es and severally pierced the steeds and arms
and leathern fences of the combatants. And incapable of putting up with
that assault, Arjuna cut off the strings of Karna's quiver by means of a
straight and sharp arrow. Thereupon, taking out from his quiver another
arrow, Karna pierced the Pandava in the hand at which the latter's hold
of the bow was loosened. And then the mighty-armed Partha cut off
Karna's bow into fragments. And Karna replied by hurling a dart at his
adversary, but Arjuna cut it off by means of his arrows. And then the
warriors that followed the son of Radha rushed in crowds at Arjuna, but
Partha sent them all to the abode of Yama by means of arrows shot from
the _Gandiva_. And Vibhatsu slew the steeds of Karna by means of sharp
and tough arrows shot from the bow-string drawn to the ear, and deprived
of life they dropped down on the ground. And taking another sharp and
blazing arrow endued with great energy, the mighty son of Kunti pierced
the breast of Karna. And that arrow, cleaving through his mail,
penetrated into his body. And at this, Karna's vision was obscured and
his senses left him. And regaining consciousness, he felt a great pain,
and leaving the combat fled in a northernly direction. And at this, the
mighty car-warrior Arjuna and Uttara, both began to address him
contumely."

SECTION LXI

Vaisampayana said, "Having defeated Vikartana's son, Arjuna said unto
the son of Virata, 'Take me towards that division where yonder device of
a golden palmyra is seen. There our grandfather, Santanu's son, like
unto a celestial, waiteth, desirous of an encounter with me.' Thereupon,
beholding that mighty host thronged with cars and horses and elephants,
Uttara, sorely pierced with arrows, said, 'O hero, I am no longer able
to guide thy excellent steeds. My spirits droop and my mind is
exceedingly bewildered. All the directions seem to be whirling before my
eyes in consequence of the energy of the celestial weapons used by thee
and the Kurus. I have been deprived of my senses by the stench of fat
and blood and flesh. Beholding all this, from terror my mind is, as it
were, cleft in twain. Never before had I beheld such a muster of horses
in battle. And at the flapping of fences, and the blare of conchs, the
leonine roars made by the warriors and the shrieks of elephants, and the
twang of the _Gandiva_ resembling the thunder, I have, O hero, been so
stupefied that I have been deprived of both hearing and m