Sanjaya said, “O King, listen with attention to the remarkable events that unfolded in the camp of the sons of Dharma. Amid the dust of war and the cries of exhausted warriors, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, spoke to Arjuna with a heart burdened by sorrow, humiliation, and hope. His thoughts were fixed upon Karna, the warrior of unmatched dexterity, immense physical strength, unwavering courage, and mastery over celestial weapons. He acknowledged Karna as a hero who regarded battle not as a burden but as a glorious sport. The sons of Dhritarashtra, together with their allies, looked upon Karna as the very pillar of their confidence. Such was their devotion that they stood prepared to surrender their lives for his cause, believing none could equal his daring spirit.”
Yudhishthira continued, “How did you overcome such a warrior without suffering fatal injury? Karna’s proud proclamation had always been that Arjuna alone was worthy of his arrows and that he alone would slay you. Today the world has witnessed the measure of your strength, your skill, your unfailing courage, and the glory of your mighty arms. Empty boasts vanish before the evidence of heroic deeds. Yet there are wounds that no weapon can inflict. The cruel and disgraceful words Karna uttered against Draupadi in the Kuru assembly, while she stood helpless after the deceitful game of dice, pierced our hearts more deeply than any arrow. Those shameful insults have remained like burning scars within my mind. Even the victories we achieved afterward could not erase that torment. Today, through your valour, those invisible wounds have at last begun to heal. You have removed the grief that silently haunted my soul.”
The son of Dharma reflected further upon Karna’s fall. “His head, once held high with immeasurable pride, stood above all others while his grieving kinsmen watched helplessly. Filled with jealousy and burning hatred, Karna released relentless showers of arrows upon you. But when righteous indignation blazed within your heart, you answered with a broad-headed, razor-sharp arrow that severed his head from his body. Thus fell Karna, and with him fell the towering arrogance that had overshadowed the battlefield.”
Arjuna then bowed before Yudhishthira and spoke with humility. “While I was engaged in fulfilling my sacred vow amidst the united forces of the Kauravas, Ashwatthama advanced against me with countless divisions of chariots. Hundreds of his chariots were shattered and lay scattered like mountains of death. Yet the son of Drona remained unshaken. His eyes blazed like consuming fire, and though I had offered him no provocation, he rushed upon us with furious vengeance. Like a bolt of lightning bursting from dark clouds, he obscured our vision and struck our army with terrifying force.”
“Just as the planet Shukra, shining in the constellation of Swati, heralds abundant rains, so too did Ashwatthama pour torrents of arrows upon us. Wherever my eyes turned, I saw only his radiant chariot and his blazing countenance. His shafts flashed like lightning, dazzling our sight and falling upon both Krishna and me with relentless fury. For a moment I found myself caught in the grip of fear, unable to perceive any path of escape. But by steadfast effort, calm resolve, and the grace of Madhava, I subdued his fierce assault. His strength gradually waned, and at last Ashwatthama withdrew from the battlefield.”
Arjuna continued, “Thereafter I searched anxiously for you throughout our ranks. O ruler of the earth, except for the mighty Bhima, whose strength rises like an unconquerable mountain, I found no warrior who had not been tormented by Karna’s overwhelming assault. His irresistible surge of power had shaken the courage of many heroes. Learning from Bhima that you had returned here, I hastened to behold you with my own eyes. My anxious heart has now found peace after seeing you safe.”
With renewed determination, Arjuna declared, “I shall return to the battlefield without delay. My vow remains unfulfilled, and honour demands its completion. I shall sever Karna’s head, bringing delight to our army and reducing Duryodhana’s hopes to ashes. The burning anguish within your heart shall melt away when you witness his downfall. Come, behold my deed with confidence, for the pride that Karna now displays after the fall of Drona shall soon disappear. Imagining himself the unrivalled protector of Duryodhana and his brothers, he believes none can stand before him. Like the final flicker of a lamp before its flame is extinguished, so shall the brilliance of Karna fade before my arrows.”
Arjuna raised his hand in solemn resolve and said, “Even if Karna stands protected by celestial weapons and divine powers, I shall confront him, subdue him, and sever his head. Should I fail in this sacred vow, let me bear the disgrace reserved for one who promises gifts to the righteous but treacherously withdraws them. Bhima now bears the weight of leading our army, and it is unjust that I should delay while he alone shoulders such responsibility. Grant me leave, O King, that I may return at once to the battlefield.”
The son of Dharma, however, was deeply afflicted. Pierced by Karna’s arrows and weighed down by humiliation, his usually serene wisdom gave way to bitter anguish. He spoke with painful honesty. “Perhaps it is understandable for a warrior to withdraw from battle when overcome by unbearable suffering. Yet what honour remains if one abandons the field while strength still endures? Unable to withstand Karna’s assault, I returned here, and in doing so my own stature has been diminished.”
Then, with words sharpened by grief rather than anger, Yudhishthira addressed Arjuna. “Listen carefully. Karna has defeated not only me but each one of us. Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva have all tasted defeat before him. Even Krishna, who guides and protects us, has shared in our humiliation. Why then should you continue to pursue this terrible conflict? Let us abandon thoughts of warfare. Let us retire to the forests, dwell among holy ascetics, and live without fear. Or else, setting aside all talk of manliness and heroic pride, let us approach the Kuru king with humility and submit ourselves to his command. Better to preserve life under his grace than perish in endless conflict.”
As Yudhishthira spoke, his eyes burned with the fire of wounded honour. His words, born of pain and exhaustion, cut deeply into Arjuna’s heart. They were not the measured counsel of a calm sovereign but the anguished outcry of a noble king crushed beneath the weight of repeated humiliation.
Sanjaya concluded his narration, saying, “O King, these events brought both relief and anxiety to your heart. The setbacks suffered by the Pandavas filled you with secret satisfaction, yet another thought relentlessly gnawed at your mind. When Karna had gained the upper hand over Yudhishthira, Nakula, and Sahadeva, why did he spare their lives? Why did he not end the war by slaying them when they stood within his grasp? That unanswered question lingered within your heart, refusing to depart, even as the destiny of Kurukshetra moved steadily toward its final and irreversible conclusion.”
