Mahabharata, Epic of the Bharatas

Book X. Karna-Badha (Fall of Karna) – 121
Long through life within our bosoms ever burnt the mutual hate,
Oft we met and often parted, rescued by the will of fate,
But yon sun with crimson lustre sees us meet to part no more,
Gallant Arjun’s course this evening or proud Karna’s shall be o’er,
Room is none for Arjun’s glory and for archer Karna’s fame,
One must sink and one must sparkle with a brighter richer flame!
List yet more; in wealth of arrows and in wondrous strength of bow,
Arjun scarcely me surpasseth, scarcely I excel my foe,
In the light skill of the archer and in sight and truth of aim,
Arjun beats not, scarcely rivals, Karna’s proud and peerless fame!
[335] If his wondrous bow Gandiva is the gift of gods in heaven,
Karna’s bow the famed Vijaya is by Par’su-Rama given,
Ay, the son of Jamadagni, kings of earth who proudly slayed,
On the youthful arms of Karna his destructive weapon laid!
Yet I own, O king of Kuru! Arjun doth his foe excel, –
Matchless are his fiery coursers, peerless Krishna leads them well,
Krishna holds the reins for Arjun, Krishna speeds his battle-car,
Drives the lightning-wingéd coursers o’er the startled field of war,
Sweeps in pride his sounding chariot till it almost seems to fly,
Arjun lords it o’er the battle like the comet in the sky!
Grant me, monarch, mighty Salya drive my swift and warlike steed,
And against the car-borne Arjun, Karna’s fiery chariot lead,
Salya too is skilled, like Krishna, with the steed and battle-car,
Equal thus I meet my foeman in this last and fatal war!”
Spake Duryodhan; warlike Salya mounted Karna’s sounding car,
Karna sought for mighty Arjun in the serried ranks of war:
“Hundred milch-kine Karna offers, costly garment, yellow gold,
Unto him who in this battle points to me my foeman bold,
Cars and steeds and fertile acres, peaceful hamlets rich and fair,
Dark-eyed damsels lotus-bosomed, crowned with glossy raven hair,