INDIA.

PART II.

Duryodhana makes the request to Sálya.

HISTORY OF mounted for the battle; and he received Duryodhana with every mark of respect, and seated him on the same couch with himself." Duryodhana then said to Sálya :-" There is not in my army this day a single person who is equal to you, and just as the Pándavas pride themselves upon having Krishna, so do I pride myself upon having you: Now I have a particular request to make to you: To-day Karna is to combat with Arjuna, whose charioteer is Krishna, and we have no one among us who can drive like Krishna excepting yourself: My request is therefore that you will mount Karna's chariot this day, and drive it for him; and then Karna will certainly be the conqueror of Arjuna."

Sálya's indignation.

birth of Karna

as the son of a charioteer.

Duryodhana

assures Sálya of

ranks him with Krishna.

When Sálya heard this speech he threw himself into a great rage, and rising up from his seat, he struck his hands together, and said:-"O Duryodhana, I have committed one great fault, that when I was going to join the Pándavas I suffered myself to be persuaded to join your army; and He sneers at the now I am punished by being asked to be a charioteer to Karna, who is himself the son of a charioteer: I have a hundred persons in my service who are quite equal to his father, and shall I make myself a servant to him?" So saying, Sálya went out in a rage, but Duryodhana and his brethren followed him, and said:-" We all of us respect his respect, and you as our Chief, and we know that there is no one equal to you in either army save Krishna alone: We did not invite you to be charioteer to Karna out of disrespect, but because such a condescension on your part would ensure us the victory; and surely it would be no more derogatory for you to drive the chariot of Karna than it is for Krishna to drive the chariot of Arjuna." Sálya replied:-" Since you rank me with Krishna I am satisfied; and I will drive Karna's chariot provided he obeys my orders and does as I shall direct him." And Duryodhana agreed to the condition, and he and all his brethren paid many compliments to Sálya. So Sálya rose up and went towards Karna's chariot, and he said to Karna :-" At the request of Duryodhana I have consented to drive your chariot on the condition that you will not swerve from my advice." Karna answered :

"As Síva was charioteer to Bráhma, and Krishna is HISTORY OF charioteer to Arjuna, so have you now conferred a similar

favour upon me."

INDIA. PART II.

tween Karna

specting the

Arjuna.

by a reference

customs of

Karna then ascended the body of the chariot, and sálya drives Karna against sounded his shell and beat his drum; and he said to Súlya:- Arjuna. “Drive speedily, I pray you, to the chariot of Arjuna, for I have nothing to do with Yudhishthira, or Bhíma, or the other Pandavas, but with Arjuna only." And Sálya drove off the chariot; and when they had gone a little way the four horses suddenly halted of their own accord, and a bone Evil omens. fell upon Karna from the air, and it could not be seen from whence it came. And Karna said :- -"O Sálya, these are bad omens, and I much doubt if I shall return in safety from this battle; but I have no intention of returning, so drive me against Arjuna and Krishna, and God's will be done." Then Karna went to the field of battle, and there arose a conten- Contention betion between Karna and Sálya, for Sálya would vaunt the and Sálya reprowess of Arjuna, and declare that Karna would be alarmed prowess of at the twanging of his bow. And Karna replied in a rage:- Karna retorts "I have heard a description of the people of your country to the depraved of Madra, and you measure me by what you are yourself: Sálya's subjects. In your country, wives and mothers, sisters and daughters, brothers and uncles, all commune together without modesty or shame, and eat flesh and drink wine until they are drunk, and then all dance together in a medley; and if their enemy pray for quarter they continue fighting until they have killed him; and if the enemy prove victorious, they sacrifice their wives and children to him without shame or concern: But I have taken you with me to assist me in this conflict, not to try and terrify me with Arjuna, and be a cause of mischief to me: If your heart be right towards me, conduct me at once to Arjuna, and you shall then see how I will deal with him; but if you mean to deceive me, descend from the chariot before the battle begins, that I may get another driver in time, and do what I have to do; for if during the combat I see any sign of treachery in you, I will certainly slay you." And Sálya, hearing these words, began to drive Karna towards the ranks of the Pándavas.

Karna charges

Now when Karna charged the Pándavas, Arjuna had the Pandavas

PART II.

Karna attacks

the absence of

Reproaches

Yudhishthira

ice he had im

bibed from Brahmans.

Wrath of Yud

hishthira at

being left with

out protection.

HISTORY OF again gone away to fight against Susarman and his brethren; INDIA. and Karna bore down upon the Pándavas, and pressed on to the spot where Yudhishthira was, and commenced a battle Yudhishthira in with him. And at first Yudhishthira wounded Karna in the Arjuna. breast, but Karna pressed him hard; and the people of Yudhishthira placed him on a fleet horse to favour his escape; but Karna pursued him, and pulled him off the horse by the neck, and said:" Had you been a true Kshatriya and son for the coward- of a Raja, you would never have turned your back upon the field of battle; but as you have spent so much of your time amongst Bráhmans, and have borrowed their disposition and manners, you cannot stand in the field against men of courage: Take therefore to your heels, for why should I slay you? Though had you been Arjuna I would have put you to death without hesitation." So Karna turned about, and left Yudhishthira upon the ground; and Yudhishthira was presently removed by his own people, but he bitterly reproached Bhíma and Dhrishta-dyumna for having suffered him to be so greatly dishonoured in the absence of Arjuna. Then Bhíma fell upon Karna, and a great battle ensued, and Karna once again bore down like a lion upon the ranks of the Pandavas. Meantime Arjuna had conquered Susarman and his brethren; and hearing that Karna was making great havoc he became alarmed for his elder brother Yudhishthira, and desired Krishna to drive him back to the side of Yudhishthira. And Krishna did so, and Yudhishthira was rejoiced to see them, for he thought that Arjuna had left Auger of Yud him to fight Karna. When however Yudhishthira heard Arjuna for fight that Arjuna had merely gone away to fight Susarman, he when he should was in a great rage; and he taunted Arjuna with having fled from Karna, and bade him give up his weapons to Krishna, and take himself the place of charioteer, so that Krishna might go out and fight against Karna. Then Arjuna was furious at the reproaches of Yudhishthira, and drew his threatens to kill sword, and would have killed him on the spot, had not Krishna interposed and prevented him. Arjuna then cried out:-"I have vowed to kill any man who should tell me to lay aside my arms, and therefore I must kill the Raja what

hishthira with

ing Susarman

have been fighting Karna.

Arjuna taunted by Yudhishthira.

Draws his

sword, and

Yudhishthira.

INDIA." PART II.

ever guilt I may incur." But Krishna said :-" Away with HISTORY OF you and your speech for threatening to kill your Raja! Have you never read the Vedas, or heard that any one who attempts the life of his father, or elder brother, or Raja, will never see Swarga, for that God's anger will be kindled against him, and a perpetual curse fall upon him?" Then Arjuna was much abashed, and said:"How am I to escape from my guilt; I am compelled to break my resolution to kill any one who desired me to lay down my arms, and I have threatened the life of my Raja and elder brother." Krishna answered:-"The satisfaction of Raja Yudhishthira will absolve you of both, and that satisfaction depends upon your slaying Karna." Krishna then went to Yudhishthira Reconciled to and interceded for Arjuna, and cast Arjuna at his feet, and by Krishna. the two brothers were again reconciled.

Yudhishthira

by Duhsásana.

between Bhima

All this while Bhíma had engaged in a deadly conflict Bhima attacked with Karna and Duryodhana; when Duryodhana's brother Duhsásana came up to their aid, and shooting an arrow from one side, he slew Bhíma's charioteer. Now Duhsásana was that wicked Kaurava who had dragged Draupadí into the gambling pavilion, and treated her like a slave girl; and Bhíma had sworn a great oath that the day should come when he would drink the blood of Duhsásana. And when Deadly conflict Bhíma saw Duhsásana he was filled with wrath; and he and Duhsasana. aimed such a stroke at Duhsásana with his mace, that he drove him, chariot and all, to the distance of a bow-shot; and Duhsásana fell with such force to the ground that he broke all his bones, whilst his chariot was dashed to pieces. Duhsásana trembled for a moment, and began to give up the ghost, when Bhíma running up to him lifted him from the ground and whirled him round his head, and shouted with a loud voice :-" O Kauravas! Behold Duhsásana has Bhima's address come to the aid of Karna, and see how I have smitten him: Whoever of you has sufficient strength and courage, let him come and release Duhsásana from my hands!" No one however dared to approach, and Bhíma continued thus:— "This day I fulfil my vow against the man who insulted Fulfils his vow Draupadí!" Then setting his foot on the breast of Duh- blood of Duh

to the Kauravas.

by drinking the

sásana

HISTORY OF Súsana, he drew his sword, and cut off the head of his

INDIA. PART II.

Arjuna goes!

battle with

Karna.

Arjuna and

Karna address

charioteers.

enemy; and holding his two hands to catch the blood, he drank it off, crying out:-"Ho! ho! Never did I taste anything in this world so sweet as this blood." At this sight the Kauravas began to weep very bitterly, whilst the Pándavas rejoiced; and the Kauravas threw away their arms and fled, saying:- This is not a man, for if he were he would not drink human blood!"

Meantime Arjuna had gone forth in his chariot, with forth to a final Krishna for his charioteer, to fight against Karna; and this battle was the most famous in all the war. And when Arjuna and Karna beheld each other they sounded their war-shells, and prepared for a terrible combat; for each one was determined either to conquer his enemy, or to give The armies stop up the ghost upon the plain. And all the warriors in both fighting, and the gods descend armies gave over fighting and stood round to see the great from heaven. battle; and all the gods came down from heaven to behold the contest between Arjuna and Karna; and Karna said to Sálya :-"This day now be so careful of myself and my their respective chariot, that the whole world may resound with your commendations." Arjuna also said to Krishna :-" You know full well the valour and prowess of Karna; I therefore beseech you so to manage my chariot that Karna may find no occasion of advantage over me." Then the battle commenced, each one shooting arrows at the other from his own chariot, whilst all the armies of the Pándavas and Kauravas looked on; and for a long time no man could say who would gain the day. At length Arjuna was so wounded and stunned by the arrows of Karna that he would have been defeated, but at that moment one of the wheels of Karna's chariot sunk deeply into the earth, and it would not stir, notwithstanding all that Sálya could do to urge the horses to the utmost. And Karna leaped from his chariot to relieve the wheel, and cried out to Arjuna :-"Hold your hand for one moment, to give me the chance of recovering

The battle.

A wheel of

Karna's chariot sinks into the earth.

Arjuna stays

from fighting.

Krishna re

minds Arjuna of my wheel; for it is no mark of manhood to strike at me

the insults to

Draupadi and

murder of Abhimanyu.

whilst I am in this extremity." And Arjuna stayed his hand, but Krishna cried out :-"O Karna, what you say is