While Arjuna was engaged in his mighty contest upon the field of Kurukshetra War, the valiant princes Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas, appointed as his protectors, encountered King Duryodhana in a fierce and tumultuous battle. Yudhamanyu, uttering a roar deep and terrible like that of a lion, shattered Duryodhana’s bow and pierced his breast with keen and well-feathered shafts. Undaunted, the Kuru monarch seized another bow and, with swift and deadly arrows, slew the steeds and charioteer of his adversary, compelling Yudhamanyu to stand helpless upon his broken car.
At that moment Uttamaujas, taking Yudhamanyu upon his own chariot, rushed against Duryodhana and slew his horses and charioteer. Yet Duryodhana, firm as a mountain amidst the storm, descended with mace in hand and crushed the chariot of Uttamaujas into fragments. The steeds were dashed to pieces, and the charioteer’s head was reduced to a mangled mass beneath the force of his blow. Leaping clear from their shattered vehicle, Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas mounted another car and assailed both Duryodhana and Shalya with a torrent of arrows before hastening once more to the side of Arjuna.
Beholding these events through the words of Sanjaya, King Dhritarashtra spoke with anxiety: “All my sons repose their hopes upon Karna, trusting that he alone can subdue Arjuna. Even Yudhishthira passed many sleepless nights, mindful of Karna’s prowess. How then has that warrior, who boasted so greatly, vanished from the field deprived of his chariot? Tell me in detail how such a calamity came to pass.”
Sanjaya replied: “After Bhima had driven Karna from the field and rejoined Arjuna, Karna once more equipped himself for battle and challenged Bhima with harsh words. Inflamed with wrath, the son of Vayu turned back. Then those two heroes, like rival mountains hurling thunderbolts, fought with unmatched fury. Their arrows struck down horses, bewildered charioteers, shattered bows, and caused blood to flow over their limbs until they resembled crimson hills at sunset.
“Bhima broke Karna’s bow, slew his horses and charioteer, and pierced him with shafts that sped like venomous serpents. Overwhelmed and ashamed, Karna mounted another chariot and withdrew from immediate danger.”
As Sanjaya described this humiliating retreat, Dhritarashtra exclaimed with bitterness: “What did Duryodhana think when the warrior in whom he placed such absolute trust fled from the heart of battle? What has become of Karna’s proud and boastful declarations?”
Sanjaya continued: “Bhima then blazed upon the field like a consuming fire. Karna, gathering his courage, again rushed upon him, and the two fought with astonishing vehemence. They resembled eagles contending in the sky, tigers locked in combat, enraged elephants colliding in the forest, and lions swollen with pride. Around Karna, the fourfold Kaurava army advanced upon Bhima, yet all who approached him fell as moths cast into a blazing flame.”
Dhritarashtra, overwhelmed by doubt, said: “I have often heard of Bhima’s immeasurable strength and of Karna’s hollow words and cunning stratagems. How can Karna truly hope to conquer the sons of Pandu?”
Sanjaya answered: “Duryodhana, blinded by pride, rejected the peace proposed by the Pandavas and spurned the wise counsel of Krishna, relying solely upon Karna’s assurances that he would destroy his foes. That misguided faith has become the ruin of the Kauravas. For the Divine ever upholds the righteous, and destiny itself bends in favour of those who seek no injury to others. Therefore Duryodhana and his brothers are destined to perish.”
He then resumed: “Karna stood grief-stricken, lamenting his repeated failures, when Bhima, with six razor-edged shafts, slew the horses, charioteer, and head of Durjaya, causing them to fall lifeless to the earth. Karna once more composed himself and returned to confront Bhima. Yet while still engaged with Karna, Bhima swiftly slew Durmukha and his charioteer with nine arrows.
“At the death of Durmukha, Karna’s eyes filled with tears and his heart was pierced with sorrow. In anguish he shot sharp arrows into Bhima’s hands. Bhima, unmoved, struck Karna in the chest with three deadly shafts. Terrified and dispirited, Karna once again withdrew from sight.”
Then Dhritarashtra, his voice heavy with despair, said: “Human effort is powerless before divine decree. The very thought that Karna, son of Radha, has been repeatedly defeated by Bhima, son of Vayu, proves that celestial will surpasses mortal prowess. Gods, Gandharvas, Asuras, and Nagas themselves have failed to resist such heroes; how then can Karna and the Kauravas hope to prevail?”
Thus spoke the blind monarch, not from admiration of Bhima’s greatness, but from fear that the mighty son of Vayu would destroy his remaining sons and extinguish the Kuru line. In his troubled heart he sought some slender hope, though he knew that the doom of his house had already begun to unfold.
