King Dhritarashtra, consumed by anxiety and inward agitation, addressed Sanjaya in a voice burdened with grief and doubt. “Again and again,” said the monarch, “Duryodhana extolled Karna as the unconquerable hero destined to overwhelm the sons of Pandu; yet my heart trembles when I behold the immeasurable strength of Bheemasena. He who slew the mighty Jarasandha, who shattered innumerable warriors of dreadful renown, now advances upon the field like a blazing fire consuming dry forest. How then could Durjaya, Durmukha, and those tender princes, scarcely mature in the discipline of war, be sent against such a warrior? What wisdom was there in assigning inexperienced youths to protect Karna from the fury of Bheema? Surely this reveals the absence of discretion in Duryodhana, for he entrusted immature strength against a force as irresistible as death itself. Not Bheema alone, but Arjuna, the sons of Pandu, Satyaki, and even Sri Krishna stand upon that field as masters of terrible warfare and unconquerable prowess. By what confidence does my son imagine that he can oppose such heroes?”
Sanjaya, hearing the lamentation of the blind king, replied with measured firmness. “Why, O King, do you cast reproach upon the Pandavas while forgetting the root from which this calamity has sprung? A man who knowingly drinks poison with his own hands should not lament when torment overtakes his body. In the same manner, your son, driven by envy and blinded by arrogance, cultivated enmity against the sons of Pandu without reflecting upon the inevitable consequences. Therefore abandon fruitless sorrow and listen instead to the unfolding of the dreadful war.”
Sanjaya then continued his narration of the battlefield. “Seeing Karna distressed and hard pressed by Bheemasena, your sons—Durmarshana, Durmada, Dussaha, Vijaya, and Vichitra—rushed forward together with fierce determination. They surrounded Bheema and released torrents of arrows that darkened the sky. But the son of Vayu, blazing with wrath, burst forth like a storm among mountains. With terrible shafts he struck down the five Kuru princes along with their chariots, steeds, and charioteers, casting them lifeless upon the earth.”
“Beholding their fall, Karna was overcome with anguish and cried within himself, ‘What value has my strength if those who defend me perish before my eyes? Of what use is life itself if I cannot humble Bheema?’ Inflamed by shame and fury, he advanced swiftly and pierced Bheemasena with seventy-five arrows. Bheema answered with one hundred and five blazing shafts that tore into Karna’s armour and flesh. He shattered Karna’s bow, yet the son of Radha immediately seized another and struck Bheema once more. Then Bheema, roaring in wrath, slew Karna’s charioteer, broke his bow anew, and killed his steeds. Mocking Karna before the assembled warriors, he reduced the proud hero to desperation.”
“Karna then lifted a massive mace and hurled it with deadly force, but Bheema crushed it into fragments before it could descend. Filled with exultation, Bheema rushed forward like an enraged lion. Karna retaliated fiercely and shattered Bheema’s armour, while Bheema in return destroyed Karna’s shield and pierced deeply into his sinews. Witnessing Karna deprived of his chariot and struggling amidst the battle, Duryodhana commanded seven of his brothers—Chitra, Vichitra, Chitraksha, Charuchitra, Chitrayudha, Chitradwaja, and Chitrakarma—to rescue him from the terrible assault.”
“Those princes, skilled in swift manoeuvres and varied formations, surrounded Bheema from every side. Yet the mighty son of Pandu cut down their horses, slew their charioteers, and shattered their chariots with irresistible force. Thereafter Karna descended upon Bheema like a thundercloud driven by tempestuous winds, and the two heroes fought with astonishing vigour. Their prowess appeared equal, and both were seized by a dreadful resolve to slay one another. The torment inflicted by Bheema upon Karna delighted Sri Krishna and Arjuna, while Duryodhana burned with agitation and despair. Yet even amidst his suffering, Karna’s endurance and swift recovery drew admiration from many warriors.”
Sanjaya continued, “Your son then ordered the Kaurava forces to overwhelm Bheema. Innumerable arrows rained upon him from every direction, but Bheema struck Karna again with more than seventy keen shafts, shaking him violently before the eyes of all. Many among your own forces began praising the strength of Bheema, while Duryodhana cried aloud to his brothers, ‘Save Karna!’ Thereupon Shatrunjaya and other Kuru warriors advanced with great courage and surrounded Bheema with arrows thick as storm clouds veiling a mountain peak. But Bheema released seven deadly shafts and slew all seven brothers instantly. Then he uttered a lion-like roar that resounded across the field.”
“Hearing that terrible roar, King Yudhishthira understood that Bheema had achieved another mighty victory, and his heart was filled with joy. Inspired by that sound, he advanced against Drona and engaged him in fierce combat. Duryodhana meanwhile, beholding the slaughter of his brothers, was overwhelmed by sorrow and remembered with anguish the wise warnings once spoken by Vidura during the accursed game of dice. He realised that those prophetic words had now ripened into dreadful reality.”
Then Dhritarashtra spoke again in grief-stricken resignation. “There is no use now in lamenting over deeds already accomplished. Duryodhana, blinded by folly, rejected every counsel of wisdom. My own dark inclinations encouraged his ruinous path. Therefore I shall hear with patience whatever remains concerning the fate of my sons. Narrate everything in detail.”
Sanjaya resumed. “Karna, enraged by the triumphant roar of Bheema, mounted his elephant and rushed once more into battle. Around him gathered your forces armed with spears, tridents, and countless weapons. Yet Bheema tore through them mercilessly, smashing standards, chariots, elephants, horses, and warriors alike. Streams of blood flowed across the field, while heaps of slain animals and shattered chariots rose like crimson hills upon the earth.”
“Then Karna swiftly confronted him again, and Bheema struck him upon the forehead with arrows so powerful that Karna’s radiant earrings were torn away and fell to the ground like blossoms shaken from a tree by violent winds. Blood streamed across his face, making him appear like a garland of red lotuses glistening beneath the evening sun. Maddened with rage, Karna broke Bheema’s bow with three swift arrows and then, wielding a mighty bow that flashed like fire, released such a ceaseless torrent of shafts that it resembled the blazing orb of the sun pouring forth flames. So rapidly did he whirl his bow that no opening remained through which it might be broken.”
“Bheema’s bow was shattered, the bridles of his steeds severed, and his standard cast down. In fury Bheema hurled a blazing Shakti weapon toward Karna, but Karna cut it apart in mid-air. Then Bheema seized a sword and with astonishing speed broke Karna’s bow before another could be taken up. Immediately thereafter the mighty son of Pandu leapt upon Karna’s chariot itself. The vehicle reeled and trembled beneath the crushing weight and terrible force of Bheemasena. Karna, stunned by the suddenness of that fearless assault, stood bewildered for a moment amidst the thunderous tumult of Kurukshetra, while Sanjaya continued to recount the dreadful events unfolding upon that sacred field of war.”
