Drupada, surrounded by a throng of furious men armed with weapons and charging toward him, was gripped by fear and sought shelter among the Brahmins. Yet Drupada’s approach was not out of cowardice or weakness, nor simply to save his life; rather, he came to them as one seeking true protection. At that moment, the two mighty sons of Pandu, Arjuna and Bhimasena—renowned for their skill with the bow and their prowess in battle—stood firm. Like maddened elephants, the attackers rushed at them, but the Pandavas turned them back. The kings, their fingers bound with leather straps and weapons in hand, could not endure the sons of Kuru, and rose up, determined to slay Arjuna and Bhima. Bhima, famed for wondrous and terrible deeds and possessing strength like thunder, stood alone and uprooted a tree with his powerful arms, just as a king elephant would. Using the tree as a weapon, Bhima stood beside Arjuna, the bull among men, his broad arms ready for battle, resembling Yama wielding his fierce staff. Arjuna, witnessing his brother’s superhuman feat, was filled with wonder. Casting aside all fear, he marveled at Bhima’s unimaginable act and stood ready, bow in hand, his deeds rivaling those of Indra. Damodara, seeing Bhima’s extraordinary deed, spoke to his mighty brother, the plough-wielder: “He who moves with the gait of a lion and a bull, who draws his bow intoxicated to its full measure—this must be Arjuna, there is no doubt; unless it is Sankarshana or Vasudeva. He who has just uprooted a tree and entered the contest of kings—no one but Vrikodara could do such a thing today. And the one before us, with lotus-like eyes, great stature, moving like a lion, humble and fair, tall, with a shining nose—surely, he is the son of Dharma. These two youths, like the twin sons of Ashvini or Kartikeya, I suspect are the Ashvineyas. For I have heard that the sons of Pandu and Pritha escaped the house of lac.” Halayudha, delighted, spoke confidently to Ananta’s younger brother: “I rejoice to see my father’s sister, Pritha, freed and united with the foremost of the Kauravas.” Meanwhile, the eminent Brahmins shook their deer-skins and staffs, declaring, “Do not be afraid; we will fight the others.” Arjuna, smiling, responded, “You all stand aside and watch. With hundreds of straight-flying arrows, I shall check these enraged ones, as with spells one restrains venomous serpents.” Bending the prize-winning bow, Arjuna stood firm with Bhima, like a mountain beside its peak. Seeing the proud Kshatriyas eager for battle, the two Pandavas, like elephants charging against rivals, rushed at them. The kings, thirsting for combat, spoke harshly: “Even a Brahmin may die in battle when he desires to fight.” With these words, the kings suddenly rushed at the Brahmins. Karna, radiant with energy, advanced against Jishnu (Arjuna) in battle, while Shalya, lord of Madras and mighty in strength, charged toward Bhimasena as a rival elephant would. All the sons of Dhritarashtra, together with the Brahmins, engaged in gentle, effortless combat during this contest. Arjuna, drawing his powerful bow, struck Karna, son of Radha, with sharp arrows as he advanced. The force of Arjuna’s blazing arrows bewildered Karna, who pursued him with effort. Both warriors, swift and indistinguishable, fought fiercely, each striving to overcome the other, exchanging heroic words: “See my counter to your move, see my arm’s strength!” Recognizing Arjuna’s unmatched strength of arms, Karna became enraged and challenged him to battle. Karna struck down the swift arrows launched by Arjuna and roared loudly, earning praise from the armies for his feat. He said, “I am pleased with you, foremost of Brahmins, for your prowess in battle, your fearlessness, and your mastery of weapons and missiles. Are you the very embodiment of the science of archery, or Rama himself? Or perhaps Hari, Haya, or even Vishnu incarnate? To conceal your true self, you have taken refuge in the strength of your arms and assumed the form of a Brahmin, I think, to fight against me. For, apart from Indra himself or Arjuna the diademed Pandava, no other man can withstand me in battle when I am enraged. When all the Pandavas, except Arjuna, were burned in the house of lac, even then, without Arjuna, they could not slay me in battle.” To these words, Phalguna (Arjuna) replied, “I am not the science of archery incarnate, nor am I the mighty Rama, O Karna. I am a Brahmin, O best of warriors, foremost among all wielders of weapons; I am accomplished in the Brahma and Paurandara weapons, as instructed by my teacher. Today I stand firm in battle to defeat you, O hero; stand your ground, or else admit ‘I am vanquished’ and depart as you please.” Having spoken thus, Arjuna cut down Karna’s bow. Karna seized another bow, but Arjuna swiftly cut it down as well and wounded Karna in battle. Karna, his bow destroyed and his body pierced by arrows, turned and fled from the field. Yet after a moment, he returned, seizing a bow with arrows, and Karna, son of Radha, rained showers of arrows upon Partha (Arjuna), determined to continue the fight.