arena, bowed indifferently to Drona and Kripa. And the entire assembly, motionless and with steadfast gaze, thought 'Who is he?' And they became agitated in consequence of their curiosity to know the warrior. And that foremost of eloquent men, the offspring of the Sun, in a voice deep as that of the clouds, addressed his unknown brother, the son of the subduer of the Asura Paka (Indra) saying, 'O Partha! I shall perform feats before this gazing multitude, excelling all thou hast performed! Beholding them thou shalt be amazed!' And, O thou best of those blest with speech, he had hardly ended when the spectators stood up all at once, as if uplifted by some instrument. And, O tiger among men, Duryodhana was filled with delight, while Vivatshu was instantly all abashment and anger. Then with the permission of Drona the mighty Karna delighting in battle, there did all that Partha had done before. And, O Bharata, Duryodhana with his brothers thereupon embraced Karna in joy and then addressed him saying, 'Welcome, O mighty-armed warrior! I have obtained thee by good fortune, O polite one! Live thou as thou pleasest, and command myself and the kingdom of the Kurus!' Karna replied, 'When thou hast said it, I regard it as already accomplished! I only long for thy friendship! And, O lord, my wish is even fur a single combat with Arjuna!' Duryodhana said, 'Do thou with me enjoy the good things of life! Be thou the benefactor of thy friends, and, O thou repressor of enemies, place thou thy feet on the heads of all foes.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "And Arjuna, after this, deeming himself disgraced, said unto Karna stationed amidst the brothers like unto a cliff, 'That path which the unwelcome intruder and the uninvited talker cometh to, shall be thine, O Karna, being slain by me!' Karna replied, 'This arena is meant for all, not for thee alone, O Falguna! They are kings who are superior in-energy; and verily, the Kshatriya regardeth might alone. What need of altercation which is the excercise of the weak! O Bharata, speak then in arrows, until with arrows I strike off thy head today before the preceptor himself!'"
