The Fateful Evening part 2

Part 122

Krishna alerted Arjun." Parth,Summon all your coolness.Karna is advancing  towards us showering arrows like clouds pouring torrents of rain.Hear the twang of his bow Vijaya.No other person can bear Karna's shafts except you.I know you can vanquish the three worlds.You gratified Sankar Shiv himself.Now slay Karna with Siva's grace.May you be victorious Parth."
Arjun replied." My victory is certain because you are with me.You will see me slay Karna for sure."
Finally the two great warriors stood before each other gearing up for the greatest battle ever fought.
A big debate arouse regarding who will win and who will lose.Mother Earth sided with Arjun while the walking with stars stood for Karna.The rivers,the mountains,the plants,trees and herbs are on Arjun's side.The Asuras (Rakshasas) and the Rangers of the sky are for Karna.
The Vedas,Upanishads,Gems and precious jewels Vasuki,Chitrasena, Airavata Surabhi the Kamadhenu,mountains sided with Arjun.
Smaller snakes are with Karna
All kind of auspicious animals sided with Parth.
Vases,Rudras,Indra,Soma Pavan Aswinis wished victory for Arjun.
Adityanath sided with Karna.
The celestials,Rishis and Pitris are on Arjun's side. Yama,Varuna and Kubera are with Arjun.
Brahmins and Kshatriyas are with Arjun .
Pisachas,evil spirits,carnivorous animals Sea monsters and jackals are with Karna.
Narada and Tumvuru are with Arjun.
Gods and Rakshasas and every one mentioned above took their places  to  witness the great fight.
Brahma and Shiva  came and stationed  themselves to see the fight.
Indra said." Let Arjun vanquish Karna."
Surya said." Let Karna vanquish Arjuna."
Brahma said." Partha is a hero.accomplished in arms and endowed with ascetic merit.The two Krishnas are Nar and Narayan. No one can overcome them.Let Karna reach heaven and have bliss.But victory belong to two Krishnas.
Siva supported Brahma and said." Victory to two Krishnas is destined.
At that moment the celestial ape on the banner of Parth rushed from his station and fell upon Karna's standard that is Elephant's rope. and struck it with his nails and jaws.
Arjun asked Krishna" What will you do if Karna slays me."
Krishna replied. " The Sun may fall Earth may split Fire may become cool but Karna will never win battle.

Krishna continued." If that happens universe will be destroyed.I will kill Karna with bare hands."
Arjun smiled and assured." I can do that you need not worry .Today you can go to Subhadra with a lighter heart. Today you can wipe Krishnaa's tears.My Eldest will be  relieved today of his pain.
     Duryothan,Sakuni Kripa and Kutukshetra forces showered arrows on Arjuna but Parth cut off their shafts and killed the army with  razor sharp arrows.
Aswathama requested Duryothan yo stop the battle as Arjun is invincible. Duryothan refused to do so and hoped that Karna will slay Arjun for sure.Both the Warriors started showering arrows on each other prevailing over each other.When Arjuna shot Agneyastra Karna shot varunastra and quenched the fire.
      When Karna caused darkness by creating large mass of clouds Arjun dispelled them with Vayavyastra.
Arjuna then inspired his shafts with the mantras favourable to the chief of celestials and immediately innumerable shafts flew from Gandiv.Karna then invoked Bhargavastra and baffled Indra's weapon.Karna killed many Pandava and Panchala soldiers and Kauravas shouted with joy.
     Bheema got angry and scolded Arjuna." Jishnu. How come that wretch Karna slay our doldiers before your eyes?Why did you let that Karna shoot arrows at you who touched Siva himself? Why are you indifferent? Recollect the plight of Krishnaa and how Karna insulted her. Slay that Karna immediately.
Krishna also goaded Arjuna." Parth take this Sudarsan and cut off the head ofKarna.Bestow the earth on Yudhishtir . Your purpose will be served.
Arjuna thus goaded by Krishna and Bheema addressed Keshava thus.I will invoke Brahmastra the supreme Astra and destroy my rival." So saying Arjuna Hurled Brahmastra but Karna baffled it with his own Astra .
Bheema filled with rage and ordered Arjuna to use another of that kind( Brahmastra has different varieties with regard to its power and impact)
The impact of that weapon is so great that many warriors of repute from Kaurava side fell down deprived of life.
Karna then pierced Krishna,Arjuna and Bheema with keen shafts .
Arjuna struck the standard of Karna and then striking Karna and Salya killed Sabhapati a great Kaurava warrior.
With the shower of Arjun's arrows Karna's chariot became invisible.
Arjun's attack is precise but sure . The way he started exterminating the Kaurava army that surrounded Karna is to make Him helpless and unsupported.
That moment Yudhishtira arrived there and stood in anticipation of victory for Jishnu.

The spectators both celestial and human stood motionless witnessing the fight of the two great warriors.Then the bow string of Dhananjaya as it is stretched with force broke with a loud noise.in that interval Karna struck Partha,Krishna and Bheema with many arrows. He destroyed Panchala forces in huge number and Kauravas shouted with joy.
Arjun having tied his string filled with rage caused darkness with showers of arrows.He pierced Karna's armour and shot at Salya also.He struck the limbs of Karna with shafts released by great force.
Deeply struck with Partha's arrows with mangled limbs and body bathed in blood Karna looked resplandent.
Karna then shot three at Partha and five at Krishna.Those five were snakes that sided with Takshakas son Aswasena.Arjuna cut each of them and they fell on the earth.Arjun  got angry as those snakes mangled Krishna's body before they were struck by him.He shot many blazing and fatal shafts shot by stretching the bowstring to the ear.Deeply pierced by them Karna trembled in pain.
Karna stood with great pain but Doon Arjun's shafts made the surroundings dark and his chariot invisible.
Savyasachi with great energy slew 2000 Foremost of Kuru warriors who were a part of Karna's protection wing.
The Kuru princes got terrified on seeing Arjun and fled away abandoning Karna.
Karna saw the empty space behind him as every one was either killed or fled away from that place. Still he boldly rushed against Arjuna with great energy.
Karna then subdued Arjun's burning weapon the Astra that caused destruction of Kurus either another he obtained from Parasurama.
The battle then became fierce with the two warriors striking each other and made the directions filled with arrowy shower.
The two warriors prevailed over each other in turns and got applause from every one.

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The two heroes looked at each other fatigued with the continuous exertion . They were fanned by beautiful fans made up of palm leaves.
Indra and Surya gently brushed the faces of their dons with their hands.
Karna then fixed his snake faced arrow of great power that he kept it for killing Arjuna and invoked mantras.Aswasen entered that with his mystic power.Salyataunted Karna " your sim is not good fo that properly.
Karna got angry and released the shaft that he worshipped for many years.
Krishna immediately pressed the chariot to  sink about a cubit deep into the earth.
The horses also bent down on their knees.Karna's shaft struck the crown of Arjuna gifted to him by Indra and swept it away from his head.
Without diadem,the dark complexioned and youthful Partha looked beautiful with long curly hair.
Arjun then tied his locks with a white cloth round his forehead and looked like Udaya hill illuminated with the rays of the Sun.
Aswasena went to Karna and asked him to release him with his arrow again but Karna refused.
Aswasena unable to control himself sped towards Arjuna to take revenge.
Krishna showed that to Arjuna and said." Strike that snake Parth he has enemity with you."
Jishnu cut the snake with six keen shafts and killed it.
Then Keshava himself raised the chariot above with his mighty arms.