The Fateful Evening part 2

Part 120

Pandav's soldiers expressed their gratitude for saving them from Dandadhar  who along with his elephant destroyed them in huge numbers.
Coming back to Samsaptakas Jishnu once more slew them with his devastating arrows.He killed Ugrayudha 's son who tried to pierce him and Krishna.
Then Krishna cajoled him." Parth enough of this Samsaptakas. It is time to slaughter Karna."
The son of Indra agreed and overpowered the Samsaptakas and encountered them severely.
Krishna wondered at Partha's great skills and hailed him.
Aswathama in the meanwhile Fought valourously and  killed Pandya king with his elephant .Duryothan praised As wathama with superlatives.
Karna dispatched many Panchala and Srinjaya warriors to Yama's abode.
Then a severe battle happened between Nakula and Karna .Karna easily defeated Nakula and made him run away. Karna pursued him and placed his stringed bow round the neck of Nakula. He ridiculed Nakula thus." O son of Pandu,fight with your equals.Dont feel shame. Return home.Or go to Phalgun your brother and take shelter."Then Karna let Nakula go.
Karna then proceeded against Panchalas and slaughtered many of them.
Arjuna encountered Narayana army and andSamsaptakas consisted of Chandradeva,Mitradeva,After fighting a fierce battle Arjuna released Aindrastra upon them.Innumerable shafts issued from that weapon killed all of them and many others . It seemed that no path has been left for Arjun's car to proceed as the battlefield is filled with dead bodies.
Partha looked resplendent having vanquished his rivals,like a blazing Sun without smoke.

Yudhidhtir proceeded towards Karna  and showered upon him many shafts.Karna dispersed all of them and  hurled many shafts and destroyed Pandava army.Arjuna entered the scene baffled the weapons of Karna with his own.He covered the surface of earth with dense shower of arrows.
Arjuna's arrows were like Sataghnis,thunderbolts send bludgeons.
The Kaurava force smitten by Arjun's  arrows wandered aimlessly and succumbed to them.
Many elephants,cars.steeds and warriors perished in the fire of Arjuna's shafts.Remaining fled  away
from Arjuna 's chariot
At that moment the Sun set on the western horizon and both the armies retired from the battle field.
The Pandava army cheered Partha and Krishna blowing musical instruments.
Karna sighed like an angry snake looking at Duryothan said ." Arjuna is always careful,firm,possessed of skills,and endured with intelligence.On top of it he has Vaasudeva who guides him properly.
Today by that sudden showers of weapons we were deceived by Arjuna.Tomorrow however I will frustrate all his purposes.Duryothan don't feel sad. I will remove Arjuna from our path and achieve victory for you."

Karna addressed Duryothan." Friend. Arjun is not equal to me in any way. If he has Gandiva I have Vijaya. But I have one deficiency. I have no competent driver like Krishna.If Salya becomes my charioteer I will certainly slay Arjun."
Duryothan convinced Salya with great difficulty.
In the morning Karna along with Salya ascended his chariot.
Karna said. Salya let Dhananjaya behold the might of my arms.Urge the horses to run fast."
Salya laughed and said." Radhey, When you hear the twang of Gandiv then you will not boast such words.Karna shouted." Proceed Madra Raj""
Salyastill continued his praise of Arjuna and Karna fumed at him and after a while proceeded further.
Karna loudly announced." If anyone show Arjun to me I will offer him whatever he want.Abundent wealth,beautiful damsels everything. If he asks I may give my wives and sons also."
Salya again ridiculed him." Karna don't indulge in useless bragging. You will definitely see Dhananjaya before your eyes. I suggest you to fight with him well protected by your army."
Salya then said." Angraj you are like a jackal and Arjuna is like a lion.
Karna then boldly said." You need not tell me about Arjun. I know I was afflicted by the curse of my Guru and that of a Brahmin.But still I will fight with him who is intelligent and who has many achievements to his credit.Still I will slay that hero of great prowes.
The Samsaptakas again attacked Arjun and made him furious.He looked like Rudra at the end of yuga and slaughtered them with  his winged arrows.
Karna fought with great vigour and rooted Pandava army mercilessly.
Then Karna vanquished Yudhishtir and insulted him ..You are not a true Kshatriya. Rather you are suited to study Vedas and do homas. Don't try to fight with brave people like me. Go there where Phalgun and Govind are.I won't kill a person like you."Saying so
he left Yudhishtir
Yudhishtir wounded severely by Karna's shafts retreated to his sibir with great pain.
In the meanwhile Karna and Bheema fought severely  but Bhema overpowered Karna.

As the battle progressed Arjuna slaughtered Samsaptakas,Bheema the Kauravas and Karna the Panchalas.
Then a great battle happened between Partha and Aswathama.
After a while Arjuna cut off the traces of steeds and made them run away.
Then Arjun said." Madhav  ! That Karna is casting angry glances at me. Now we both should fight till death.Take me to him."
Krishna anyway is worried about Yudhishtir.He said." Parth. Your Eldest is not seen anywhere on the field. He was harassed by Karna before a while.We should first go and check him.Then you can engage in fight with Karna."
Arjun approached Bheema and enquired." Bhrata Bheem where is Eldest? " Bheem answered reluctantly." Eldest retreated to his camp. His limbs have been scorched by Karna's arrows."
Bheem then asked Arjun to go and enquire the welfare of Yudhishtir while he himself will take care of their troops .
When Krishna and Arjuna entered they saw Yudhishtir safe and sound.
Yudhishtir thought that they came to Him having killed Karna in battle.He is overcome with joy and said." Finally Arjun, you are able to kill that Karna the cause of our troubles.Duryothan troubled us only because of having Karna on his side.Now tell me,how did you do that?"
Jishnu looked at him with surprise and said." Eldest Karna is not slain yet. I just fought with Aswathama and vanquished him.We came here to enquire your welfare. But I promise I will definitely slay that Karna who wounded you so severely."
Yudhishtir shivered with anger and addressed Arjun thus." Why did you come here deserting Bheema?You broke my heart by not killing Karna yet. We always relied on your might to win this battle.I think even the Devine prediction at the time of your birth went wrong. What is the use of your celestial chariot,sword and bow? How nice it would have been if you came out in the fifth month itself aborted from mother's womb? Fie on your Gandiva. Fie on your valour.Give your Gandiva to Krishna. He will slay Karna for me."
Arjun drew his sword filled with rage to kill Yudhishtir.Krishna took hold of him and asked." Parth! Why did you lift the sword? Is there any rival here? We came here to see Yudhishtir and he is fine.Why are you so angry?"
Arjun replied casting angry glances on his Eldest." Madhav! I have taken a vow.Whoever asks me to give my Gandiv to others I will slay Him with my sword.So now I have to slay my brother. Still I request you to guide me in these circumstances.I will follow your word."
Krishna said." Parth,What is this? Why are you gripped by anger today? How could you kill your elder brother just for a vow? Your brother said those harsh words because he is afflicted by Karna's shafts.Now this son of Dharma should not be killed. Your vow also should be kept.So listen to me carefully.Dishonour is equal to death. Address this Yudhishtir as ' thou" and censure him blame him. That is death for him. I assure you he won't take it as offence. You can worship his feet later."
            Arjun got relieved and followed the advice of his Madhav.He blamed Yudhishtir thus,
" Eldest,Sitting two miles away from the battle field don't say such words to me.Bhrata Bheem who is fighting with great heroes singlehandedly can say such words to me.The great Bheemsena the scorcherer of rivals has the right to say anything. But not you who always needs protection from others.Scholars say that the strength of Kshatriya lie in arms and Brahmins in speech.Ofcourse you are strong in words .
       I always try to do good to you  with my soul,life,sons and wives.Still you hurt me with such harsh words.And you are doing this lying on Draupadi's bed.Draupadi Talpa samsthe Maamavamamstha.
Because of you my grandfather has to lie on my bed of arrows.
      You know I won't feel happy restoring kingship to you because you are addicted to gambling.You did the wretched deed by playing dice,now you want to get back everything through the might of our arms.Our youngest brother Sahadeva so many times told you about the sinfulness of Dice.Still you could not abandon that game which only lowest people will play.We never had any relief since you are an addict.You are the cause of destruction of the whole Aryavarth.You gambled. We lost our kingdom, now all the kings are victimised and killed.Our calamity happened due to you. Now dont provoke us by your harsh words."
Having said thus Savyasachi became cheerless.He never blamed his brother like that. He drew the sword again and Krishna asked."Why did you take the sword again?"