Vaishampayana said Then, Drona's son, O king, encountered Arjuna in battle. Partha then faced him, moving like the wind.

With a downpour of shafts like the raincharged clouds. There ensued a mighty encounter like that between the gods and demons.

The sun then did not pour its rays and the wind did not blow. And they covered each other with a net-work of arrows, like Vritra and Vasava.

The sky was enveloped with shafts and there was a shade all around. When the two combatants fought with each other, there was a mighty cracking sound.

Like that of bamboo's when on fire. O conqueror of enemies' cities, greatly assailed by Arjuna, his horses.

Were so bewildered, that they could not make out which way to go. Then finding out the weak point of Partha, who was roving about, the highly powerful son of Drona cut off his bow-string with a sharp arrow. Beholding his superhuman deed, the deities spoke highly of him.

Exclaiming "Well-done Well-done" Drona, Bhishma, Karna, and the mighty carwarrior Kripa too, applauded his deed.

Then drawing his that best of bows, the son of Drona again wounded Partha, the foremost of car-warriors, on the breast with Kanka-feathered shafts.

Then, laughing, the mighty-armed Partha set a strong and fresh string to his Gandiva.

Then drawing his bow to the shape of a crescent, Partha proceeded as an infuriated leader of an elephant herd when met by another.

Then there took place a great hair-stirring encounter between those two heroes peerless on earth.

The Kurus, all filled with wonder, saw those two highly powerful heroes like two elephant chiefs.

With burning arrows of the shape of serpents, those two foremost of men struck each other.

And because the high-souled son of Pandu, Partha, has a pair of inexhaustible celestials quivers, he remained in battle unmoved like a mountain.

Ashvathama's arrows however, being speedily discharged, were all exhausted and for this Arjuna beat him down.

Then drawing to its full his huge bow, Karna twanged it, and thee arose exclamations of Alas!"

Then Partha looked forward to where from came the twang of the bow and saw the son of Radha, at which his anger was excited.

Desirous of slaying Karna and possessed by anger, that foremost of Kurus looked towards him with expanded eyes.

Then Partha going away from the son of Drona, his men, o king, shot thousands of arrows at him (Partha).

Leaving behind the son of Drona, the mighty-armed Dhananjaya, the conqueror of enemies, rushed towards Karna.

Approaching him and desiring a duel, the son of Kunti, having his eyes reddened with anger, said.