DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0384
THE BATTLE OF EIGHTEEN DAYS 303
darkened with arrows and darts, and it rang with the
shouts of the fighters and the moans of the wounded, the
bellowing of trumpets, and the clamour of drums.
At length evening came on and the carnage ended.
. . . Duryodhana summoned a council of war and said:
" This is the sixteenth day of the war, and many of our
strongest heroes have fallen. Bhishma and Drona have
fallen, and many of my brethren are now dead."
Said Karna: "To-morrow will be the great day of the
war. I have vowed to slay Arjuna or fall by his hand."
Duryodhana was cheered by Kama's words, and all the
Kauravas were once more hopeful of victory.
In the morning Karna went forth in his chariot. He
chose for his driver Salya, Rajah of Madra, whose skill
was so great that even Krishna was not his superior.
Arjuna was again engaged in combat with Susarman
when Karna attacked the Pandava army. So the son of
Surya went against Yudhishthira and cast him on the
ground, saying: "If thou wert Arjuna I would slay
thee."
Bhima then attacked Karna, and they fought fiercely
for a time, until Arjuna, having overcome Susarman, re-
turned again to combat with Karna.
Duhsasana, who put Draupadi to shame, came up to
help Karna, and Bhima sprang upon him. Now Bhima
had long desired to meet this evil-hearted son of the blind
maharajah, so that he might fulfil his vow. He swung
his mace and struck so mighty a blow that the advancing.
chariot was shattered. Duhsasana fell heavily upon the
ground and broke his back. Then Bhima seized him
and, whirling his body aloft, cried out: "O Kauravas,
come ye who dare and rescue the helper of Karna."
No one ventured to approach, and Bhima cast down
Duhsasana's body, cut off his head, and drank his blood
darkened with arrows and darts, and it rang with the
shouts of the fighters and the moans of the wounded, the
bellowing of trumpets, and the clamour of drums.
At length evening came on and the carnage ended.
. . . Duryodhana summoned a council of war and said:
" This is the sixteenth day of the war, and many of our
strongest heroes have fallen. Bhishma and Drona have
fallen, and many of my brethren are now dead."
Said Karna: "To-morrow will be the great day of the
war. I have vowed to slay Arjuna or fall by his hand."
Duryodhana was cheered by Kama's words, and all the
Kauravas were once more hopeful of victory.
In the morning Karna went forth in his chariot. He
chose for his driver Salya, Rajah of Madra, whose skill
was so great that even Krishna was not his superior.
Arjuna was again engaged in combat with Susarman
when Karna attacked the Pandava army. So the son of
Surya went against Yudhishthira and cast him on the
ground, saying: "If thou wert Arjuna I would slay
thee."
Bhima then attacked Karna, and they fought fiercely
for a time, until Arjuna, having overcome Susarman, re-
turned again to combat with Karna.
Duhsasana, who put Draupadi to shame, came up to
help Karna, and Bhima sprang upon him. Now Bhima
had long desired to meet this evil-hearted son of the blind
maharajah, so that he might fulfil his vow. He swung
his mace and struck so mighty a blow that the advancing.
chariot was shattered. Duhsasana fell heavily upon the
ground and broke his back. Then Bhima seized him
and, whirling his body aloft, cried out: "O Kauravas,
come ye who dare and rescue the helper of Karna."
No one ventured to approach, and Bhima cast down
Duhsasana's body, cut off his head, and drank his blood