MAHABHARATA CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH ... - Mandhata Global
MAHABHARATA CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH ... - Mandhata Global
MAHABHARATA CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH ... - Mandhata Global
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Vain he spake, for wild with anger heedless Karna, fiercely lowered,<br />
Thick and fast on bowless Arjun countless arrows darkly showered,<br />
Like the cobra dark and hissing Karna's gleaming lightning dart,<br />
Struck the helpless archer Arjun on his broad and bleeding heart!<br />
Furious like a wounded tiger quivering in the darksome wood,<br />
With his mended warlike weapon now the angry Arjun stood,<br />
Blazing with a mighty radiance like a flame in summer night,<br />
Fierce he fell on archer Karna with his more than mortal might!<br />
Little reeked the dauntless Karna if his foe in anger rose,<br />
Karna feared not face of mortal, dreaded not immortal foes,<br />
Nor with all his wrath and valour Arjun conquered him in war,<br />
Till within the soft earth sinking stuck the wheel of Karna's car!<br />
Stood unmoved the tilted chariot, vainly wrathful Salya strove,<br />
Urging still the strugling coursers Karna's heavy car to move,<br />
Vainly too the gallant Karna leaped upon the humid soil,<br />
Sought to lift the sunken axle with a hard unwonted toil,<br />
"Hold," he cried to noble Arjun, "wage no false and impious war<br />
On a foeman, helpless, carless,--thou upon thy lofty car."<br />
Loudly laughed the helméd Arjun, answer nor rejoinder gave,<br />
Unto Karna pleading virtue Krishna answered calm and grave:<br />
"Didst thou seek the path of virtue, mighty Karna, archer bold,<br />
When Sakuni robbed Yudhishthir of his empire and his gold,<br />
Didst thou tread the path of honour on Yudhishthir's fatal fall,<br />
Heaping insults on Draupadi in Hastina's council hall?<br />
Didst thou then fulfil thy duty when, Yudhishthir's exile crost,<br />
Krishna asked in right and justice for Yudhishthir's empire lost,<br />
Didst thou fight a holy battle when with six marauders skilled,<br />
Karna hunted Abhimanyu and the youthful hero killed?<br />
Speak not then of rules of honour, blackened in your sins you die,<br />
Death is come in shape of Arjun, Karna's fatal hour is nigh!