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"Vaisampayana said, 'Without much minding Dhritarashtra, the son of Vicitravirya who was about to ask of Partha, Karna said unto Dhritarashtra鈥檚 son these words, cheering up the spirit of the assembled Kurus,

'Coming to know of the false pretence under which I obtained the Brahma weapon of old from Rama, the latter told me,鈥�When your hour will come your memory will fail you in respect of this weapon. Even for so great an offence I was cursed so lightly by that great Rishi, my preceptor. That great Rishi of fierce energy is capable of consuming even the entire Earth with her seas. By attention and personal bravery, I appeased his heart. I have that weapon with me still, and my period is not yet run. I am, therefore, fully competent (to win victory) Let the responsibility be mine.

Having obtained the favour of that Rishi, I will slay within the twinkling of an eye the Pancalas, the Karushas, the Matsyas, and the sons of Pritha with their sons and grandsons, and bestow on you numerous regions won by my weapons. Let the Grandsire and Drona and all the kings stay with you. I will slay the sons of Pritha, marching forth with the chief warriors of my army. Let that task be mine.'

Unto him speaking thus, Bhishma said,

'What sayest you, O Karna? Your intellect is clouded at the approach of your hour. Knowest you not, O Karna, that when the chief is slain, the sons of Dhritarashtra will all be slain? Having heard of the feat achieved by Dhananjaya, with Krishna only as his ally, at the burning of the Khandava forest, it behoves you with your friends and relatives to restrain your mind. The shaft that the illustrious and adorable chief of the celestials, the great Indra, gave you, you will see, will be broken and reduced to ashes when struck by Kesava with his discus. That other shaft of serpentine mouth that shines (in your quiver) and is respectfully worshipped by you with flowery garlands, will, O Karna, when struck by the son of Pandu with his shafts, perish with you. O Karna, the slayer of Vana and Bhumi鈥檚 son (Naraka), Vasudeva himself, who has, in the thickest of battle, slain foes equal and even superior to you, protects the diadem-decked Arjuna'.

"Karna said,

'Without doubt, the chief of the Vrishnis is even so. Further, I admit, that that high-souled one is even more than that. Let, however, the Grandsire listen to the effect of the bit of harsh speech that he has uttered. I lay down my weapons. The Grandsire will henceforth behold me in court only and not in battle. After you have become quiet, the rulers of the earth will behold my prowess in this world.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said this, that great bowman (Karna), leaving the court went to his own abode.

Bhishma, however, O king, addressing Duryodhana in the midst of the Kurus, and laughing aloud, said,

'How truly does the Suta鈥檚 son keep his promise. Why having repeatedly given his pledge, saying,鈥�The kings of Avanti and Kalinga, Jayadratha, and Chediddhaja and Valhika standing as spectators, I will slay hostile warriors by thousands and tens of thousands,鈥攈ow will he discharge that obligation? Having distributed his divisions in counter-array and scattering heads by thousands, behold the havoc committed by Bhimasena. Indeed, that moment, when, representing himself as a Brahmana unto the holy and blameless Rama, Vikartana鈥檚 son obtained that weapon, that vile wretch lost both his virtue and asceticism.'

O king of kings, when Bhishma said this after Karna had gone away giving up his weapons, Duryodhana, that foolish son of Vicitravirya鈥檚 son, addressed Santanu鈥檚 son in these words.'"