Vaisampayana said, "Then, O mighty king, Drona's son rushed to an
encounter with Arjuna in battle. And beholding his rush to the conflict
like a hurricane, showering shafts like a rain charged cloud Pritha's
son received him with a cloud of arrows. And terrible was the encounter
between them, like that between the gods and the _Danavas_. And they
shot arrows at each other like Virata and Vasava. And the welkin being
enveloped on all sides with arrows, the sun was completely hidden, and
the air itself was hushed. And, O conqueror of hostile cities, as they
assailed and struck each other, loud sounds arose as of bamboos on fire.
And, O king, Aswatthaman's horses being sorely afflicted by Arjuna, they
became bewildered and could not ascertain which way to go. And as
Pritha's son ranged on the field, the powerful son of Drona finding an
opportunity, cut off the string of the _Gandiva_ with an arrow furnished
with a horse-shoe head. And beholding that extraordinary feat of his,
the celestials applauded him highly. And exclaiming--'Well done!'--'Well
done!' Drona and Bhishma, and Karna, and the mighty warrior Kripa, all
applauded that feat of his greatly. And the son of Drona, drawing his
excellent bow, pierced with his shafts, furnished with the feathers of
the _Kanka_ bird, the breast of Partha, that bull among warriors.
Thereupon, with a loud laughter, the mighty-armed son of Pritha attached
a strong and fresh string to _Gandiva_. And moistening his bow-string
with the sweat that stood on his forehead resembling the crescent moon,
Pritha's son advanced towards his adversary, even as an infuriated
leader of a herd of elephants rusheth at another elephant. And the
encounter that took place between those two matchless heroes on the
field of battle was exceedingly fierce and made the bristles of the
spectators stand on their ends. And as those heroes endued with mighty
energy fought on, the two mighty elephants, the Kurus beheld them with
wonder. And those brave bulls among men assailed each other with arrows
of snaky forms and resembling blazing fires. And as the couple of
quivers belonging to the Pandava was inexhaustible, that hero was able
to remain on the field immovable as a mountain. And as Aswatthaman's
arrows, in consequence of his ceaseless discharge in that conflict, were
quickly exhausted, it was for this that Arjuna prevailed over his
adversary. Then Karna, drawing his large bow with great force twanged
the bow-string. And thereupon arose loud exclamation of '_Oh!_' and
'_Alas!_' And Pritha's son, casting his eyes towards the spot where that
bow was twanged, beheld before him the son of Radha. And at that sight
his wrath was greatly excited. And inflamed with ire and desirous of
slaying Karna, that bull of the Kuru race stared at him with rolling
eyes. And, O king, beholding Partha turn away from Aswatthaman's side,
the Kuru warriors discharged thousands of arrows on Arjuna. And the
mighty-armed Dhananjaya, that conqueror of foes, leaving Drona's son,
all on a sudden rushed towards Karna. And rushing towards Karna, with
eyes reddened in anger the son of Kunti, desirous of a single combat
with him, said these words."