Janamejaya said : When the illustrious sons of Pritha were living in the forest, what did those foremost of men and mighty bow-men, the the sons of Dhritarashtra do?

What did the son of the sun, Karna and the powerful Shakuni and Bhishma, Drona and Kripa do. You should narrate all this to me.

Vaishampayana said : O great king, when in this manner the Pandavas had gone away leaving Duryodhana and when having been rescued by the Pandavas, he had gone to Hastinapur, Bhishma spoke thus to the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana),

"O child, I told you before when you intended to go to the forest of the ascetics. That I did not like your journey. But you did go notwithstanding

O hero, you were forcibly taken captive by the enemy; you were rescued by the virtuous Pandavas, but still you were not ashamed.

O king, O son of Gandhari, even in your presence and also in the presence of your army did the Suta's (Karna) son, struck with panic, fly away from the battle of the Gandharvas.

O king of kings, O son of a king, while you with your army were crying in great distress, you saw, O mighty armed hero, the prowess of the high-souled Pandavas

And also that of the wicked-minded son of the Suta, Karna. O foremost of kings, O lover of virtue, whether in the science of arms or heroisrm or morality, Karna is not (even) the fourth part of the Pandavas.

Therefore for the welfare of this race, peace is I think most desirable with the sons of Pandu.”

Having been thus addressed by Bhishma, that lord of men, the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana) laughed aloud and he suddenly went away with the son of Subala (Shakuni).

Then knowing that he was gone, those mighty bowmen with Karna and Dushasana at their head followed that mighty bowman and greatly powerful son of Dhritarashtra.

Having seen them gone, Bhishma, the grandfather of the Kurus, bent down his head in shame. O king, he too then went away to his house,

O great king, when Bhishma had gone away, that lord of men, the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana) again came there and consulted with his counsellors.

Duryodhana said : “What is good for me? What remains to be done? How can we most effectually bring about the good that we shall fix upon today?”

Karna said: Odescendant of Kuru, O Duryodhana, lay to your heart the words I say. Bhishma always blames us and praises the Pandavas.

O mighty-armed hero, from the illness he bears towards you, he insults me; O lord of men, in your presence he always abuses me.

O descendant of Bharata, O chastiser of focs, I shall never bear the words that Bhishma has said as regards this matter by praising the Pandavas and censuring you. O king, join with me with your attendants, troops and chariots.

O king, I shall then conquer the earth adorned with mountains, woods and forests. The earth has been conquered by the four mighty Pandavas. I shall certainly conquer it for you single-handed. Let that wretch of the Kuru race, the exceedingly wicked minded Bhishma see it.

He abuses those that do not deserve it and praises those that should not be praised. Let hiin today see my prowess and blame himself.

O king, command me. Victory shall surely be yours. O king, I swear by my weapon.

Vaishampayana said: O king, O foremost of the Bharata race, having heard these words of Karna, that lord of men became exceedingly delighted and he thus spoke to Karna.

"I am blessed, for I have been favoured by you. When you who possess the greatest prowess are eager to look after my welfare, my life has borne fruit today.

O hero, you desire to vanquish all my foes. Go. May good come to you. Command me what I am to do."

O chastiser of foes, having been thus addressed by the intelligent son of Dhritarashtra, Karna ordered (to be ready) all the necessaries for expedition.

On an auspicious lunar day and at an auspicious moment and under the influence of a star presided over by an auspicious deity, that mighty bowman, having been honoured by the Brahmanas and bathed with auspicious and holy substances and also worshipped by all, started, filling with the rattle of his car the three worlds with all mobile and immobile objects.