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87.PLEDGE RESPECTED
Eighteen times he had to take up a fresh
bow. Karna had long ago discarded his
smile and his face showed savage anger
even as Bhima's. They now glared fiercely
at each other as they fought.
Yudhishthira now heard Bhima's roar rise
above the tumult of battle, and heartened
by it, he fought Drona with increased
vigor.
In the renewed and fierce battle between
Bhima and Karna, Bhima lost his horses
and charioteer. Soon his chariot also was
smashed to pieces. Then, Bhima hurled
his spear at Karna who was in his chariot
and as Karna parried it with his shaft,
Bhima advanced with sword and shield.
But Karna broke the shield at once with
his shafts. Then, Bhima whirled his sword
and hurled it, and it cut Karna's bow into
two and fell on the ground. But Karna
took up yet another bow and assailed
Bhima with arrows more fiercely than
before.
Bhima, in a fit of uncontrollable rage,
sprang upon Karna. Radheya took cover
behind his flagstaff and escaped
destruction. Thereupon, Bhima jumped
out of Karna's car down into the field of
battle where, deprived of all arms, he used
the elephants lying dead on the ground to
protect himself from Karna's arrows and
continued the fight.
He picked up anything he could lay hands
upon, wheels of broken chariots, the limbs
of horses and elephants that were lying
about, and hurling them at Karna, kept
him engaged without interval. But this
could not long continue and Bhima was
soon at a great disadvantage. Karna said
exultingly:
"Foolish glutton, you do not know the
science of war; why do you engage
yourself in battle here? Go to the jungle
and fill yourself with fruits and roots and
grow fat. You are a savage, not fit for
kshatriya battle. Get away!" Hurling
insulting taunts at him, he made the
helpless Bhima burn with rage, but
mindful of his word to Kunti, refrained
from killing him.
"There, Arjuna! See how poor Bhima is
being harassed by Karna," said Krishna.
Dhananjaya's eyes burned red with wrath,
when he saw the plight of his valiant
brother.
He bent his Gandiva bow and discharged
his arrows on Karna who then gladly
turned his attentions from Bhima to
Arjuna. He had pledged his word to Kunti
not to kill more than one of the Pandavas
and he reserved that option for the great
Arjuna.
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