying, “Proceed,” then that great carwarrior, having white steeds yoked unto his vehicle and owning Shalya as his charioteer, proceeded against his foes, slaying large numbers in battle along his way, like the Sun destroying the darkness.  Indeed, on that car covered with tiger-skins and having white steeds yoked unto it, Karna proceeded with a cheerful heart, and beholding the army of the Pandavas, speedily enquired after Dhananjaya.’”

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“Sanjaya said ’After Karna, gladdening thy army, had set out for battle, he spoke unto every Pandava soldier that he met with, even these words:  “Unto him that will today point out the high-souled Dhananjaya of white steeds to me, I will give whatever wealth he desires.  If having got it he does not become satisfied, I shall in addition, give him,—­him that is, that will discover Arjuna to me, a cart-load of jewels and gems.  If that does not satisfy the person who discovers Arjuna to me, I will give him a century of kine with as many vessels of brass for milking those animals.  I will give a hundred foremost of villages unto the person that discovers