"Karna said, 'I behold all these blessed ones, looking as if alarmed and
panic-struck and unresolved and unwilling to fight. If he that is come
is the king of the Matsyas or Vibhatsu, even I will resist him as the
banks resist the swelling sea. Shot from my bow these straight and
flying arrows, like gliding snakes, are all sure of aim. Discharged by
my light hands, these keen-edged arrows furnished with golden wings
shall cover Partha all over, like locusts shrouding a tree. Strongly
pressed by these winged arrows, the bow-string will cause these my
leathern fences to produce sounds that will be heard to resemble those
of a couple of kettle-drums. Having been engaged in ascetic austerities
for the (last) eight and five years, Vibhatsu will strike me but mildly
in this conflict, and the son of Kunti having become a Brahmana endued
with good qualities, hath thus become a fit person to quietly receive
shafts by thousands shot by me. This mighty bowman is indeed, celebrated
over the three worlds. I, too, am, by no means, inferior to Arjuna, that
foremost of human beings. With golden arrows furnished with vulturine
wings shot on all sides, let the firmament seem today to swarm with
fire-flies. Slaying Arjuna in battle, I will discharge today that debt,
difficult of repayments, but promised of old by me unto Dhritarashtra's
son. When man is there, even amongst all the gods and the _Asuras_, that
will endure to stand in the teeth of the straight arrows shot from my
bow? Let my flying arrows, winged and depressed at the middle, present
the spectacle of the coursing of the fire-flies through the welkin. Hard
though he be as Indra's thunderbolt and possessed of the energy of the
chief of the celestials, I will surely grind Partha, even as one
afflicts an elephant by means of burning brands. A heroic and mighty
car-warrior as he is, and the foremost of all wielders of weapons I
shall seize the unresisting Partha, even like Garuda seizing a snake.
Irresistible like fire, and fed by the fuel of swords, darts, and
arrows, the blazing Pandava-fire that consumeth foes, will be
extinguished even by myself who am like unto a mighty cloud incessantly
dropping an arrowy shower,--the multitude of cars (I will lead)
constituting its thunder, and the speed of my horses, the wind in
advance. Discharged from my bow, my arrows like venomous snakes will
pierce Partha's body, like serpent penetrating through an ant-hill.
Pierced with well-tempered and straight shafts endued with golden wings
and great energy, behold ye today the son of Kunti decked like a hill
covered with _Karnikara_ flowers. Having obtained weapons from that best
of ascetics--the son of Jamadagni, I would, relying on their energy,
fight with even the celestials. Struck with my javelin, the ape
stationed on his banner-top shall fall down today on the ground,
uttering terrible cries. The firmament will today be filled with the
cries of the (super-human) creatures stationed in the flagstaff of the
foe, and afflicted by me, they will fly away in all directions. I shall
today pluck up by the roots the long-existing dart in Duryodhana's heart
by throwing Arjuna down from his car. The Kauravas will today behold
Partha with his car broken, his horses killed, his valour gone, and
himself sighing like a snake. Let the Kauravas, following their own will
go away taking this wealth of kine, or, if they wish, let them stay on
their cars and witness my combat.'"